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Greetings!
It's a challenge to believe in summer here in Seattle, but we are trying to make the most of it!
The commencement season began with poignant and lovely celebration in the Bastyr Chapel of the first graduates of the MS in Midwifery program. It continued at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle for the graduation of all Bastyr programs, and most excitingly for the global childbirth community, the award of an honorary doctorate to Penny Simkin. More on that story below.
Feel free to call one of our departments to check in. It would be wonderful to hear what's happening in your summer news. We've missed you, and promise to keep in better touch!
Suzy Myers
Chair
Department of Midwifery
Annie Kennedy
Director
Simkin Center
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| Contact Us | | midwifery@bastyr.edu
simkincenter@bastyr.edu
14500 Juanita Drive NE
Kenmore, WA 98028
telephone: 425.602.3000
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Applying to the Midwifery Program
in 2012? Although our applications are not ready yet for 2012, summer is a great time to meet with an admissions advisor about applying in the future. Advising appointments are available in person on the Bastyr campus or by phone. Call 425-602-3332 or e-mail mwadvise@bastyr.edu to set up your advising appointment!
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Penny Simkin Awarded with Honorary Doctorate
Monday, June 20, 2011 at Benaroya Hall, downtown Seattle was a glow with excitement as our own dear Penny Simkin was awarded an honorary Doctor of Natural Health Arts and Sciences.
Penny of course is Senior Instructor and the namesake for Bastyr University's Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations. In her acceptance comments, Penny touched upon the irony that even though our country spends more on maternity care than any other, we are seeing worsening outcomes in infant mortality, maternal mortality and prematurity. She called on the graduates to help turn the tide. "You are and will continue to be living examples of the knowledge, skills and ideals exemplified by Bastyr University to the benefit of not only your clients, but the next generation," she said. "Our world needs you!"
Want to commemorate the ama
zing contributions of Dr. Penny Simkin? Consider a gift to the Simkin Center Leadership Fund, Simkin Center Leadership Fund - Scholarship Support for Doulas, Childbirth and Lactation Educators. More photos at Penny's Facebook page  | |
Suzanne Wilson, Simkin Center Leadership Fund (SCLF) award recipient with (left to right) Rukia Suleiman and Esther Mlongo at the Vutakaka Sewing Cooperative in Takaungu Village, Kenya.
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Add skills to your tool kit and to your professional credentials at Simkin Center this summer. The Kenmore campus couldn't be more beguiling, and you can stay on in the dorms and dine in the Commons for a very reasonable rate!  Dancing for Birth Instructor Training Workshop Become a Certified Dancing for Birth Instructor or enhance and diversify your professional skills. Learn how to energize and empower women in the childbearing year.  Infant Massage Educator Training Take your first steps toward becoming a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) approved by Infant Massage USA (IMUSA) and the International Association for Infant Massage (IAIM, Sweden). Educators of infant massage lead group and private classes for parents & caregivers in how to massage their babies and children. Get hands on experience teaching caregivers and their babies.  Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy Certification Course designed by Carole Osborne Become a maternity massage therapy specialist. Tap into the wisdom of over 35 years in the massage & body work profession. Meet your continuing education goals in this course designed by Carole Osborne, distinguished expert in prenatal and perinatal massage therapy. The pregnancy massage practicum gives you the chance to practice your skills. |
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Speaking of scholarship funding, a grateful thank you to the Midwives Association of Washington State who sponsored a beautiful fundraising dinner with Penny Simkin and Ina May Gaskin in May.
The proceeds of $6000 were generously donated to the Simkin Center Leadership Fund and the Myers Midwifery Scholarship Fund. Special thanks to Lynn Hughes for her glorious coordination of the Ina May events, which recharged our local birth community and engaged a new generation of childbearing women.
See more photos from this event.
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Bastyr Diversity Initiative update On Wednesday, May 25, the University offered a first-ever Human Library event at Bastyr Center for Natural Health . The event helped student clinicians explore prejudices and dispel stereotypes when encountering patients from diverse backgrounds. While the Human Library concept is not new, the model of applying it in a medical training setting is. This library was a living, breathing group of volunteer participants, known as "books," each representing different marginalized or less familiar identities. Students learned from and asked questions of these "books," with the goal of demystifying preconceived notions and reminding students not to "judge others by their covers." For more information about anti-racism and other work at Bastyr, visit the Diversity Committee at Bastyr Facebook page . |
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Join us for "An Evening at Bastyr" Thursday, August 11 6:30-8:30pm If you are interested in the Midwifery Program or in another Bastyr program, this is a great opportunity to meet current faculty and students. You will also be able to talk with admissions advisors about applying.
