Erin Graham, CNM

As a high school student in Nigeria, I learned about the alarming number of women who died or experienced severe complications during childbirth. I became determined to find solutions to these issues. A few years later, when I moved to the United States to attend college, I read research done by the World Health Organization that showed midwives and skilled birth attendants were key factors in ensuring that women worldwide enjoy favorable outcomes during childbirth. I knew immediately that becoming a midwife would allow me to be part of the solution. \n I now work each day to provide empathetic, compassionate and evidence-based care to each patient I see. I hope to change the narrative around pregnancy and birth from one of fear and discomfort to one of joy, excitement and strength. I love to work collaboratively with patients so they can make informed decisions about their health. I believe all women deserve to have safe and satisfying birth experiences, and to feel seen, heard, valued and respected during their care. I want to help women sort through all the information they see online and help them figure out what can be trusted. I strive to be the voice of calm and reason for them so they can focus on their health and their families. \n My amazing, supportive husband and I have two lovely children who keep us both busy. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, listening to audiobooks and traveling.

My first child was delivered by a midwife - and during the birth, she made me feel supported and empowered. I knew then that I wanted to provide that same encouragement to other women. I left my previous career to become a midwife. \n I think of the patient/provider relationship as a team. I'm not the boss; my job is to educate and guide my patients through pregnancy and support whatever choices they make for themselves. I strive to deliver the best, most personalized care possible and ensure my patients feel confident and supported. \n I was a teenage mom and had a wonderful experience delivering my first child. When I had my second baby, I felt judged. Pregnancy should be a joyful, anticipatory time. There's never any judgment in my office. \n My husband and I have two adult children, Elizabeth and Logan. We love to travel and have a goal of visiting at least two-thirds of the 63 national parks in America. I love to do anything outdoors and am always up for a camping trip. \n Other hobbies include reading; playing with our dogs, Delilah and Dexter; and dreaming up new DIY projects. I'm always trying to convince my husband that it's time to embark on our next DIY home-improvement effort.

One of the most important women in my life inspired me to make a career out of caring for other women. My grandmother was a cardiac nurse. Seeing her care for her patients sparked my interest in nursing, as I knew that I enjoyed helping people just like she did. After spending many hours alongside laboring women as a nurse, I knew I wanted to develop more lasting relationships with my patients, so I became a midwife. \n Educating my patients and making medical care more understandable and accessible are passions of mine. Both while teaching labor support classes and in a clinic setting, I am privileged to talk with women about their options and help them improve their care experience. At every stage of life, I want my patients to feel empowered to make their own decisions about their care. That includes teaching about midwifery care and explaining how it can be used alongside other obstetric care options. \n I am continually working to further my training and professional involvement so my patients can benefit from the latest advancements in midwifery and women's care. I am involved in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. I also participated in an initiative to reduce primary cesarean section rates, and helped to implement and obtain data for a national sepsis risk initiative. Those efforts will benefit not just my patients, but maternity care as a whole. \n Our two young boys keep me and my husband busy outside of work. As a family, we love going to church, exploring nature, going on hikes, and making memories with extended family and friends. I am fortunate to get to spend a lot of time with my siblings and their kids, so my boys are close to their cousins. I'm also a big Carolina Panthers fan, and attend games whenever I can.