Geradine Simkins is a midwife, scholar, writer, activist, and visionary who passionately provided midwifery care in a variety of settings for more than 40 years. She has dedicated her work years to maternal and child health, women’s healthcare in Northern Michigan, and serving marginalized people in community-based programs, such as American Indians and migrant farm workers.
Geradine has been a midwifery leader in her own community and region, she was the first president of the Michigan Midwives Association (MMA). She also spent two decades in national midwifery leadership as President of the Board of Directors of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), as MANA’s first Executive Director, as president of the Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery (FAM), as a member of many national maternal and child health coalitions, as an expert consultant for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a member of the Governing Council of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Currently she is a member of the Michigan Board of Midwifery.
She travels the world making connections and forging partnerships, as well as to have fun and to meet new friends. Geradine is the proud mother of three amazing homeborn, homegrown children who are now adults working to make the world a better place. She has one grandchild, who was born into the hands of midwives, and another on the way. Currently she is the principal of Birthways Consulting, LLC, and she lives in Michigan with her husband Fred Heltenen.
What People Say About Midwives
I am just one of many many thousands of midwives, who are devoted to saving lives gently.
Robin Lim, midwife & founder of Yayasan Bumi Sehat health clinics, Indonesia
If we want to find safe alternatives to obstetrics, we must rediscover midwifery. To rediscover midwifery is the same as giving back childbirth to women.
Michel Odent, world renowned obstetrician & child specialist
It’s not just the making of babies, but the making of mothers that midwives see as the miracle of birth.
Barbara Katz Rothman, professor fo medical sociology
These wise midwives understand an essential truth: when we heal ourselves we also heal our ancestors, our children, and Mother Earth.
Rita Pitka Blumenstein, member of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers
Wisdom from Midwives 