AZ Maternal & Child Health
Workforce & Policy Summit

APAL's Director, Dr. Saira Kalia is a highly accomplished perinatal psychiatrist and educator, with a wealth of experience in both clinical care and administrative leadership. She has held various roles at Banner University Medical Center, including serving as Medical Director for Outpatient Psychiatry and Associate Program Director for the Adult Psychiatry Residency Program. Her leadership and resourcefulness secured funding for two groundbreaking initiatives: the Arizona Perinatal Psychiatry Access Line in June 2023 and the Arizona Pediatric Psychiatry Access Line in April 2024.

Her contributions to the field of perinatal psychiatry include launching the Psychiatry Department's Perinatal Psychiatry Training Track and Clinical Service. Dr. Kalia provides national trainings for the Postpartum Support International (PSI) organization and has made contributions to the National Curriculum of Reproductive Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association's first Textbook of Women's Reproductive Mental Health.

A celebrated educator, Dr. Kalia has earned multiple accolades, including the Arizona Psychiatric Society’s Howard E. Wuslin Excellence in Education Award in 2020. Her recent recognition as a COM-T Women in Medicine Torchbearer underscores her trailblazing contributions to mental health, education, and gender equity. Dr. Kalia’s dedication continues to shape the future of psychiatric care, ensuring that women’s reproductive mental health is prioritized and integrated into mainstream clinical practice.

Meaghan Kramer is Senior Policy Advisor to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and is the Governor's Office lead on healthcare and public health. She previously served as Senior Counsel in the Governor's Office of the General Counsel, Special Counsel to AHCCCS, and as Healthcare Managing Attorney at Disability Rights Arizona. She teaches Disability Law at ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

David Lujan is Executive Director of Children’s Action Alliance. He previously led the Arizona Department of Child Safety and held leadership roles in K–12 education. He joined Children’s Action Alliance in 2016 as the inaugural director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, working to advance fairer tax policies and economic opportunity, and later served as CAA’s CEO and President.

His Arizona public policy career spans more than 20 years. He has served in both the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives, worked as an attorney for a nonprofit supporting abused and neglected children, and served as an assistant attorney general advising the School Facilities Board.

Biography source: Children’s Action Alliance

Dr. Alan Bedrick is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, and past Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Banner University Medical Center- Tucson. Since 2007, he has been Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona Department of Pediatrics in Tucson, Arizona and was Chief of the Division of Neonatology and Developmental Biology from 2007 - 2019. He is Board Certified in both pediatrics and neonatal perinatal medicine and graduated from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in pediatrics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, and took fellowship training at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York.

He is a Past Associate Editor of the Journal American Diseases of Children and has been honored by the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine as an Alumni Fellow and a Distinguished Alumnus, the most prestigious award given by the Penn State Alumni Association.

He is active in perinatal/neonatal public health activities in the State of Arizona and has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Perinatal Trust since 2007. The Arizona Perinatal Trust is the recognized perinatal quality collaborative for the State of Arizona. He currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Perinatal Trust.

Dr. Erin McMahon has been a certified nurse-midwife for 26 years. She is the Founding Program Director for the DNP Nurse-Midwifery Specialty at the University of Arizona College of Nursing and the Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery at the University of Arizona College of Public Health. She has been teaching in the classroom for over 14 years and precepting midwifery students and resident physicians for over 20 years. Dr. McMahon is an American College of Nurse-Midwives Fellow and past member of the American Midwifery Certification Board. She has served on national committees for the revision of the ACNM Core Competencies of Basic Midwifery Practice. Dr. McMahon is a volunteer member of the Arizona Board of Nursing Scope of Practice Committee and was recently invited to serve on the Arizona Governor’s Rural Maternal Mental Health Advisory Committee.

Aubri Perez is a Maternal Health Program Manager at the Arizona Department of Health Services within the Bureau of Assessment and Evaluation, Office of Fatality Review. With seven years of experience supporting fatality review programs, Aubri has spent the past four years leading the programmatic implementation of Arizona's Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) grant. She coordinates Arizona's Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC), supports the development and dissemination of the committee's findings and recommendations, and collaborates with partners across the state to advance initiatives that improve maternal health outcomes.

Born and raised in Arizona, Aubri earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Northern Arizona University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and toddler.

Dylan Frye serves as Director of Government Affairs at First Things First, Arizona’s early childhood agency, where he leads policy efforts supporting early childhood education, development, and health care. He brings more than five years of experience in legislative policy, along with a background in international logistics, where he navigated complex regulatory issues, coordinated with diverse stakeholders, and addressed national logistical challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dylan holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University, with academic focuses in social science and political science.

