2025 Grant Recipients

Project Midwifery Research Grant recipient

Elizabeth C. Cates          
RM, PhD

Dr. Elizabeth Cates is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine at McMaster University and an instructor in the Honours Health Sciences and Midwifery Education Programs.

With this project, the team hopes to learn more about the factors that drive midwives to leave active practice in Ontario, as well as identify potential supports to retain midwives or assist inactive midwives to return.

Mentored Midwifery Research Grant recipients

Natalie Kirby 
RM, MSc, IBCLC

Natalie Kirby, a registered midwife and clinic lead at the Collingwood Well Baby Clinic, is dedicated to advancing collaboration and innovation in healthcare. In partnership with McMaster University, she is leading research through the EMCM to evaluate the impact of the clinic’s pelvic floor program. This study will also examine the role midwives can play in improving access to care for families affected by pelvic floor dysfunction.

Allison Rigney 
RM, BHSc

Allison is a registered midwife at Midwives Nottawasaga and the Collingwood Well Baby Clinic and is affiliated with McMaster University. Their research project will evaluate how the role of a midwife in pelvic floor therapy can decrease barriers to care for the postpartum population. 

Samantha Chisholm          
RM, BSMin

Samantha (she/her) is a Registered Métis Midwife at Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe'iyewigamig in Kenora ON. Samantha’s project seeks to explore the barriers and facilitators of midwives and midwifery students in Ontario living with ADHD and to co-develop with participants, recommendations on how to further support midwives and midwifery students in Ontario living with ADHD.

Samantha Kreuger             
RM

Sam is a registered midwife practicing at the Alongside Midwifery Unit at Oak Valley Health and is pursuing her PhD in clinical epidemiology in the Health Research Methods Program at McMaster University. Her thesis project includes a population-based cohort study exploring induction of labour for suspected large for gestational age fetuses compared to expectant management and maternal and neonatal outcomes. 

Kirsty Bourret             
B.HSc. (midwifery), PhD

Ness Dixon
RM, MPH

Lorena Vehling 
MSc, RM

Bounmy Inthavong, RM                      

Vanessa Hébert, RM                                  

Mary Sharpe, RM, PhD
Wendy St. Laurent-Coutts, RM, NP-PHC/MPH, BScN, Doctoral student (Ed.)

Karline Wilson-Michell, CNM, RM, DrNP, MSN
Liz Darling, RM, MSc, PhD

Andrea Robertson, RM, MA PhD candidate
Erica Elderhorst, RM, MSc candidate  

Emma Seager, RM, MSc(c)  

Nicole Bennett, RM, PhD candidate
Liz Darling, RM, PhD
Beth Murray-Davis, RM, PhD
Mary Sharpe, RM, PhD