The Marquette Neighborhood Health Center, a part of the College of Nursing, started a certified nurse-midwife practice on June 1.
The Center received a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to address high mortality rates among black babies. Data from the Milwaukee Health Department shows the rate of death for black babies is three times that of white babies during the first year of life.
“Seventy-nine percent of MNHC’s current patients live in one of the nine Milwaukee zip codes with the highest levels of poverty,” said Dr. Margaret Faut Callahan, dean of the College of Nursing. “Providing midwifery services will help the MNHC further its mission of reducing health disparities in Milwaukee by delivering quality health care to underserved populations in neighborhoods near Marquette’s campus.”
Three nurse-midwives will work at the MNHC, focusing on the health of the women and their infants through holistic care.
