UNM's College of Nursing gets $4 million federal grant for midwifery program

The University’s New Mexico College of Nursing is $4 million richer thanks to a federal grant it received — with the money largely expected to go back to students in its midwifery program.

The Advancing Midwifery Outcomes and Resiliency grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration will be put toward scholarships for midwifery students that total up to $40,000, according to UNM, with a secondary focus on increasing the “awareness of the scope of nurse-midwifery practice.” The grant was awarded to UNM on Sept. 30.

“We’ve had a long history of midwifery here in New Mexico, and it has evolved trying to meet the needs of the communities in the health care systems that we have,” Felina Ortiz, a clinical educator and associate professor at UNM, said. “One of my favorite jobs of being a faculty member is watching the students find their voice in the program and utilize that voice to serve their communities in a holistic, comprehensive, empowering way.”

Heather Lardier, a UNM spokeswoman, told the Journal the scholarships will start being awarded in Spring 2024, although the university has yet to determine criteria for the scholarships. UNM intends to provide $40,000 to 65 individual students for tuition and living expenses over four years.

The goal of the grant is to eventually increase the number of certified nurse-midwives in the state, which UNM says can likely improve maternal health and decrease maternal mortality and morbidity risk factors.

New Mexico currently ranks third in the nation in midwife-attended births, according to UNM.

In a statement, College of Nursing Interim Dean Carolyn Montoya said the grant “will help fund our midwifery students so they can have immersive learning experiences and be prepared to deliver sensitive care and promote health equity with the diverse populations of New Mexico.”

UNM’s midwifery program has been recognized nationally for its work. U.S. News and World Report ranked the program 11th in the nation in one of its most recent lists.