2024 Optimal Outcomes
Perinatal, Reproductive and Sexual Health Conference
Hosted by: Minnesota Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives
All are welcome!
Calling all perinatal, reproductive and sexual health advocates interested in optimizing health outcomes. The MN Affiliate of the ACNM created the Optimal Outcomes: Perinatal, Reproductive, and Sexual Health Conference in 2013 to provide education about health disparities, promoting physiologic birth, and ways to improve health outcomes in our community. This interdisciplinary annual conference is attended by midwives, nurses, physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, doulas, health professionals, students and community members interested in perinatal, reproductive and sexual health outcomes. Come earn CEUs and build community!
October 25, 2024
Minneapolis Marriott West
9960 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55426
In-person or Virtual-only Tickets Available to Purchase
Conference Highlights
Scholarship tickets: Available for people of color and for those who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community on a first come first served basis. Complete this form to request a scholarship. If you have any other questions about the Optimal Outcomes conference, please contact us via our Optimal Outcomes contact form.
Virtual Viewing After the Event: Recorded speaker videos and presentation materials will be available at the secure page For Optimal Outcomes Attendees after the conference and remain accessible for three months. A password will be emailed to you once you purchase your Optimal Outcomes Conference Ticket (in person or virtual).
New this Year: Spinning Babies® is partnering with Optimal Outcomes to offer a workshop with founder Gail Tully, CPM, Saturday October 26th, 2024 at the Marriott West. Tickets will be discounted for Optimal Outcomes attendees. Limited tickets are available. You will receive information on how to access a discounted ticket once you purchase a ticket for Optimal Outcomes Conference.
Things to know
before you go:
Location:
Minneapolis Marriott West
9960 Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN 55426
map & directions
Parking: Free parking available in outdoor lots
Meals: Continental breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided. Community building cocktail hour cash bar will be held after the conference
Accommodations: All gender bathrooms and lactation rooms available
Dress: Business casual, dress in layers as it can be difficult to regulate the temperature of the rooms
Continuing Education Credits: 10 CEUs available
Exhibit Hall: Visit with sponsors and vendors in our vibrant exhibit hall. Remember to bring your wallet to support local artisans. Check off tables visited on your passport to be eligible for our coveted door prizes!
Conference registration/Check in: starts at 7am, Continental breakfast provided 7am-8am
COVID Precautions: Please test for COVID prior to coming to the conference. If you test positive or are feeling ill, please do not come to the conference. You can utilize your virtual ticket access to watch the presentations remotely once the videos are uploaded to our website. We recommend attendees wear a mask at the conference based on their own comfort level.
Conference starts promptly at 8am
T-shirts: Purchase a t-shirt to support scholarship funds for people of color and folks from the LGBTQIA+ community. New t-shirt designs this year!
Agenda
7:00 - 8:00 am
Lobby
Registration and Check-In
Continental breakfast served
8:00 - 8:15 am
Waterford Ballroom
Opening Comments
MN ACNM
Co-Presidents
Optimal Outcomes Co-Chairs
8:20 - 9:20 am
Waterford Ballroom
Respectful Maternity Care: A Strategy for Justice and Joy
Joia Crear-Perry, MD, FACOG
Understand Root Causes of Health Inequities Understand Respectful Maternity Care Examples of operationalize it in Public Health and Healthcare
Joia A. Crear-Perry, MD, FACOG, is a physician, policy expert, thought leader, and advocate for transformational justice. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative, she identifies and challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities.
She is a highly sought-after trainer and speaker who has been featured in national and international publications including Essence and Ms. magazine. In 2020, Dr. Crear-Perry was honored by USA Today in its “Women of the Century” series and featured on ABC Nightline’s “Hear Her Voice.” Dr. Crear-Perry has twice addressed the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to elevate the cause of gender diversity and urge a human rights framework toward addressing maternal mortality.
Previously, she served as the executive director of the Birthing Project, director of women’s and children’s services at Jefferson Community Healthcare Center, and as the director of clinical services for the city of New Orleans Health Department. Dr. Crear-Perry currently serves as a principal at Health Equity Cypher and on the Board of Trustees for Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Community Catalyst, National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning, and the University of California, San Francisco Preterm Birth Initiative. She is an adjunct professor at Tulane School of Public Health.
After completing undergraduate studies at Princeton University and Xavier University, Dr. Crear-Perry received her MD from Louisiana State University and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Tulane University’s School of Medicine.
