Conference Program
The Role of Birth Centers in Transforming Maternal Health
Closing Keynote Address
DATE: Sunday, September 14, 2025
TIME: 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
FACULTY: Silke Akerson, MPH, CPM - Executive Director, Oregon Perinatal Collaborative
Birth centers in the US currently function as an alternative model of maternity care available to a very limited number of families. At its best, the birth center model can provide safe, respectful, and satisfying care, reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, decrease costs, and create a more sustainable work environment for midwives. This makes the model a natural solution to our current maternal health crisis, yet efforts to expand access to birth centers have had mixed success. In this session, we will examine the position of birth centers within the larger maternity care system, take an honest look at strengths and vulnerabilities, and describe a path forward for birth centers to play a key role in transforming maternal health in the US so that we can truly serve the needs of women, birthing people, and their families.
Faculty
Silke Akerson, MPH, CPM
Silke Akerson, MPH, CPM is the executive director of the Oregon Perinatal Collaborative, a consultant, and a midwife. Her work is focused on quality improvement and policy change in maternal and infant health, advocacy for increased access to midwifery care, and professional development for community birth midwives. She is a leader in quality improvement in community birth and consults with state and national organizations working in this area. She leads the Community Birth Transfer Partnership, a statewide transfer improvement initiative in Oregon. She had a home birth practice for 23 years and is now enjoying life off-call.