About MSTM
Recognizing the need for the academic and clinical training of non-nurse midwives, Michigan
School of Traditional Midwifery was developed in the late 1980's by several of the States experienced
practicing midwives, who collaborated together to create a school that would encourage and foster
the development of more practicing midwives and also provide midwifery education from the
holistic perspective of natural, non-medical birth. It was strongly believed that birthing
families could be better served by having more choices and resources for natural home birth,
and that those choices would be best facilitated by the creation and availability of more midwives
not only in Michigan, but throughout the United States. It was also a concern that Midwifery
training was difficult to find and in most cases, there were many more hopeful apprentices than
experienced midwives to work with them. Apprenticeships were very, very difficult to secure and
at best took a long time to realize. The result was a sad falling away of a great number
of promising midwifery students who became frustrated by both the lack of opportunity for active birth involvement, and the non availability of academic routes of study. This was considered by MSTM founding mothers, to be an unfortunate and unacceptable loss to birthing families and the greater midwifery community, and that something could and should be done about it.
In the spirit of nurturing midwifery interest, MSTM was born. The midwives and birth professionals
(including numerous birth friendly Doctors) who took an active interest and enthusiastically contributed
ideas - primarily from Michigan but with input from others around the country - had high hopes for
mothering midwifery by developing programs of enrichment that would encourage burgeoning interest.
It was a lofty ideal that became both a daunting task and at the same time a true labor of love which
has spanned over 2 decades. Today, Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery is a proud witness of the
growth of many, many students (from around the world) who have achieved their midwifery goals through our
programs - from lay individuals to medical professionals.
True to the essence of midwifery, MSTM has continually grown and expanded its programs to offer students
opportunities that are affordable, motivational and empowering so that each one can have an opportunity to
invest in themselves to achieve their midwifery goals and feel a personal since of accomplishment for their
hard work and dedication. As a private, licensed, vocational school, MSTM continues to this day with the
dedicated ethic that the second most important work in birth for midwives, after being guardians of birth,
is to provide achievable opportunities for growth in the field of midwifery that illuminates the way and
encourages new interest!
Mothering Midwifery - Our Founding Mothers
Casey Makela, Marion Parsons and Karen Kamyszek, Midwifery Conference 1997
Casey Makela, CM - Founder & Program Director
Traditional Midwife for 29 years, Gently Borne Midwifery. Casey has had an active home
birth midwifery practice in north east Michigan for 25 years. Throughout her
career she has practiced in ME, PA, OK, NH and MI including Amish and Mennonite
communities, and mentored with JP Baker. An advocate for unassisted birth
(see Midwifery Today, Winter 1999, Number 52), Casey has had numerous birth related articles published in Birth Gazette, Midwifery Today & Complete Mother since the 1980's. Founder of the American College of Traditional Midwives. Casey is an author, artist and is currently working on her Masters Degree in Theology.
Karen Kamyszek, CM - Co-Founder, Editor of The CALLING
Traditional Midwife for over 30 years. Karen has an active home birth midwifery practice in the UP of Michigan and she hosts midwifery study groups and natural birth support groups. Throughout her career, she has practiced midwifery in MN, MI & Canada. She was northeast Michigan's famous "light house midwife" for 16 years living in and care taking the 40 mile point light house in Rogers City. A determined and fearless birth advocate, Karen courageously brought home birth services to women in Canada until legislation limited family choices in childbirth and she was prevented by boarder patrol from serving Canadian home birth families. She served on the Michigan Midwives Association Board of Directors as Conference Coordinator for 2 years in the early 1990's.
Marion Parsons, BA, CD - Program Consultant, Conference Coordinator
Marion is a Certified Doula/Midwife Assistant. An advocate for women's choices in birth, Marion is also an active lecturer on teen pregnancy and prevention, and STD awareness. She is an accomplished and creative body casting artist and co-ownes "Mother Time Body Casting Studio". Marion currently has her BA from Western Michigan University and plans to enter law school and work towards women's rights and legalizing choices in childbirth.
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