Brooklyn Midwifery Group
Trinisha Williams, CM, MPH, LCCE, FACCE, CLC
Trinisha Williams began her career in health care in 1999, when she graduated from Hunter College with a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Women's Health. After completing her MPH, she served as the Coordinating Manager of Health Education in the OB/GYN department at Bellevue Hospital Center, the Community Outreach Manager at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and as a Health Educator with the Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership. Trinisha became a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator in 2002, and completed a Masters of Science in Midwifery at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in 2003. She spent the next decade working as a midwife and educator in New York City hospitals, and she founded her home birth midwifery practice, Midwife in the City, in 2014. She currently teaches midwifery students at SUNY Downstate and attends home, hospital, and birthing center deliveries. She joined Brooklyn Midwifery Group in 2018.
Yuen Chan, CNM, DNP
Yuen earned a BS in Health Care Management at SUNY Stony Brook in 2003, and went on to earn a BSN from the same university in 2007. After completing her BSN, Yuen began her career as an RN in North Shore University Hospital's Level III NICU. She also promptly enrolled in Stony Brook's Nurse-Midwifery program, and completed her MSN in 2009. Yuen has since cared for women and infants in a variety of settings, including Brookdale Hospital's OB/GYN Department, Lutheran Medical Center's Chinese Health Clinic, the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, and a private OB/GYN practice. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Adelphi University's College of Nursing. Yuen earned her DNP in Nurse-Midwifery at SUNY Stony Brook in 2014, and joined the Brooklyn Midwifery Group in 2015. She is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.Lola Ademola, CNM, CLC
Olufunmilola "Lola" Ademola graduated from the Osun State School of Nursing in Nigeria in 1991, and received her midwifery degree from the same university in 1996. She worked as a nurse-midwife at the Talent Hospital and Medical Center until 1998, when she relocated to the New York City area. Lola worked as a labor & delivery nurse at Saint John's-Episcopal Hospital in Queens and at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan while completing her BSN at York College her MSN in Nurse-Midwifery at SUNY Downstate. She began her US midwifery career at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, where she provides full-scope midwifery care, precepts medical and midwifery students, and leads group prenatal classes using the "Centering Pregnancy" model. Following her passion for low-intervention and out-of-hospital birth, Lola joined our team as a part-time, full-scope midwife in 2016.
Consulting Obstetricians and Owners
Norma Veridiano, MD, JD
As co-founder of Brooklyn Birthing Center, Norma Veridiano, MD, has been an invaluable source of support and guidance in the development of our practice. She is a board certified OB / GYN with a large private practice in Brooklyn. Although she has retired from the practice of obstetrics, she remains a terrific referral for clients in need of gynecological follow-up not within the purview of midwives.James Ducey, MD, FACOG
James Ducey, MD is a board certified OB / GYN and Perinatologist (high risk specialist). He is Director of both the Division of Maternal / Fetal Medicine and the Center for Women’s Health at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) North Shore LIJ. He will not permit any attending OB physician at SIUH to perform a primary elective cesarean section. He recognizes that the maternal mortality rate in the US is on the rise because of the dramatic increase in unnecessary cesarean sections. Dr. Ducey is available 24/7 for consultation on any question regarding our clients. He reviews all new OB charts, and reviews all client charts at 36 weeks to ensure that clients are eligible to birth at BBC in compliance with our Policies and Procedures.Office Staff
Evelyn Silva
Evelyn is a Certified Medical Assistant with nearly 20 years of experience in clinical and community settings. After completing her AOS in Medical Assisting at Mandl School of Allied Health, Evelyn spent over a decade working on social science research studies as an interviewer, counselor, and phlebotomist for the New York Academy of Medicine. She later worked as a research assistant for the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, coordinating outreach and training team members on HIV counseling and phlebotomy. More recently, Evelyn served as a junior research scientist with the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, a health educator at BOOM!Health, and a National HIV Behavioral Surveillance interviewer for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Evelyn is fluent in English and Spanish.
