BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Suzanne Byam is a state certified prevention specialist, working with "at risk" teens in the Gainesville area. She has worked in partnership with the following schools and programs: First Step Facility for girls, PACE for girls, Horizon Middle School, Gainesville High School, Hoggetowne Middle School, and Loften High School. She has also worked with Theatres for Social Change in New York and Gainesville. Suzanne was drawn to the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery through her commitments to Loften High School and the PACE program, and is pleased to be making a contribution to women�s health. 

Susan Nelson, ENP, CPM, is the Florida Sales Director for AK Associates, a firm specializing in sales and service of public safety IT systems. Prior to that she held the position of Alachua County, Florida, Communications Bureau Chief and E-911 Coordinator for over ten years, and served as the manager of marketing and programs for an international environmental nonprofit before that. Susan has a Bachelors degree in organizational communication from the University of Colorado and is a Florida State University Certified Public Manager. She is married and lives in Gainesville. She has three daughters, all born into the hands of midwives.

Linda Nichols, M.S., has a B.S. in Zoology and an M.S. in Medical Physiology from the University of Florida. She has worked for Santa Fe Community College for twenty years as an educator in the health sciences, in addition to teaching science to children at Jordan Glen School in Archer, Florida. She has three teenage children and has been a supporter of midwifery since their births. She wholly dedicates herself to midwifery and to education. 

Heart Phoenix is a social justice, environmental and peace activist who considers one of her greatest contributions to be that of birthing her five beautiful children naturally. Throughout the country, she is an Inspirational Speaker and Facilitator of Personal and Spiritual Growth Workshops.  Heart believes that educating, empowering and caring for women before, during and after the birthing process brings an essential ingredient to the health of families.  This is the care that is given by midwives! 

Daniela Shillington is an FSTM graduate and former licensed midwife. After practicing midwifery for two years, she is pursuing her degree in nursing at Santa Fe College. She is a childbirth educator and an advocate for the midwifery model of care. Daniela was drawn to the Board of Directors because of her commitment to the profession and belief that every community deserves excellent midwives. She is proud to live in Gainesville where women have exceptional choices in midwifery and obstetric care.! 

David West is a fourth generation Chiropractor. Dr. West attended the University of Florida and graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1997. He then completed a four year program at the Palmer College of Chiropractic, graduating in 2000. Currently he is the President of the Mid-Florida Chiropractic Association and is on the Board of Examiners for the State of Florida. Dr. West treats patients with many conditions as well as the pediatric and geriatric populations. When not in the office, Dr. West enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, being outdoors, and collecting fine wine and watches. 

Sue Mendez is the proud parent of two beautiful sons born with the help of the phenomenal midwives from the Birth Center of Gainesville. She graduated cum laude with a BA in Cultural Studies/Crital Theory from the University of Florida's English Department. She is also a certified Guardian ad Litem volunteer who advocates for children in the State of Florida's Dependency Court. When she isn't parenting or bookkeeping for the restaurant she joint owns with her husband and partners, she can be found picking mandolin in her all-women country band, naturalizing her gardens, or attempting to clean her house.

Rae Davies, BSH, CD, LCCE, IBCLC
Our Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Rae Davies whose professional career has spanned over thirty years and is dedicated to providing training programs for doulas, childbirth educators, and midwives. Rae has provided doula training for our students over the past several years. She serves on the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization board of directors, and is co-chair of the World Alliance of Breastfeeding Action (WABA) Health Care Practices Task Force; she is the past executive director of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) where she represented CIMS on the US Breastfeeding Committee, In addition to the United States, Rae has presented to audiences internationally. We are thrilled to have her expertise as part of our development, outreach and overall sustainability.

Daniella Shillington