People of Centra: Katie Page, CNM
As a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), Katie Page serves as a primary care provider for women from puberty to post-menopause. Practicing in the CMG Women’s Centers that are located in Forest and Farmville, Katie loves being involved directly with the community through the care she provides in clinic and through her collaborative work with the Motherhood Collective (TMC), a branch of HumanKind.
Participating in a five-year undergrad/master’s program through Randolph College, Katie interned with a midwife in Lynchburg as a part of her schooling and then went on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University in 2009. Following her time at Vanderbilt, she worked in Tennessee and Pennsylvania before returning to Lynchburg and joining the Centra team in 2013.
Now ten years later, Katie is just as passionate about providing empathetic and intentional midwifery care as the day she first started caring for patients. She described how one of the greatest challenges of her role is also what she loves most about her job, “working with others and serving them every day.” Katie and the Centra Women & Children’s Health teams are constantly asking themselves how they can better serve their patients. Whether it’s assessing quality through past data or asking the patient, “what does quality care look like for you?” Katie explained that the willingness of care teams to critically evaluate their policies and practices is vital for improving patient care.
One of Katie's remarkable contributions to her patients' experiences is the Labor Comfort Measures Workshop, created in collaboration with the Motherhood Collective. This interactive workshop equips couples and birth workers with invaluable knowledge about the labor process. From debunking misconceptions to addressing comfort factors like fear, Katie empowers individuals to advocate for themselves and enhance their labor experience.
The workshop is an interactive experience set-up with multiple stations to cover topics such as using a labor pool and practicing helpful walks and exercises to use during the labor process. The workshop which has been held since 2015 is now offered three times per year. Each year, Katie updates the materials to align with the newest evidence. Recent updates have included incorporating education regarding trauma informed care and mindfulness practices during labor.
Determined to break barriers and provide equal opportunities for all women, Katie teamed up with Maria Hayden from TMC to secure a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. This generous grant enables women of color to attend the Labor Comfort Measures Workshop without any financial burden, extending the reach of vital birth education across our communities.
While the Labor Comfort Measures Workshop is one example of what Centra’s partnership with HumanKind has enabled, Katie also explained that TMC is always such a strong partner whenever Centra’s Women & Children’s Services team wants to engage the community on important health topics. An example of this is the annual Milkapalooza event that is held every August on the front lawn of Virginia Baptist Hospital (VBH) to celebrate National Breastfeeding Month and connect the community with helpful resources related to Women and Children’s Health.
Beyond her work at Centra, Katie is working to obtain her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado. Her research is focused on crafting an effective model of care for midwifery in hospital spaces, driven by a desire to continually enhance her profession and positively impact the lives of mothers and families. Amidst her busy schedule, Katie also finds joy in her roles as a mom and wife, lovingly raising her 11-year-old, five-year-old, and doing life with her husband who she’s been with for twenty years. Ever-connected to knowledge and always carrying her laptop, she humorously claims her spirit animal is a computer.
When asked, “If you could spend the day with anyone in the world, who would it be?,” she answered, “I’d go hangout at the World Health Organization with midwifery leaders. They’re my people; I could geek out with them, and we would drink weird tea together. It’s important to be in community with your people!”
Katie, we’re so thankful that you’re a part of our Centra community! Thank you for the work you do to fulfill our vison of pursuing excellence, inspiring hope, and advancing health and healing for the communities we serve.”