Click here to learn more and to RSVP.
 | | Flowers in the Bastyr University garden |
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Congratulations to the class of 2011! 
On June 14 we got to celebrate our graduating class of 2011. The event was held in the stunning Bastyr chapel and included family and friends, trumpets and tears, well wishes from keynote speaker Wendy Gordon, LDM, CPM and of course tasty food. Congratulations to the graduates! |
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It's bittersweet to say goodbye to Aimee Bell, Simkin Center Program Assistant.
 | | Aimee Bell |
Aimee has served the Simkin Center since July 2010 and joined us at a crucial time for our operations. She started just two months before our physical move from the Talaris World Campus, and the end of the former Seattle Midwifery School, to the Kenmore campus. Talk about an exhausting and emotional time!
Aimee bolstered spirits, cleared classrooms, boxed supplies, coordinated volunteers, all while learning her position's responsibilities and maintaining operations with no loss in registrations, customer service or revenue for the program. During her tenure, Simkin Center made huge strides in integration on campus; launched social media connections, initiated cost savings, and endeared herself to Simkin Center instructors and students. Amazing is what we call Aimee!
Aimee departs for Spokane and the start on a PhD and assistantship in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at WSU. It's the first public direct-entry PhD program in Nutrition in WA. Aimee is a scientist and lifelong learner at heart; she leaves with a newfound passion for childbirth and lots to offer in nutrition and healing. We wish her the very best and will follow her career closely! Aimee's last day is August 13.
 | | Kay Hwang |
To fill Aimee's shoes, we found an excellent person, Kay Hwang, currently Administrative Assistant in the School of Naturopathic Medicine. She'll begin her position as Program Coordinator at Simkin Center on July 26, attending the Birth Doula Skills Workshop in July as part of her training. Kay has her BA from the UW in Economics and brings over ten years of administrative experience at Bastyr, US Bank and in the mortgage servicing industry. Kay clearly will have no trouble jumping in with her solid understanding of the logistics of supporting several academic programs in the ND School. Kay also works as an international students tutor and mentor advising and working respectfully with students from diverse backgrounds. We are thrilled to have her join the Simkin Center team.
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Postpartum Support International Presents our 25th Annual Conference addressing the needs of pregnant/postpartum women and the people who care for them. This year's conference offers both basic and advanced training in psychotherapeutic, alternative, medical, and social support approaches to women and their families.
Special features include an evening presentation by Harvey Karp, M.D. (Happiest Baby on the Block), a half day workshop by Penny Simkin, PT, CD (DONA): Working with Women after Birth Trauma, and a keynote lecture by Jeanne Watson Driscoll, Ph.D. (Women's Moods).
September 14-18, Seattle, WA. 30 CEUs available.
For further information visit www.postpartum.net or contact lesliebutterfield@hotmail.com. |
Washington state represented at DONA International Conference in Boston July 21-24 Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations at Bastyr University Instructors Angie Dobbins-Frisbie and Kim James, with Annie Kennedy at the DONA International Conference in Boston. We really enjoyed meeting the DONA Birth Doula Trainers Collaboration Group attendees in our trainer track sessions. |
Upcoming Conferences & Workshops
Postpartum Support International 25th Annual Conference September 14-18, 2011 Seattle, WA. More information> Lamaze International Conference September 15-18, 2011 Ft. Worth, TX. More information> |
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We truly appreciate the feedback you continue to give us on the eNews. Please keep it coming. We welcome your input and, certainly, any news that affects women, babies and families in the childbearing year. You can write to us by simply replying to this email. And please share this with your friends by using the "forward email" link, which will give them the benefit of the graphics and photos. They will not be automatically subscribed to the list, but they can sign up if they like!
Sincerely, Department of Midwifery and Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations, Bastyr University
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Are you a Simkin Center Alumna? Did you like your workshop at Simkin Center? 
