Aimee Eden, PhD, MPH
Public Member
Lexington , KY
Get in contact.
Education: Dr. Eden earned her Doctorate in Philosophy in Applied Medical Anthropology and a Master of Public Health in Community and Family Health from the University of South Florida in 2013. She also holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs (1996) and Bachelors of Arts in Anthropology and in English (1993) from Ohio University.
Professional Activities: Dr. Eden is a medical anthropologist who leads the qualitative research efforts at the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). Since joining ABFM in 2013, she has designed and implemented qualitative and mixed methods projects related to family medicine scope, comprehensiveness, accreditation, training, physician Maintenance of Certification experience, and professionalism. Her research has focused on issues of maternal and child health, maternity care, breastfeeding, the health care workforce, and education. Dr. Eden currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) and on the editorial review board of the Journal of Human Lactation. She previously served as a member of the board of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) from 2010-2016. She has published book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Human Lactation, Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, Family Medicine, and the Anthropology of Work. She is a returned Peace Corps volunteer (public health, Kazakhstan 2000-2002).
Karen Ehrlich, CPM, LM, MA
Felton , CA
Get in contact.
Education: Master of Arts, Health Arts and Sciences, Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont — 2003. Independent Study in Childbirth and Midwifery beginning in 1973. Apprenticeship in Midwifery, 1975 — 1976. Bachelor of Science, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York — 1968.
Professional Activities: Karen Ehrlich, MA, CPM, LM has been a childbirth educator, health educator, and midwife since 1975. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of MEAC and serves as chair of the Continuing Education Committee, having been a Continuing Education Unit reviewer since 2007. Additionally, she has worked as a midwifery educator at Sage Femme Midwifery School and the Institute of Feminine Arts, and has been a module preceptor for National College of Midwifery. She has been an active member of California Association of Midwives, and has been a supporting member of Midwives Alliance of North America, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, Citizens for Midwifery, Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health, International Childbirth Education Association, and Citizens for Health.
Fionda Williams Brock, MSN, MSHS, RN
Board President
Phoenix, AZ
Education: Fionda holds a Master of Science degree in International Health and a Master of Science degree in Nursing Education, as well as Bachelor degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. Fionda is currently pursuing a doctorate in Naprapathic Medicine. In addition to her educational achievements, she is a certified Functional Medicine and Trauma Specialist and has completed coursework and certifications in Midwifery, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence.
Professional Activities: Fionda, a Registered Nurse with 20 years of experience, has established herself as an executive leader in various healthcare sectors, including hospice, home health, community health, public health, and Indigenous corporations. Her expertise extends to serving as a Certified Indian Child Welfare Act home provider for the Navajo Nation and a Medically Complex Youth provider. During her 10-year tenure with the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Fionda held the position of a nurse officer in several Indigenous communities, where she delivered comprehensive maternal, newborn, and community care across all age groups. As a dedicated activist, she empowers families through healthy pregnancy, childbirth, and trauma-informed child development. Presently, her clinical work focuses on providing interventions for trafficked and traumatized toddlers. In addition to her hands-on work in healthcare, Fionda’s expertise also encompasses accreditation and academic program design. Over two decades, she has consulted with healthcare organizations and academic institutions, serving as vice dean, department chair, academic program designer and guest lecturer for nursing and healthcare programs. As an accreditation consultant, Fionda has secured deficiency-free, full accreditation from The Joint Commission (TJC), Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and supported schools through their reaccreditation from MEAC. Her corporate leadership and commitment to midwifery profession was recognized in an offer to serve as Chief Academic Officer at a MEAC-accredited institution.
Scottie Hale Buehler, CPM, PhD
Austin, TX
Get in contact.
Education: PhD in the history of science and medicine from UCLA; MA (2015) in the history of science and medicine from UCLA; CPM (2010); studied midwifery at the Association for Texas Midwives Training Program; BA (2006) in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies.
Professional Activities: Scottie Buehler is a midwife turned historian of medicine. Her book monograph explores the pedagogical practices and objects of midwifery training programs in the eighteenth-century French Atlantic. After earning her BA in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, she became licensed as a Certified Professional Midwife in 2010 and founded and operated a homebirth midwifery practice in Austin, Texas. She continues to assist at births and is on the board of directors of a non-profit, social justice-oriented birth center.
Megan Koontz, MSM, LM, CPM
Anchorage, AK
Education: Ms. Koontz obtained her Bachelor of Midwifery degree in New Zealand in 2001, followed by a Masters in Midwifery in 2015.
Professional Activities: Originally hailing from New Zealand, Megan has an international background that has shaped her career as a midwife. In 2005, she made the decision to move to the United States. Megan has two children—one born in the water at home and the other in a hospital following a transfer. Throughout her professional journey, Megan has served as a midwife in diverse settings, including home births, birthing centers, and hospitals, spanning New Zealand, Alaska, and California. Over the years, she has had the privilege of attending people birthing through a wide range of experiences ranging from natural home births to hospital births involving epidurals and cesarean sections. Megan holds the credentials of a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), certified by the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM). Furthermore, she is a Licensed Midwife (LM) in both California and Alaska. Actively involved in the midwifery community, she has served in the past as a board member for the national body of NAPM (National Association of Certified Professional Midwives). Beyond her professional endeavors, Megan finds solace and joy in the great outdoors. Skiing, skating, hiking, and biking are among her favorite activities, and surprisingly, she has discovered a newfound appreciation for Alaskan winters that rivals her love for summer.
Sarah McBride, CPM
Treasure Valley, ID
Education: 2021 Diploma of Midwifery, Mercy in Action College of Midwifery; 2012 Birth Arts International Trained Doula
Professional Activities: Sarah McBride is a staff midwife at Sage Midwifery, a busy home birth practice that serves the Treasure Valley, Idaho. Sarah is passionate about midwifery, mental health, positive outcomes, and bringing humanity and care back into healthcare. She hopes to leave a legacy of improving student-preceptor relationships. Sarah’s introduction to birth work began when she became a mother in 2009. After hearing nightmare birth stories from her friends, she discovered doula work and then midwifery. She was a doula trainer for Mercy In Action from 2015-2017. She is a Mercy In Action College of Midwifery graduate and licensed in the state of Idaho. Prior to serving on the MEAC board, Sarah has served in other board positions as a regional representative for the Idaho Midwifery Council, and event coordinator/treasurer for Cradle, an education and advocacy-focused community group, in Lewisburg, PA. She has also volunteered as a peer breastfeeding leader for Breastfeeding USA. She is the youngest of 7 children and grew up around the globe as a military brat. Her parents inspired a love of humor, literature, education, travel, and service. In her spare time, Sarah loves being with her husband of 16 years and their three children. Her hobbies include nature therapy, reading, writing, and lifelong learning.
Kristen Benoit, MA, BSM, CPM, LM
Secretary
New York
Education:
Professional Activities:
Tanya Smith-Johnson, MS, CPM
Mississippi
Education:
Professional Activities:
Nasima Pfaffl
Arizona
Education:
Professional Activities: