Paige Atkinson, CNM, MN

“After initially receiving a degree in photography and an early career in education, I ended up in agriculture and managed small organic farms in New England. I was drawn to the work because it was challenging and feeding my local community nutritious and sustainably-raised food was very satisfying. I drew upon my history in education and jumped at opportunities to connect my customers to the processes (weather, fertilizer, sweat, irrigation, tractors) that produced the food around which their families and friends would gather. I had always had an interest in reproductive health and fertility, and as some friends began to expand their families I became interested in their emotional journeys through pregnancy. I stepped away from the fields to pursue becoming a certified nurse-midwife because midwifery is a career that allows me to combine my love for education with an opportunity to support and nurture families (as well as communities). It turns out both farming and midwifery are dynamic pursuits that can keep me awake at all hours of the day and night, but a squalling wet newborn on mama’s warm chest is a much sweeter payoff than chasing loose hogs in a midnight rainstorm!”