UMSN Celebrates the Life of Terri Murtland Through Annual Lectureship and Scholarship

Terri’s enthusiasm motivated nursing students and even high school students considering nursing, to choose midwifery. After she passed away from cancer, her family established the Terri Murtland MSN, CNM Lectureship and Scholarship Program. The initial idea was for the lectureship, but Terri’s strong mentorship of students and young midwives inspired her mother to suggest adding the scholarship to support students in the UMSN Midwifery Program.

 

Soo Downe, RM, MSc, PhD, OBE, from the University of Central Lancaster, England presented, “Normal Childbirth: Evidence and Debate” at this year’s lectureship. The presentation shared new research involving multiple approaches to promoting physiological childbirth and avoiding unnecessary or non-evidence based care practice which may lead to increased caesarian births in hospitals. Much of the focus was the role of physiological processes, but she also discussed the mother’s wishes during the pregnancy. Dr. Downe urged better cooperation and communication by all members of the maternity care team to provide more personalized care for the mother and child. This approach and philosophy is something that Terri excelled in, being a role model for interprofessional communication and collaboration.

 

The lectureship was attended by Terri’s colleagues, friends and family, as well as members of the University of Michigan School of Nursing and Health Systems who didn’t know Terri but saw the value in the lectureship. UMSN’s Dr. Lisa Kane Low said, “It was an honor to have been a colleague of Terri’s and to see her dedication to increased access to midwifery care for as many families as possible. In order to do that, she was a key advocate in the development of the midwifery education program at the UMSN back in 1990 and today her legacy, in the form of this scholarship, assures that we are always working toward that goal of increasing the number of midwives who can be there for families."

 

This year’s scholarship was awarded to Annie Lewandowski, a Masters student at the UMSN, who shares many of Terri’s interests. Annie supports normal, physiologic birth, as well as learning about and practicing evidence-based midwifery care.  She’s also interested in international midwifery. She said, “I am honored to receive the Terri Murtland Scholarship. I am so thankful to the Murtland family for their incredible generosity and dedication to midwifery education.  Terri's life and work are such an inspiration, and this scholarship is a lovely way to carry on her legacy."

 

Past recipients agree the scholarship was an important part of their education.  Jennifer Kittell, CNM, is currently a practicing midwife in upstate New York, providing full scope midwifery care. She said, “The scholarship helped me better balance being a mom, wife, nurse, and student. I was able to work less hours and focus on my midwifery education because of the scholarship.  It was awesome.”

 

Tanya Vaughn, CNM, FNP, was the 2010 recipient and currently works for Oakland Macomb OBGYN and performs deliveries out of Troy Beaumont Hospital. She said, “I would not be here serving these women if it weren't for the Terri Murtland Scholarship. I was a single mom with four kids and I would not have been able to finish school without the help of the scholarship. I am so thankful for the opportunity to take care of my patients like Terri took care of hers.”