Shannon Garcia, MSN, RNC-OB, NEA-BC, brings more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience in maternal and perinatal care to her position as director of maternal health for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA). In her role, she leads AzHHA’s maternal health initiatives, supports hospitals with AIM implementation, provides clinical education and drives maternal quality improvement efforts statewide.

Shannon spent more than 30 years at Banner Health in various nursing and leadership roles across OB, labor and delivery, couplet care and Level II nursery services. As a nursing leader and lifelong learner, she is committed to making evidence-based decisions that improve outcomes and patient satisfaction and speaks on these topics at regional and national conferences. Prior to joining the organization in 2026, Shannon served on the AzHHA AIM Steering Committee.

She earned an associate degree in nursing from Mesa Community College, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. Shannon is member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the Arizona Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association, and serves as a site surveyor for the Arizona Perinatal Trust.

Genett is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been supporting young children and families in Arizona for the past 26 years. She specializes in Infant & Early Childhood mental health as a Child Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, and Reflective Consultant. Genett is the co-founder and Clinical Director of Ground Work, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the wellbeing of children and families by increasing access to high-quality mental health services. The Ground Work counseling center in Chandler offers play based counseling services to young children and their parents. Genett has served on the Board of Directors of the AZ Association for Infant Mental Health for the past 17 years and is the Chair of the Training & Education committee where she organizes community-based trainings for professionals. Genett facilitates trainings on a variety of topics including attachment, social/emotional development, positive discipline, emotional regulation, trauma, assessment & diagnosis.

Jessie Armendt has lobbied at the Arizona Capitol for over fifteen years and thrives on securing legislative victories for her clients. Her areas of expertise include maternal and infant care, health care, education, and liquor law. She has successfully navigated clients through high-profile policy fights in areas including health provider scope of practice, higher education, criminal justice reform, and industry licensure. Jessie was selected by her peers for the Arizona Capitol Times’ Best Lobbyist Under 40 award in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 and she was recognized by the Arizona Capitol Times’ inaugural Breakout Awards in 2018. She is a graduate of Rice University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Before entering the policy realm, she spent a year in a Philosophy Ph.D. program at the University of Maryland and then returned to Arizona to work as a behavioral therapist for children with autism. Jessie lives in Phoenix with her husband, two children, and spoiled cat.

My own labor and delivery experiences have inspired me to become a doula to educate moms of their options during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. To help mothers make educated evidence based choices. I love all things birth, baby and motherhood!

I'm a 43 year old mom of 9 living children and 5 angel daughters. My motherhood journey has been amazing and I'm happy to share the information I learned along the way.

Dr. Jennie Bever holds her Doctorate in Biology from UC San Diego, and a B.S. in Biochemistry from ASU. After a rough transition to parenthood with her 3rd child, Jennie recognized the need for more awareness and community support around the first months and years postpartum, which led her to found 4th Trimester Arizona in 2017.

In addition to her nonprofit work, Jennie works as a Lactation Consultant, and also serves as a member of the ADHS Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the State Maternal Mental Health Task Force and the Maternal and Child Health Translational Research Team at Arizona State University.

Dr. Rizwana Biviji is an Associate Teaching Professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University and Co-Lead of the Arizona Maternal Health Policy Coalition. She holds a PhD in Health Policy and Management and an MS in Nutrition Science. As a maternal health policy researcher, her work focuses on reducing structural and systemic barriers to high-quality care by evaluating health policies, workforce capacity, and behavioral interventions. She also examines consumer behavior and the adoption of digital health tools, including mobile health (mHealth) apps, to improve healthcare access and outcomes. She is currently engaged in advocacy efforts to expand AHCCCS reimbursement for outpatient lactation services in Arizona and establish voluntary certification pathways for lactation care providers.

Dr. Alina Boelman is a board-certified pediatrician and Managing Partner at Tanque Verde Pediatrics in Tucson, Arizona, and serves as Board Chair of 4th Trimester Arizona. She is passionate about strengthening support for families through compassionate care, parent education, and advocacy for maternal and child health.

As a mother of two, Dr. Boelman brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. Her own journey through postpartum anxiety and depression inspired her commitment to improving postpartum support and helping parents feel seen, supported, and connected. Through her clinical practice, community leadership, and public advocacy, she works to build a culture where caring for children also means caring for their parents.