Rachel Anne M. Libon, RN, CLC
Rachel Anne M. Libon has worked in a variety of social service and public health settings since 1999. Her experience includes assisting with community sanitation projects in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, working as a residential aid in a homeless shelter in Ireland, and spearheading cooperative development initiatives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon. She was hired at Brooklyn Birthing Center in 2012, where she maintains practice data and coordinates special programs, including BBC's Baby-Friendly Initiative. Rachel Anne holds a BA in Cultural Studies from Macalester College and a BSN at CUNY School of Professional Studies."I believe everyone deserves compassionate, empowering, and individualized care. The knowledge I gained while working at BBC was invaluable during my own pregnancies and birth experiences, and I aspire to make information and health care options accessible to all families."
Specialists and Educators
Tova Ovits, IBCLC
Tova graduated from Pace University with a BA in English. While nursing her youngest child, she read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and discovered how much she didn’t know while nursing her older kids. Tova has been dedicated to providing lactation support ever since. She became a La Leche League Leader and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant to help even more families enjoy a healthy, happy beginning.Aphrodite Dikeakos, RD
Aphrodite Dikeakos earned a BA in Biology at Bernard Baruch College in 1994, and went on to complete her MS in Nutrition Sciences at Brooklyn College in 2001. While pursuing her masters degree, Aphrodite completed a dietetic internship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weil Cornell Medical Center. Her past work experience includes working as a bionutritionist at the Rockefeller University Hospital; a clinical dietitian in Athens, Greece; a Clinical Nutrition Manager at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai; and a Nutrition Consultant at Medwell Women's Health Services, our affiliated OB / GYN practice. Aphrodite has a special interest in working with pregnant clients, and enjoys working with Brooklyn Midwifery Group to promote holistic perinatal health.
Birth Assistants
Kathryn Peck, RN, BSN, CD, CLC
Kathryn Peck was born in the Bronx and raised in the lovely suburban town of Pleasantville, NY. Throughout her life, Kathryn has worked as a supporter for those in need, often providing a voice for the voiceless. From her first job as a Special Olympics coach in high school and then as an advocate for citizens with mental illness in the criminal justice system while at Bennington College, she knew from an early age that she wanted to be in a position of assistance, using the qualities of compassion and grace in the service of others. Since receiving her certification as a Labor Support Doula, Kathryn has become an active participant in the NYC birth community, attending births frequently and empowering clients throughout the city by giving them what they need most: an understanding ear, an informed and unbiased opinion and most importantly confidence in themselves.Kathryn is a graduate of the accelerated BSN nursing program at SUNY Downstate, and she is working towards a graduate degree in certified nurse-midwifery. She serves as the Birth Assistant Program Coordinator at BBC.
"I am so proud to be a part of what the BBC offers to families. I've witnessed first hand the difference that birthing with privacy, respect and kindness can make. For those women who choose to give birth in this setting I already feel so confident that the experience will be a source of personal growth and joy and I feel privileged and honored to share in that."
Shalawn Facey, CD, CLC
Shalawn Facey is a New York native, born and raised in Brooklyn. She had her first child in 2003 and became deeply committed to motherhood. As a new mother, she quickly realized the importance of lactation support. She trained as a postpartum doula, labor doula, and certified lactation consultant in order to provide this crucial support for other new and expecting parents. In addition to working as a private doula, Shalawn teaches a Newborn Care for Expecting Parents class and works as a BBC birth assistant.Maggie Torrance, CD, CLC
Maggie Torrance began her career in human services in 2005, when she started working as a counselor for at-risk adolescents at Ramapo for Children in Rhinebeck, NY. During her tenure at Ramapo for Children, Maggie taught independent living skills, developed a GED curriculum, and conducted outreach. She was eventually promoted to Program Manager. In 2006, Maggie worked with pregnant and parenting adolescents at the Triple L Youth Ranch. In 2011, she completed a DONA Birth Doula Training and started her freelance doula practice. Maggie was hired as an on-call birthing assistant at BBC in 2011. She holds a BA in Family Science from Anderson University."I began working with pregnant and parenting clients and attending births in 2006. I immediately fell in love with birth work, and I have since attended over 75 births. I enjoy working with women and their families, and I feel honored to be present during their special, life-changing events."
