Bastyr University and Seattle Midwifery School (SMS), which includes the Simkin School for Allied Birth Vocations, have announced the merger of the two organizations.
The move brings together two 30-year-old Seattle health-care and educational institutions.
“Bastyr University is excited to be joining resources with Seattle Midwifery School,” said Bastyr President Daniel K. Church. “This merger is a wonderful opportunity to advance our respective missions to continue educating future leaders in natural health sciences, midwifery and the childbirth professions.”
As a result of the merger, which has been approved by regional accrediting body the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), Seattle Midwifery School will fully integrate into Bastyr, creating the Department of Midwifery in Bastyr’s School of Natural Health Arts and Sciences.
Bastyr University has submitted a proposal to NWCCU to offer one of the first direct-entry Master of Science in Midwifery programs in the US through the new Department of Midwifery. The proposed program, which will also be submitted for approval to the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, will prepare graduates for national certification as Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs).
The Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations at Bastyr also will be established as a result of the merger. The center will offer certificate training courses for birth and postpartum doulas (who provide non-medical, non-midwifery care for mothers), lactation educators and consultants, and childbirth educators, as well as continuing education in maternity care topics.
Seattle Midwifery School began offering these programs in 1988 and has educated more than 5,400 students. The Simkin School for Allied Birth Vocations was founded in 2008 named in honor of childbirth educator Penny Simkin. The school has celebrated 40 years in the field of childbirth.
“Seattle Midwifery School is excited about the opportunity to merge with Bastyr University,” said Mary Yglesia, executive director of Seattle Midwifery. “Offering a regionally accredited degree program for midwifery students has long been a part of our strategic plan. It has not been achievable as a small, independent school, and by joining resources with a much larger regionally accredited institution we can reach this goal.
“We believe the added value of a degree, coupled with additional access to financial assistance, will create greater opportunities for our students.”
Discussions surrounding the proposed affiliation began in December 2007, with the stated goals of expanding Bastyr University’s midwifery education offerings and enabling Seattle Midwifery School to transition its certificate program to a regionally accredited degree program. Bastyr University currently offers a certificate in naturopathic midwifery, which trains midwives who are also naturopathic physicians. The certificate program, which was exclusively available to Bastyr’s naturopathic medicine students, will be replaced by the master of science in midwifery.
