Shafia M. Monroe is a renowned midwife, doula trainer, motivational speaker, and cultural competency trainer. Shafia has been “Birthing CHANGE” all her life. In 2016, Madame Noir named Monroe “Queen Mother of a Midwife Movement” for her pioneer midwifery work in Boston, Massachusetts, her hometown. It was there she co-founded the Traditional Childbearing Group (TCBG), a non-profit organization, whose mission was to reduce infant mortality through homebirth services, training community midwives, and providing prenatal education.

Sara Ailshire joined the EBB team as a Reasearch Fellow in 2023. She is a PhD candidate in anthropology where her research focus is reproductive health and the work of birth professionals.

Morgan Richardson Cayama joined the EBB team as a Reasearch Fellow in 2024. She is a PhD candidate studying public health.

Amy Chen is a Senior Attorney in the National Health Law Program’s California office, where she works on sexual and reproductive health law and policy. She also leads NHeLP’s Doula Medicaid Project, which works to expand access to full spectrum doula care for all pregnant, postpartum, and post-pregnancy people.

Rebecca Dekker is a nurse with her PhD, the founder and CEO of EBB, the author of “Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered!” and host of the EBB Podcast with over 6.7 million downloads!

Joyce Dykema is certified as a birth doula with both DONA International® and Hypnobabies®, is pursuing postpartum doula certification with DONA International®, and she is an Evidence Based Birth® instructor, childbirth educator, community breastfeeding educator, and has been serving birthing families since 2009.

Porsche M. Holland-Otunba, CLC, C-CBE, PMH-C is a Philadelphia native, wife, and girl mom of two. As a birth trauma survivor she answered the call to engage families as a Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Lactation Counselor.

Throughout her journey, Danielle has worked in various volunteer positions and support groups to help support other families undergoing IVF as well as working to remove the negative stigma attached to infertility. Danielle is also a middle school teacher and has co-authored studies around supporting English learners.

A dedicated lactation professional, Brittni became a board-certified lactation consultant after her own breastfeeding experiences inspired her to support others. Passionate about community service, she is committed to helping families and advocating for those in need.

Heather McCullough is a Certified Professional Midwife with over 25 years of experience, beginning her career at 19 and honing her skills at Andaluz Waterbirth Center in Portland, Oregon. As co-founder of 312Doulas in Chicago and a Midwife at Authentic Birth Center in Milwaukee, she supports families, teaches Evidence Based Birth® classes, and provides expert care across the Midwest.

Mrs. Charlotte Marie Shilo- Goudeau is 1 of 4 African American documented midwives in the state of Louisiana to hold the title of Licensed Certified Professional Midwife and she is the founder of “P.Y.O.B.E. (Pick Your Own Birthing Experience) with Mama CHAR’s Birthing Service.”

Saraswathi Vedam is Lead Investigator of the Birth Place Lab and Professor of Midwifery, at University of British Columbia. She has been a clinician and a health professional educator for 35 years.