Wendi Cleckner is a dedicated attorney, midwife, and lifelong advocate for reproductive freedom, birthing rights, and the midwifery community. A true desert child, Wendi was born and raised in Arizona and began her journey into birth work in 1993 when she supported a close friend through childbirth. That moment sparked a deep calling that led her to midwifery, and over the years, she has practiced around the world—including in the Philippines, Sudan, and Iraq.

Rooted in her belief in the innate wisdom of women and birthing people, Wendi has spent decades helping individuals and communities reclaim their power to give birth on their own terms. Her commitment to advocacy and justice eventually led her to law school, where she expanded her ability to serve. She graduated in 2018, was admitted to the New Mexico Bar in 2023, and the Arizona Bar in 2025.

Today, Wendi blends her legal expertise with her midwifery roots to focus on reproductive justice—advocating around issues like obstetric violence, informed consent, and birthing rights. She represents midwives and doulas across the U.S., while also educating families and birth workers about their rights and responsibilities. Her policy-level work pushes for systemic change to ensure all birthing people are protected, respected, and truly seen.

For over 25 years, Wendi has stood with families during one of life’s biggest transitions—birth. Now, she brings that same grounded presence, clarity, and compassion to another sacred passage: death. Through her estate planning practice, she helps families have meaningful conversations, make empowered decisions, and create legally sound plans that will hold up when they’re needed most. Whether it’s naming guardians, protecting assets, or honoring final wishes, Wendi helps families approach death with the same care and intention they brought to birth.

Wendi has held numerous leadership roles, including:

Current President, Arizona Community Birth Coalition

Former Director of Advocacy and Policy, Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA)

Former Vice President, Postpartum Support International – Arizona Chapter

Former President, Vice President, and Secretary, Arizona Association of Midwives

In addition to her legal and advocacy work, Wendi continues to serve as a part-time midwife and nurtures her deep connection to the land through gardening, herbalism, and traditional healing practices. She is the founder of several respected organizations and practices, including Global Midwifery, Tempe Birth Center, and Freedom and the Seed. With her rare combination of midwifery experience and legal expertise, Wendi brings unmatched perspective, deep empathy, and fierce dedication to the families and professionals she serves.

Elise Erickson PhD, CNM, FACNM has been a Certified Nurse Midwife since 2005 and earned a PhD in 2018 at Oregon Health and Science University where she served as a faculty midwife from 2014-2022. Her research lab, "Mechanisms Underpinning Maternal Health" (MUMH), is broadly focused on understanding variation in the physiology governing labor and birth to improve individualization of care practices and promote healthy transitions to motherhood/parenthood.

At the University of Arizona she conducts research on epigenetic and genetic variation in oxytocin function for improving the use of oxytocin during the birth process and addressing postpartum hemorrhage specifically. In addition, her work includes the role of epigenetic aging (biological aging) in maternal health and maternal morbidity. Through this line of study, Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and social environmental factors (adversity/ support) are considered for their role in contributing to epigenetic age acceleration.

In addition, Dr. Erickson conducts studies using wearable devices for monitoring maternal autonomic/ hormonal physiology during pregnancy with the objective of understanding signals leading up to pregnancy complications or events for enhanced prediction of labor or pregnancy-related complications. She specializes in latent mixture modeling for understanding heterogeneous and complex phenomenon. She is accepting doctoral and post-doctoral trainees. She lives in Tucson and enjoys playing in nature with her children, spouse and dogs "Biscuit" and "Gravie."

Kayla Etheridge co-founded and leads the Phoenix-Gilbert Chapter of Chamber of Mothers, established in June 2024. With a background in facilitating, certificate in nonprofit management, and a passion for helping women feel their best in all avenues of life, jumping into advocacy work with Chamber of Mothers felt like the right thing at just the right time. When not busy advocating for mothers, she spends time helping women feel their best by curating their personal style and helping them reflect their inner energy to the outside world. Kayla wears many hats and her favorites are Wife and Mom.

Gerilene Haskon brings extensive experience in Tribal relations, maternal and child health programming, and community mobilization. As Tribal Relations Director at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), she strengthens collaboration between ADHS, Tribes, Indian Health Service, Urban Indian Organizations, and the Office of the Director. Mrs. Haskon holds a Master of Public Health degree in Maternal and Child Health and a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Arizona. Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing Tribal public health capacity and building meaningful partnerships to improve health outcomes in Arizona.

