A Midwife for Every Mom: Working with Refugees in the US & Greece

Shortly after graduating from nursing school, Lillian Medhus, began working as a neonatal registered nurse at a community hospital with a high population of refugee women from Afghanistan. She also became involved with a local non-profit, facilitating support groups for Afghan refugee women who have survived intimate partner violence. It was these women and their stories that led her to pursue a career as a midwife. She recently travelled to Greece to work with Nurture Project International. While there she provided prenatal care, infant healthcare, and breastfeeding support to women and infants in refugee camps. Midwives, passionate about standing “with women” through every season of life, are uniquely prepared to serve refugee women. During this presentation, she will share stories of the women she has worked with, ways for students and midwives to get involved, and time for discussion about the role of the midwife in the global refugee crisis.