Angie Ferin, RN, BSN, CLC, CD
Angie Ferin discovered her passion for birth work after having her first child in 1999. She became a DONA-certified doula in 2002, and went on to teach private childbirth, newborn care, and lactation classes in addition to working as a labor support and postpartum doula. She also taught childbirth education at the Inwood House, an organization serving pregnant and parenting teens in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. In 2011, Angie graduated from the Long Island College Hospital School of Nursing, obtained her RN license, and became a Certified Lactation Counselor. She went on to work as a nurse in a pediatrician's office, where she facilitated groups classes for new parents. Prior to training as a birth assistant at BBC, Angie assisted home birth midwives in both New York and Amsterdam, Netherlands. She now works as a birth assistant and postpartum home visit nurse for BBC and is purusing a masters degree in nurse-midwifery.
"I believe in empowering women by encouraging them to gather information and make educated choices about their birth and about parenting."
"I believe in empowering women by encouraging them to gather information and make educated choices about their birth and about parenting."
Caryne Jean Michel, CD, CLC
Caryne Jean Michel has been working in health care administration at Eastern Cardiology Associates & Dean Street Medical PC since 2002, and she served as Administrative Assistant for the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad from 2004 - 2013. Her on-the-job exposure to a variety of issues in health care is complimented by a BS in Biology from Medgar Evers College. After completing her degree in 2010, Caryne became deeply interested in birth work. She became a DONA-certified doula in 2012 and a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2013, and has continued to develop her skills by attending trainings on acupressure, rebozo, VBAC support, bereavement, and more. Caryne completed the Beginning and Intermediate Midwifery Skills Practicum with Chanti Smith in 2013, and began training as a Birth Assistant at BBC shortly thereafter. She is now pursuing an MS in midwifery at SUNY Downstate. Caryne is fluent in French and Haitian Creole.Nicole Denuccio, RN, BSN, CLC, LCCE
Nicole DeNuccio has focused her education and career on supporting individuals, families, and communities in having meaningful decision-making power in the choices that affect their health and well-being. Before discovering her deep connection to birth work, Nicole received a BA in Development Studies from UC Berkeley in 2009 and worked in the nonprofit industry conducting community-based research on public health, advocating for policy change, and connecting people to vital healthcare services, in Oakland, California; Durban, South Africa; and across NYC. She went on to become a DONA-trained birth doula in 2014, a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) in 2015, and a Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) in 2016. Nicole received her BS in Nursing from New York University and became a Registered Nurse (RN) in 2016, and is working towards an advanced practice degree to become a Certified Nurse-Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner. Nicole joined the BBC team as a Birth Assistant in 2015, and continues to work as a home birth midwifery assistant and volunteer as full-spectrum doula in the NYC public hospital system.“I believe that all people deserve to birth in a safe and supportive environment, receive respectful, holistic care, and access to the information they need to make the choices that are right for them. I am continually in awe of the inner strength and wisdom of all birthing people. I celebrate in the immense joy that birth brings them and their families. I am committed to supporting people in having the positive and empowering birth experiences they choose, and am inspired by the transformation and growth that is possible with this kind of care, and the reverberating impact this has on all aspects of people’s lives. I am grateful to be a part of BBC’s work to make this kind of care more accessible to families in NYC.”
Jackie Martin, RN, BSN
Jackie Martin earned a BA in Women's Studies in 2006, and spent the next two years working as a Public Education Coordinator for MADRE, a non-profit working to empower women and children around the world. Jackie has always been passionate about reproductive health, and she experienced the benefits of midwifery care firsthand as a BBC client during her own pregnancy. This experience inspired her to work towards providing all families with patience, kindness, and respect during their own childbearing journeys. Jackie earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and a BSN at CUNY School of Professional Studies. In addition to her work as a Birth Assistant, Jackie provides home visits for perinatal clients.
