T he nurse midwifery concentration in Georgia College & State University’s Master of Science in Nursing is now fully accredited through the Accreditation Commission of Midwifery Education.

Pre-accredited since May 2020, the program has graduated two cohorts of nurse-midwives and is the first public program of its kind to be accredited in Georgia.

“The establishment of the Nurse Midwifery program at Georgia College stands as a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing women's services in Central Georgia,” said Dr. Josie Doss, director of the School of Nursing. “The prestigious ACME accreditation serves as an unequivocal endorsement of our dedication to excellence in both midwifery education and practice.”

The program is specifically designed to solve healthcare problems in Georgia, a state that ranks poorly (48th) for pregnancy-related death. Student clinicals must be completed in Georgia, some aid programs at Georgia College specifically target local students and all graduates have continued to practice in-state so far.

The program has graduated 12 students across two cohorts while under their pre-accredited status. Monica Ketchie, associate professor of nursing and nurse-midwifery program coordinator hopes to graduate 10 nurse-midwives from each cohort.

“At this point in time, each of our graduates are still practicing within the state of Georgia—this is huge for the state,” Ketchie said. “We’re passionate about women’s health, we’re passionate about addressing maternal mortality, and we offer support and teaching to our students.”

Cavetta Tulloch-Lewis was a 2023 graduate of the program’s second cohort. She traveled across Georgia to assist as a student nurse-midwife while in the program, and currently works at St. Theresa’s OB/GYN in Snellville, Georgia. 

Originally a registered nurse and midwife in Jamaica, Tulloch-Lewis chose Georgia College’s master’s program because it seemed “family-centered and close knit.”

“It met my expectation, and my prior experience with midwifery made my second year easier for me,” Tulloch-Lewis said. “If there was a point in time that I had a concern or needed information, my director Monica Ketchie was always available.”

“That’s what I liked about the program—the lecturers made themselves available to us,” she said. “It’s amazing that we’re fully accredited, because I know Dr. Ketchie has worked hard for it.”

At her current position, Tulloch-Lewis sees mainly Medicaid patients, a population she considers underserved. She is a warm confidant for her patients and often requested by name.

“We provide the missing piece that our patients are looking for,” Tulloch-Lewis said. “To know that I’m actually helping to provide these women with the care they need, giving them a voice and addressing their concerns is an amazing feeling.”

She hopes to return to Georgia College and complete her Doctor of Nursing Practice, after which she’d like to become an educator of midwifery herself.

“I don't think a lot of people understand how important midwifery is,” Tulloch-Lewis said. “I want to help others grasp the concept and have that passion toward it as I do.”