Michelle Duff-McCracken

I have a long-held passion for providing client-informed care in this community. I graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in 2004 and have been practising midwifery in Waterloo Region ever since. I have been in this community my whole life and have provided community care here for 20 years as a midwife and for 10 years in personal support home care prior to this.

Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas are robust, ever-growing, and increasingly diverse. Unfortunately, not everyone has adequate access to quality care. Since 1997, I have participated in community projects addressing these community health needs. I was one of the founding participants and executive board members Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre (now Community Healthcaring KW). I helped establish community programs such as Breastfeeding Buddies. As a part of Blue Heron Midwives we have also provided outreach and care for clients of Sanctuary Refugee Centre (now Community Health Caring Refugee Health Centre).

I have an ardent belief for client informed choices including choice of birth place and have developed strong skills for safe delivery in the home environment. These care choices were important to me personally with my two pregnancies and I understand that these needs are important to all clients. As many clients do choose to deliver in hospital, I have established good collaborative team-based relations at Grand River Hospital. This has included being Head Midwife 2008-2010. I have also been active in numerous hospital committees including the Reproductive Committee, the Midwifery Quality Assurance Committee, Midwifery Integration Committee and Perinatal Committee. I look forward to working with you and your family on this exciting journey.