She is married to Dr. Andre Perry and has three children: Jade, Carlos, and Robeson. Her love is her family; health equity is her passion; maternal and child health are her callings.
9:30 - 10:30 am
Waterford Ballroom
Promoting Normal Physiologic Birth for People of Size
Nicole Carlson, CNM, PhD
Describe current estimates of excess adiposity in pregnancy within the U.S. population. Explain the basic pathophysiology of excess adiposity during pregnancy, including its influence on cervical and uterine preparation for labor, uterine contractility during labor, and other structures essential for labor/birth. Explain how excess adiposity during pregnancy affects pregnancy outcomes, including labor duration and birth. Apply understanding of excess maternal adiposity pregnancy physiology to adoption of new strategies to optimize intrapartum outcomes in this population.
Nicole S. Carlson, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN is a tenured Associate Professor at Emory University’s School of Nursing. At Emory, Dr. Carlson conducts research on the biologic mechanisms of labor and strategies for achieving optimal perinatal outcomes and decreasing racial disparities in birthing people with different levels of adiposity. She has received support for her research from the National Institutes of Health, the March of Dimes, and The American College of Nurse-Midwives, and was awarded Best Research article and podium by ACNM and JMWH several times over the past 10 years.
She is currently PI of an R01 investigation, “The Weight of It All: Balancing the Scales for Pregnancy & Birth in Black Women” (WOIA), a 5-year prospective observational study to better understand how the social determinants of health, structural racism, the midwifery model of care, and pregnancy lifestyle affect prenatal metabolic health and labor/birth outcomes. This work is made possible by the amazing group of community members, students, midwives, nurses, faculty, and staff who are the WOIA team.
10:30 - 10:50 am
Exhibit Hall
BREAK
Coffee, Tea
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Waterford Ballroom 1
Unique but the same: Perinatal care for transgender and gender diverse patients
Kelsey Leonardsmith, MD
Identify strategies you can use to reduce barriers to high-quality pregnancy care for transgender and nonbinary patients and their families Learn techniques to be affirming of gender diversity and build trust through cultural humility Improve your confidence advising transgender and nonbinary patients on options for family building, lactation, and contraception
Before joining the St John’s Residency faculty, Dr. Leonardsmith worked at community health centers around St. Paul and is passionate about caring for folks who are not always served well by our healthcare system. Some of her areas of interest are in caring for gender-expansive youth, getting nerdy about hormones, options for non-binary transition, pregnancy care, and sexual health. She loves being outside in all weather, believes in cultural humility, speaks Spanish, and is passionate about using her tools as a physician to work toward a more just world.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Waterford Ballroom 2
Partnering to Revolutionize Pelvic Health in Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
Sarah Knight PT, DPT, PCES birth doula
Be able to describe what quality pelvic floor care looks like both prenatally and postpartum 2. Recognize when to refer patients or clients to pelvic floor physical therapy and explain what a typical evaluation and treatment plan looks like 3. List the benefits of physical therapy in pregnancy and postpartum 4. Identify common aliments in pregnancy and the describe the benefits of pelvic floor PT to treat those pelvic floor dysfunctions 5. Explain how we as providers and support people help to protect the pelvic floor during the birth for improved pelvic floor outcomes after birth.
Dr. Sarah Knight is Doctor of Physical Therapy with almost 20 years of experience specializing in orthopedics and pelvic health. Sarah received her doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota in 2006. She continued her education in pelvic health through courses offered by Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, the APTA’s section for pelvic health and many others.
She is also a Certified Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist. Sarah spent 10 years in an outpatient clinic treating all pelvises, males, female and children, with a variety pelvic floor dysfunctions while also expanding on her orthopedic skills. She completed her childbirth education training through ICE in 2014 and her birth doula training through DONA in 2016.
Sarah opened Vita New Life in 2018 with the goal of providing a more holistic approach to pelvic floor care, birth preparation and postpartum care. In 2020, Sarah Co-Founded and taught for BRAVA, a program aimed at educating other birth workers on the core and pelvic floor. She currently treats patients at her clinic in Hopkins, feeling grateful every day for the opportunity to partner with them on their pelvic health journey.
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Waterford Ballroom 3
Abortion care in the Upper Midwest: Focus on Access
Christy Boraas, MD, MPH
Detail an overview of induced abortion epidemiology 2. Discuss abortion policy in the USA and MN 3. Review regimen for medication abortion in the first trimester 4. Communicate abortion care changes in the Upper Midwest after Dobbs
Christy Boraas, MD, MPH is a proud abortion provider from Minnesota (Associate Medical Director of Planned Parenthood North Central States, Staff physician at Whole Woman’s Health and Associate Professor at University of Minnesota Medical School). Some time ago, she received her master’s degree in epidemiology and medical degree from the University of Minnesota and then completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University followed by fellowship in complex family planning at the University of Pittsburgh.