Kay Jones-Clinton is a Full Spectrum Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Founder and Executive Director of Spiritual Garden Healing, a Phoenix-based doula organization dedicated to enhancing the birth experience for families. With experience supporting more than 500 families, Kay is committed to expanding access to culturally responsive, community-based doula care. As an Arizona Department of Health Services-certified doula and Health Connect One Doula Trainer, she works to strengthen the doula workforce through education, mentorship, and systems-level advocacy. Her work includes helping doulas navigate certification, AHCCCS enrollment, managed care organization credentialing, billing, and reimbursement so they can build sustainable practices while increasing access to doula support for underserved families.

Doula Princess is a licensed Arizona birth and postpartum doula with over a decade of experience supporting families from pregnancy through the fourth trimester. She is a certified lactation educator, an Amazon best-selling author of Belly Binding, and an industry expert featured in Mother.ly and Essence.

Her work is shaped by her own births: a cesarean, then a VBAC. Today she is a loving mother to an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son, and she knows firsthand that every path to parenthood deserves full preparation, informed choice, and deep respect. Her years in practice, including a season of burnout, taught her that care has to be sustainable to be real, for the families she serves and the doulas who serve them.

Princess specializes in empowered hypnobirthing methods and postpartum recovery, belly binding, and womb healing. As the founder of Bellibind, a postpartum recovery brand she honors the transition into parenthood as sacred. Whether she’s at a birth, in a family’s home, or teaching other providers, her mission stays the same: to radically raise the standard of maternal wellness care, so no one has to birth or recover after birth alone.

Dr. Matthew Nelson, DO, is a Family Medicine specialist located in Ganado, AZ, with subspecialties in Obstetrics, Health and Culture, Indigenous Health, Obesity Medicine and Nutrition, and Rural Health. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) and is board certified in both family medicine (ABFM) and obesity medicine (ABOM). He completed an Obstetrics (surgical and high risk) fellowship at Saint Joseph Hospital, and a Family Medicine residency at St Mary's Hospital and Medical Center. He holds a DO degree from A.T. Still University, an MA in Medical Anthropology from the University of New Mexico, and an MPH in Community Health. Currently, he serves as the Medical Director of Women and Infant Services at Navajo Health Foundation - Sage Memorial Hospital and holds positions at Lechee Clinic, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Page Banner Hospital. His experience includes labor and delivery, newborn care, hormone therapy, infertility evaluation, contraception, public health, hospitalist medicine, and women's health among others. Dr. Nelson has published several articles in journals in addition to book chapters and has received multiple regional and national awards, including a recent Faculty Teaching Award from the University of Arizona from his work with students.

Marisol Peñuelas serves as Clinic Operations Director for San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc., where she provides leadership and oversight for clinical operations, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, care coordination, and integrated healthcare delivery across a network of rural and specialty clinics in Arizona. With more than a decade of healthcare experience, she has played a key role in developing and implementing patient-centered models of care that integrate medical, behavioral health, preventive, and social services to improve access and outcomes for underserved communities.

Marisol is an NCQA Certified Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Content Expert and has maintained this certification since 2015. Her expertise includes healthcare quality and practice transformation, PCMH implementation, HEDIS and quality performance, value-based care, regulatory readiness, Rural Health Clinic operations and compliance, care coordination, health information technology, and behavioral health integration. In collaboration with the President & CEO of Regional Center for Border Health, Inc. and San Luis Walk-In Clinic, Inc., she has helped develop and implement scalable systems that strengthen clinical performance, improve continuity and coordination of care, and expand access to healthcare services across rural and border communities.

Marisol was a Featured Speaker at the 2025 NCQA Health Innovation Summit, where she presented on strategies for successful behavioral health integration. Her work focuses on translating healthcare quality standards and innovative care strategies into practical, sustainable models that improve patient outcomes, organizational performance, and access to care.

She holds a Business Analytics Certificate from the University of Arizona and is completing her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Marisol is committed to advancing healthcare quality, innovation, and equitable access to care for rural, underserved, and border-region communities.

KhaRemah Scotten is a community builder, and creative professional passionate about creating meaningful experiences that bring people together. Through her work in event planning, marketing, and community engagement, she has built a career centered on connection, collaboration, and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and valued.

KhaRemah brings that same spirit of connection to her role as Black Mamas Lead at 4th Trimester Arizona. She is passionate about building community among Black mothers, creating opportunities for genuine connection and support, and helping cultivate spaces where Black mamas can feel empowered, celebrated, and cared for throughout their parenting journey.

As an Arizona-based mother and community advocate, KhaRemah understands the importance of having a Village. She is honored to contribute to 4th Trimester Arizona’s mission and looks forward to helping the Black Mamas Village grow into a space where families can build lasting connections, access support, and thrive together.