Cecilia Duran, RN
Cecilia Duran began her career in reproductive health in 2012, when she completed her training as a labor and postpartum doula with DONA. While growing her private doula practice, Cecilia volunteered as a birth doula for teen parents at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and worked as an office manager for a small midwifery practice. In 2015, she enrolled in the Graduate Entry Prespecialty Nursing program at Yale University, where she completed her diploma in nursing and is currently working toward a master's degree in midwifery and women's health. Prior to pursuing a career in healthcare, Cecilia earned a bachelor's degree in international relations and worked for a variety of non-profits. Cecilia is fluent in Spanish. She joined the Brooklyn Birthing Center team in 2017. Sarah Colbath, RN, BSN, CLC, LMT
Sarah Colbath earned an Associate's Degree in Massage Therapy in 2008, and spent the next several years practicing as a Licensed Massage Therapist using a variety of techniques- including Swedish, shiatsu, deep tissue, myo-fascial release, and reflexology. She later obtained a certification in Prenatal Massage and trained as a labor and postpartum doula. Eventually, Sarah's work with perinatal clients inspired her to pursue a degree at Hunter College School of Nursing, where she graduated with honors in May of 2017. She joined the Brooklyn Birthing Center team shortly thereafter. Sarah is currently pursuing a graduate degree in midwifery at SUNY Downstate.
Larisa Sunderland, RN
Larisa has been fascinated by birth since childhood. As the daughter of a doula, Larisa was exposed to birth work at a young age- and she even witnessed the birth of her younger sister! Prior to becoming a nurse and birth worker, Larisa earned a BA in English from Mount Holyoke College. She worked as an educator and editor for a variety of health-focused non-profit organizations, and later obtained a position as a phlebotomist at One Medical Group in Manhattan. She volunteered with the Yale Doula Project while earning her nursing certificate at Yale University, where she is currently working toward an MSN in Nurse Midwifery and Women's Health.
Eva Martineau-Ocasio, RN, BSN, MPH, IBCLC, LCCE
Eva began her work in Maternal/Child health in 2007 as research coordinator for a WIC clinic in Bronx, NYC while pursuing her Master's in Public Health at Columbia University. In 2009, She went on to work at the NYC Department of Health in the Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive health providing technical assistance to hospitals seeking to improve their breastfeeding policies and practices. In this position, Eva met and was inspired by midwives and fell in love with birth work. In 2011, she became a board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and returned to direct client services as coordinator for breastfeeding and childbirth education services at another Bronx WIC clinic. During that time, she also served as doula for births of friends, family and acquaintances. In pursuit of her ultimate goal as midwife, she returned to obtain her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing and is currently enrolled in the Master's in Nurse-Midwifery program at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She feels passionately about the significance of the birth experience in the human life course - especially among historically disempowered populations. "Birth is transformative. Not only do our roles transform from laboring person to parent and couple to family, but our attitudes and dispositions can also be transformed by our birth experiences. An empowering birth will create an empowered mother who can in turn empower her family and potentially even her society. It is a privilege to care for, bear witness to and support BBC families in this transformation."
Siobhan Whalen, CD, CLC
Siobhan Whalen is a DONA International labor support and postpartum doula living in Brooklyn. Her immersion in a wellness-centered, holistic community in Ithaca, NY ignited a passion for empowering all beings to trust the power of their bodies and helped her heed the call of being a birth worker. She considers it a privilege to provide service throughout one of the most transformative experiences of a family’s life. As an aspiring midwife, Siobhan grounds her practice in a formal knowledge of the birth process and the trust that the wisdom of a person’s body is the greatest guide. Siobhan has been blessed to learn from remarkable parents, families, midwives, doulas, and birth advocates and has joined them in solidarity with the pivotal task of preserving the sanctity of birth. Siobhan has trained as a midwifery assistant with Chanti Smith, CPM and at The Farm Midwifery Center and as a Certified Lactation Counselor with the Healthy Children's Center for Breastfeeding. She currently works as a birth assistant with Kimm Sun, CNM at Sunrising Midwifery and at the Brooklyn Birthing Center. In her longtime work in youth development, Siobhan developed an understanding of the unique needs of families of color, LGBTQ families, and families with individuals with disabilities. She offers this understanding and support to all families preparing for the extraordinary journey of birth. Siobhan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and is currently completing a Masters of Midwifery at SUNY Downstate as well.