These days, she practices obstetrics and gynecology with a focus on complex family planning and is passionate about teaching “the why” as well as “the how” of abortion care and researching ways to expand access to such essential health care.
12:00 - 1:10 pm
Exhibit Hall
LUNCH
(Sponsors, Artisans, Doulas, Massage)
1:20 - 2:20 pm
Waterford Ballroom 1
Hemoglobin Heroes: Conquering Anemia During Pregnancy
Isahaq Abdullahi, MD
Describe the common types of anemias and managing them in the setting of pregnancy. 2. Identify who should be screened for hemoglobinopathies. 3. Explain the racial disparities associated with sickle cell anemia, the barriers that exist and how to diagnose them. 4. Discuss protocols for intravenous iron infusion therapy and when it is appropriate to repeat iron infusion.
Dr. Isahaq “Isaac” Abdullahi is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist. Currently, he’s a 2nd year Maternal Fetal Medicine fellow at the University of Minnesota. Prior to entering fellowship, he practiced as an Ob/Gyn physician for 10 years. His clinical expertise spans from routine gynecological care to high-risk obstetrics, complemented by a strong foundation in medical research. He held the prestigious honor of being recognized as a Minneapolis/St.Paul Magazine Top Doctors Rising Star for both 2023 and 2024. He also has educated and mentored medical, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant students during their OB/Gyn clerkships providing hands-on training in core OB/Gyn principles, facilitating supervised patient interactions, guiding clinical documentation, and developing diagnostic skills.
Being of Somali ethnicity, he immigrated to Toronto, Canada at the age of 7, where he grew up, but ultimately came to Minnesota to start his medical education at the University of Minnesota. He completed his OB/Gyn residency at the University of Minnesota, as well.
Dr. Abdullahi’s commitment to community health is evident through his involvement in various outreach programs, including initiatives to educate limited English proficiency populations about critical health issues.
Fluent in Somali, Dr. Abdullahi brings a valuable perspective to the diverse healthcare landscape of Minnesota, making him a standout among his peers and a trusted healthcare provider in the community.
1:20 - 2:20 pm
Waterford Ballroom 2
The Time Is Now: Pour New Life Into Waterbirth and Hydrotherapy
Katherine Simon, CNM, APRN
Natalie Jacobson-Dunlop, MS, CNM, APRN
After participating in this session, attendees should be able to identify how to incorporate water birth and hydrotherapy for a higher acuity patient. After participating in this session, attendees will be able to identify strategies for implementation of a new water birth program or how to enhance an existing water birth program. After participating in this session, attendees will have a better understanding of the physiological changes that occur with hydrotherapy and water birth to the birthing person and infant.
Natalie Jacobson-Dunlop, MS, CNM, APRN is a Certified Nurse Midwife who practices at MHealth Fairview/University of Minnesota Physicians and the Community University Health Care Center and attends births at MHealth Fairview Riverside BirthPlace. Natalie earned her Bachelor of Arts from Beloit College in 2000 and Masters of Science in Nurse Midwifery from Oregon Health & Science University in 2008. Natalie first attended waterbirth in homes as a midwife assistant in Chicago, IL, starting in 2000, and then later in hospitals and birth centers as a midwife in Portland, Oregon and in the Twin Cities. She has observed the powerful transformative effect of deep water submersion in labor with hundreds of births. Natalie is passionate about providing sensitive, quality, individualized care with an emphasis on shared decision making and honoring each person’s choice in their healthcare. She believes hydrotherapy and waterbirth is an essential tool to help birthing people successfully manage their labor, thereby improving birth satisfaction and outcomes.
Kathrine Simon, DNP APRN CNM FACNM is the Midwifery Program Manager for Allina Health Systems, where she leads initiatives to provide evidence-based, trauma informed care with a focus on shared decision making for all birthing individuals and their families. Prior to this role, Kathrine owned and operated the North Metro Midwives, P.A. from 2004 to 2016, where she laid the foundation for what was to become the comprehensive Midwifery care model within the Allina Health System. A passionate advocate for holistic birthing options, Kathrine has been instrumental in introducing and expanding access to water birth and hydrotherapy services within hospitals since 2002.
