Trainees
Rebecca Hautala
Rebecca Hautala is currently working on her MSc Midwifery thesis with supervision from Dr. Liz Darling, Ph.D., McMaster Midwifery Graduate Program, researching midwifery-led contraception and abortion care through a social justice lens. In addition, under the mentorship of Dr. Darling and Primary Investigator Wendy St. Laurent-Coutts, Ph.D. Candidate, Lakehead University, Rebecca is co-investigator and co-midwife provider for the research project titled, Minding the postpartum care gaps for families made vulnerable in Northwestern Ontario: Can expanding the role of midwives up to 18 months improve outcomes for this cohort? An EMCM pilot project. This 2-year, mixed-methods, longitudinal study aims to investigate and address gaps in postpartum and early-childhood care in Northwestern Ontario. Finally, Rebecca is joining Dr. Darling on a Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) funded project investigating the impact of Expanded Midwifery Care Model (EMCM) funding in Ontario. Through a multiple case study design, this project will help inform and scale up the integration of midwives working within primary health care settings across Ontario.
Susana Ku Carbonell
Susana is a current PhD candidate in the Global Health program at McMaster University. She is being supervised by Dr. Liz Darling for her PhD dissertation. Her project is a qualitative descriptive multiple case study guided by Yin’s approach, which aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted midwifery services in Lima Metropolitana, Lima, Peru and Greater Toronto Area, Toronto, Canada. The data collected from the project will generate evidence to understand how midwifery services reconfigured/ responded to ensure provision and access to midwifery services, which will ultimately contribute to ensure the provision of quality maternal and newborn care. Unearthing this evidence will generate evidence policy-making to ensure the sustainability, leadership, and resiliency of midwifery services, particularly in times of crisis.
Meagan Furnivall
Meagan completed her masters in the MHSc Health Science Education program under the supervision of Dr. Liz Darling. Meagan worked on an education study exploring midwifery students' and obstetrical residents' learning, understanding, and application of shared decision-making as part of her masters thesis. The pilot study has been completed and currently, the project is in the data collection phase, to obtain information to guide further work in shared decision-making and simulation.
Erika Campbell
Erika Campbell (she/her) is a white settler scholar, who is currently a PhD candidate at McMaster University in Global Health. Previously, Erika studied at Queen's University where she completed her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences and master's degree in Gender Studies. With the help of her supervisor, Liz Darling, Erika’s doctoral research examines the influence of dominate culture on the provision of maternity care for pregnant First Nations peoples who have been evacuated from their community to give birth.
