UMSN Celebrates Life and Career of Terri Murtland through Lectureship and Scholarship
Murtland was considered an inspiration and pioneer in midwifery at the University of Michigan.
“Terri Murtland had a gift for sparking an interest in midwifery for students,” says Lisa Kane Low, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, associate professor and coordinator of the Nurse Midwifery Educatio
n Program at the University of Michigan School of Nursing (UMSN). “She found ways to nurture that spark and make sure students were able to get the experiences they needed to foster their interest.”
Murtland’s efforts are considered a key factor in the success of the U-M Health System Nurse Midwifery Service. She joined the service in 1986 when it was still in the early stages and she quickly developed a reputation as an energetic, hardworking leader. She was also very supportive of the 1990 initiation of the UMSN Midwifery program. It was the first program of its kind in Michigan. Sadly, Murtland passed away in 2008 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
With the support of family and friends Terri’s mother, Audrey Murtland, created the Terri Murtland, MSN, CNM, Lectureship and Scholarship, now in its fifth year. This year’s lecture, “The Role of Physiologic Birth in Quality and Safety Initiatives,” was given by U-M alumna Amy Romano, MSN, CNM.
The annual scholarship was awarded to Maggie Fink, a graduate student in UMSN’s Nurse Midwifery program. "I am so honored to have received this year’s Terri L. Murtland Scholarship,” says Fink. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Murtland family and to the School of Nursing for supporting my nurse-midwifery education. Terri was a uniquely wonderful person and nurse-midwife, who worked tirelessly to provide the highest quality care for women and children. Her legacy is an inspiration to me and to a new generation of nurse-midwives.”
When she completes her degree, Fink plans to wor
k with women and children in underprivileged communities. “I hope to engage in nursing education and research, and develop a practice which incorporates high-quality family planning, gynecological, perinatal, and breastfeeding support services,” says Fink. “Thank you to Terri for her passion, and to her family for this opportunity. It means the world to me. "
k with women and children in underprivileged communities. “I hope to engage in nursing education and research, and develop a practice which incorporates high-quality family planning, gynecological, perinatal, and breastfeeding support services,” says Fink. “Thank you to Terri for her passion, and to her family for this opportunity. It means the world to me. "