1:20 - 2:20 pm
Waterford Ballroom 3
Diagnosis and Management of Pain during Lactation
Ann Oswood, APRN, CNM, IBCLC
Participants will be able to: 1. List at least three different causes of nipple pain in lactating people 2. Differentiate between inflammatory, acute bacterial and subacute mastitis and management of each 3. Describe features seen on physical exam that can help identify sources of pain 4. Identify infant feeding practices that can put people at higher risk for painful lactation
Ann has been a certified nurse-midwife for 30 years and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant for six years. She began her nursing career on postpartum and infant pediatric units, and has practiced midwifery in Connecticut, Missouri and Minnesota. Lactation care has been her primary focus since 2017. Ann currently works in the MHealth Fairview midwifery clinics, providing full-spectrum lactation support from pregnancy through weaning. In her spare time she likes to hike, cook, garden and spend time at the cabin. She has three children, now all in their 20s, and 9 years of cumulative breastfeeding experience.
2:20 - 2:40 pm
Lobby/Exhibit Hall
BREAK
Coffee, Tea, Cookies
2:50 - 3:50 pm
Waterford Ballroom
Moving Beyond DEI: Fostering Belonging in Midwifery Communities and Workspaces
Mari-Carmen Farmer, CNM, WHNP-BC, MSN, FACNM
Identify experiences of racism and bias in clinical and professional environments. Describe the impact of experiences of racism on minoritized midwives and on health outcomes. Explore strategies for promoting belonging in clinical and professional/educational environments. Propose actions to disrupt racism and promote belonging in their own practice.
A first-generation Afro-Latina midwife and educator, Mari-Carmen has been engaged in reproductive justice work for over 20 years. Prior to midwifery, Mari-Carmen completed a degree in Sociology and became engaged in activism and community organizing in Philadelphia. She is an Americorps alum, a seasoned doula and childbirth educator, and an experienced facilitator with a strong background in designing and leading trainings, retreats, workshops, and healing circles. She has also applied these facilitation skills in the Centering Pregnancy model to care for diverse client populations and to lead workshops focused on equity and antiracism for clinicians around the country.
Since graduating from the CNM/WHNP program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2016, Mari-Carmen has been providing midwifery care for families from a wide range of cultures in Philadelphia. She is currently the President of Philly Metro Midwives, the Philadelphia Chapter of the PA Affiliate of the ACNM, and the founder/creative leader of Midwife y Maestra, a consulting collaborative focused on addressing trauma, building capacity, and nurturing community among midwives and other healthcare providers. Mari-Carmen is committed to centering the narratives of the people she serves, as she believes that stories create connections between individuals and communities that can catalyze powerful social change.
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Waterford Ballroom
The VBAC Imperative: How to improve VBAC access and outcomes while decreasing litigation risk
Jen Kamel, BA
VBAC Facts® Founder & CEO
VBAC Subject Matter Expert
Recognize and apply the three steps for informed decision making that honors autonomy Comprehend where their, and their patients’, rights and responsibilities begin and end. Name the steps to improving VBAC outcomes while reducing litigation risk.
Jen Kamel is the CEO and Founder of VBAC Facts®. Over the past 16 years, their mission has been to provide objective, accurate information about the data available on vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and repeat cesarean to parents, professionals, policymakers, and the court so all parties can make informed decisions. In this capacity, she creates educational courses for parents and CE trainings for professionals as a Continuing Education Provider through the California Board of Registered Nursing.
She speaks at conferences around the world on the VBAC evidence as well as presents Grand Rounds at individual hospitals. In her ongoing efforts to educate policymakers on the VBAC evidence, she has testified multiple times in front of the California Medical Board and a variety of other regulatory committees as well as having consulted on legislation and regulation in multiple states.
She serves as an expert witness and consultant in legal proceedings so the court may make its deliberations on the medical research rather than conventional wisdom. There is a tremendous amount of misinformation and confusion surrounding VBAC resulting in considerable barriers to care. It has been their focus to ensure that these conversations are guided by the medical evidence and ethics that should be the foundation of individual decision making as well as larger policy decisions and legal rulings.
5:00 - 5:15 pm
Waterford Ballroom
Conference Wrap-Up and Door Prizes
How to Win: Check off tables visited on your passport to be eligible for our coveted door prizes!
5:15 - 6:00 pm
Lobby
Community Building Cocktail Hour
2024 committed Sponsors
Platinum:
Gold:
Silver:
Local Artisans:
