Dana Brown, CDM, CPM

Executive Director

Dana Brown has enjoyed birth as long as she can remember. Growing up on a ranch in Nevada, she witnessed horses and many other animals being born throughout her childhood.

Dana began her midwifery practice by supporting women during home births in Wasilla, Alaska from October 1986 to February 1988. In 1988 she returned to Fairbanks to practice midwifery in collaboration with an family physician for ten years at the Alaska Family Health & Birth Center (AFH&BC).

Today, Dana still loves and appreciates nature, enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, traveling, photography and gardening. She also enjoys beading, reading, music, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Dana is grateful for the opportunities to give birth to her own children at home and to attend the births of her grandchildren.

Dana says, “I love and am deeply rooted in my community as a community midwife.”

Career Highlights

  • Served on the Alaska Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives for 6 years
  • Volunteered midwifery services in the Philippines for 2 several month opportunities, and plans to do it again in the future
  • Professional Midwife since 1986
  • Licensed Midwife in Alaska since 1993 (first-year licenses were granted)
  • Training midwifes as an approved Midwifery Preceptor in Alaska since 1993
  • Joined AFH&BC in February 1988
  • AFH&BC Director since 1993

Education

  • 2-year apprenticeship with Vicki Penwell: September 1984 - September 1986
  • Completed “Via Vita Midwifery” curriculum, now approved by the Alaska Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives. Dana was the first to complete this curriculum (which was developed by Vicki Penwell) during her apprenticeship.
  • Completed her initial midwifery training in September 1986
  • Continues to learn by taking many additional trainings including, but not limited to:
    • Waterbirth Certification Workshop
    • Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics course
    • Midwifery in Developing Nations course
  • Regularly attends relevant conferences for midwives and birth centers, by the following organizations plus others:
    • American Association of Birth Centers
    • Midwives Alliance of North America
    • Waterbirth International
    • Midwives Association of Alaska

Credentials

  • Alaska Board Certified Direct-entry Midwife (CDM)
    NOTE: Midwifery was legalized in Alaska in 1985, but there was no licensing board at that time. In 1990, Dana obtained a New Mexico midwifery license, in order to add credibility to her important work. She was in the first group of midwives granted licenses by the Alaska Board of Certified Direct-Entry Midwives in 1993.
  • Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives
  • Current Ongoing Certifications: CPR, Neonatal Resuscitation Program, IV and Medications.
  • Approved Midwifery Preceptor in Alaska