Amanda Sheinson, vice president of government affairs for the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) is an accomplished professional with over fifteen years of experience in Arizona government and public policy. Amanda is responsible for leading ArMA’s advocacy team in representing the interests of its physician members. Utilizing members’ input, she steers the organization's advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels of the government. Prior to joining ArMA, Amanda worked in private sector government relations where she lobbied state and local governments on behalf of clients on a diverse array of issue areas. Sheinson also served as the director of legislative affairs for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and on staff at the Arizona State Senate. Amanda holds a master’s in public administration from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in sociology from the University of Arizona.

Marina Lark Taylor is a birth and postpartum doula with Health and Safety Consultants, LLC, serving metro Phoenix. She is a registered nurse, lactation consultant, childbirth educator, and BLS and First Aid instructor. She brings six years of experience as a certified doula and 45 years of experience working with mothers, babies, and toddlers.

Marina centers compassionate, patient support during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. She teaches comfort measures during labor and supports families in the early postpartum period. Her medical background informs her work, and she finds joy in serving mothers and helping people who ask for support.

I arrived in Arizona for the second time more than 42 years ago. I fell immediately for the man of my dreams and chose to marry him after only 10 days together. We share three grown sons, 13 grandchildren, and, at the latest count, five great-grandchildren. I was prepared to retire years ago and eager to begin a new adventure. Friends and family often called me to birthing sites. I suppose you could say I had a talent for bringing calm to a room. A nurse once suggested I become a doula. Like many at the time, I did not know what that meant. I researched the role and discovered a whole new world. I grew to love supporting families during a remarkable stage of life as they expanded. When the chance arose to become certified by the State of Arizona, I accepted it. After completing that process, I became the first doula credentialed with AHCCCS. I now hold contracts with three major insurance companies and am pursuing a fourth. Beyond assisting families, I enjoy mentoring other doulas to reach this point. People sometimes ask when I intend to retire, and I consider the idea. But…………..nah.

Joanna Wilder is a midwife, nurse practitioner, educator, consultant, and mentor. She has welcomed babies in hospitals, birth centers, and at home. She is passionate about walking with folks in their most significant transitions. She became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) in 2010, and a Certified Nurse Midwife in 2022. She currently serves as a CNM at Urban Midwifery in Glendale. She is the owner and founder of two homebirth practices: Embracing Birth Midwifery and Mariposa Midwifery LLC. She is working with the Think Big Midwifery Initiative in the domain of workforce development, which includes sustainability practices for the profession of midwifery.

Joanna trained as a nurse practitioner at Frontier Nursing University with a specialty in midwifery, graduating with an MSN in 2022, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2024. Her project focus was on postpartum planning during pregnancy. Joanna is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces for individuals to feel at home in their bodies. She loves seeing folks own their journey and experience the power of trauma-informed, respectful care. Joanna loves her family, puzzles, art, and walks with her pug.

Gail Williams is a Phoenix-based doula and owner of Doula4Care LLC with 22 years of experience. She provides full-spectrum support with a primary focus on postpartum care and has been a doula trainer for more than 10 years. Her specialties include postpartum support, breastfeeding peer counseling, childbirth education, twin support, special needs advocacy, domestic violence education and resources, belly casting, and rebozo support.

Gail’s commitment to supporting BIPOC families and improving birth outcomes inspired her work as a doula. Bilingual in English and Spanish, her early practice focused on Spanish-speaking families who needed translation and birth support. She centers listening, family involvement, self-advocacy, and a safe space for vulnerability. Her approach helps families envision their birth and postpartum experience and connects them with resources and a village of support.

Dr. Laurie S. Wood, Ph.D., joined the Arizona Perinatal Trust as the chief executive officer in 2022. Laurie’s 28 years career span includes various leadership positions in the acute and behavioral health sectors in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and California, with a history in operations and executive-level oversight. Past roles include CEO, COO, CNO, VP, AVP, executive, and WIS director. Dr. Wood’s leadership occurred in organizations representing each of the designated perinatal Levels of Care (I-IV) with experience in for-profit and nonprofit business models. Past employers include Oregon Health Sciences University, ValleyWise Health, HonorHealth, Kennewick General Hospital, and Connections Health Solutions. She also held faculty appointments with Educational Resources and Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Wood earned a BSN from CSU Humboldt, an MS from CSU Chico, and a Ph.D. in I/O from Grand Canyon University. Her research focus merges public health with organizational strategy to solve overarching societal problems directly targeting health disparities.