I was born in Chicago and moved to the suburbs to attend high school. I attended Prospect High School and from there went to the University of Illinois, where I obtained a Bachelor degree in Human Growth and Development. I worked as a day-care teacher and director. I then decided to return to school for my Nursing degree. I obtained my Bachelor degree in nursing from the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. Upon graduation my husband and I moved back to Champaign-Urbana, to enable him to pursue his Doctorate in Food Science concentrating in microbial molecular genetics. I worked at Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign as a staff nurse on a medical-surgical unit and then in post-partum and the newborn nursery.

Once my husband finished his degree we moved to St. Louis where I worked as a labor and delivery nurse. When the opportunity arose we returned to the Chicago area to be close to family. While working as a labor and delivery nurse, I obtained my certification as a Lactation Consultant. My love of newborns and my fascination with human development prompted me to return for my Master degree in Midwifery. I obtained my degree at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago in 2002.

Since completing my degree I have worked in both small and large practices. Initially worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse in an office providing prenatal, as well as gynecology care. I found I very much wanted to also do deliveries, so I took a position in a large midwifery practice serving women of all ages and nationalities. In July of 2011, Dr. Levy presented me with the opportunity to join his practice and to provide individualized care to my own patients.

What has been consistent is my joy in caring for the women I see. I have provided well-women care as well as prenatal care. Midwifery means “with women” and what this means for me is really listen to what each women is saying. I feel very strongly about listening to my patients, educating them and helping each woman obtain the health care goals she has established for herself.

During pregnancy I spend time at each visit exploring each woman’s questions and concerns. Each pregnancy, like each woman, is unique and I find women have many questions regardless of it being their first or fifth pregnancy. During labor and the actual birth I try to assist each woman in achieving the experience she desires. For many women this means offering hands on comfort, for others it means using all available technology and for others this means a combination of both. I encourage women to develop a birth plan to help clarify for themselves what they are looking for in the experience. We then spend time reviewing and refining the plan so there are no misunderstandings on the big day.

I am currently on staff at Northwest Community Hospital. I am a member of The American College of Nurse Midwives. I hold certifications in Inpatient Obstetrics and Electronic Fetal Monitoring. My husband and I have 3 children, Samantha, Matthew, and Timothy.