We are a teaching practice and all our midwives are clinical preceptors to midwifery students in the Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery program at Ryerson University.
Dione Amsterdam, RM
Dione was born & raised in Toronto & is of Guyanese decent. She received her Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery from Toronto Metropolitan University & also holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a Minor in Sociology from McMaster University. She is currently serving her 1st term on the Board of Directors for both the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) & The Toronto Birth Centre (TBC). Additionally, Dione works as an Assessor at the College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO) & serves as the Chair for the Quality of Care Committee at TBC. Dione is passionate about learning & teaching. She gives back to her community by working as a Mentor for Black Midwifery Students & is a Clinical Preceptor & Adjunct Faculty Member at the Midwifery Education Program (MEP). She also works as an Emergency Skills Workshop Instructor. Dione loves being a midwife & has a special interest in working with racialized communities as well as uninsured & non-status clients. She strives to provide advocacy & empowerment for clients & to help improve birth outcomes. Dione is a Practice Partner at Community Midwives of Toronto where she has worked since 2007.
Dione Amsterdam, RM
Dione was born & raised in Toronto & is of Guyanese decent. She received her Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery from Toronto Metropolitan University & also holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a Minor in Sociology from McMaster University. She is currently serving her 1st term on the Board of Directors for both the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) & The Toronto Birth Centre (TBC). Additionally, Dione works as an Assessor at the College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO) & serves as the Chair for the Quality of Care Committee at TBC. Dione is passionate about learning & teaching. She gives back to her community by working as a Mentor for Black Midwifery Students & is a Clinical Preceptor & Adjunct Faculty Member at the Midwifery Education Program (MEP). She also works as an Emergency Skills Workshop Instructor. Dione loves being a midwife & has a special interest in working with racialized communities as well as uninsured & non-status clients. She strives to provide advocacy & empowerment for clients & to help improve birth outcomes. Dione is a Practice Partner at Community Midwives of Toronto where she has worked since 2007.
Corinne Hebden, RM
Corinne graduated from the Ryerson University Midwifery Education Program with honours in 2008. She been a senior preceptor for Midwifery students for many years and have helped develop clinical guidelines with the Association of Ontario Midwives as well as practice protocols.
Born in England, Corinne immigrated to Canada in her early teens, and spent 10 years working as a professional stage actor before relocating to Toronto, where she became a mother and grew her interest in midwifery.
She believes that midwifery care can play an important role in supporting and empowering the pregnant person and their family. Informed choice is a key part of that journey which allows the individual to consider and weigh the decisions regarding care and treatment for themselves and their baby.
As a registered midwife, Corinne continues to grow and learn through her experiences with each client and baby. It is her goal to provide sensitive, thoughtful and safe care to midwifery clients. The journey is always different just as each individual is different.
Corinne graduated from the Ryerson University Midwifery Education Program with honours in 2008. She been a senior preceptor for Midwifery students for many years and have helped develop clinical guidelines with the Association of Ontario Midwives as well as practice protocols.
Born in England, Corinne immigrated to Canada in her early teens, and spent 10 years working as a professional stage actor before relocating to Toronto, where she became a mother and grew her interest in midwifery.
She believes that midwifery care can play an important role in supporting and empowering the pregnant person and their family. Informed choice is a key part of that journey which allows the individual to consider and weigh the decisions regarding care and treatment for themselves and their baby.
As a registered midwife, Corinne continues to grow and learn through her experiences with each client and baby. It is her goal to provide sensitive, thoughtful and safe care to midwifery clients. The journey is always different just as each individual is different.
Jessica Leibgott, RM
Jessica began working as a registered midwife in downtown Toronto in 2017 after she graduated magna cum laude from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University.
Originally from Montreal, Quebec, she came to Toronto in 2008 to undertake a theatre degree at the Randolph Academy for Performing Arts. While working as a professional actor, she became involved with the yoga community and trained to teach pre-natal yoga. This experience started off her journey into the world of birth work and opened opportunities to teach yoga and provide labour support through Jessie’s and the Massey Centre in Toronto, as well as develop a pre-natal yoga teaching program and work as a volunteer doula alongside midwives at a birth centre in rural Uganda. Inspired by her newfound passion for choice and respect in childbirth, she decided to pursue a career in midwifery.
As a midwife, Jessica aims to provide a safe and supportive space for clients and to help shape positive birth experiences. She also recognizes that education is ongoing, and she continues to engage in the important conversations surrounding equity in the health care system and the birth world that are shaping the future of the profession. She speaks English and French.
Jessica began working as a registered midwife in downtown Toronto in 2017 after she graduated magna cum laude from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University.
Originally from Montreal, Quebec, she came to Toronto in 2008 to undertake a theatre degree at the Randolph Academy for Performing Arts. While working as a professional actor, she became involved with the yoga community and trained to teach pre-natal yoga. This experience started off her journey into the world of birth work and opened opportunities to teach yoga and provide labour support through Jessie’s and the Massey Centre in Toronto, as well as develop a pre-natal yoga teaching program and work as a volunteer doula alongside midwives at a birth centre in rural Uganda. Inspired by her newfound passion for choice and respect in childbirth, she decided to pursue a career in midwifery.
As a midwife, Jessica aims to provide a safe and supportive space for clients and to help shape positive birth experiences. She also recognizes that education is ongoing, and she continues to engage in the important conversations surrounding equity in the health care system and the birth world that are shaping the future of the profession. She speaks English and French.
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Amy MacNeill, RM
Amy was the last ever graduate of the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University, and holds rural and remote midwifery close to her heart. During her time as a midwifery student, she served a variety of families across Ontario including Canadian Military families in Kingston and Amish & Mennonite families in Grey Bruce. She has now worked for over a year in downtown Toronto and has enjoyed exploring the change of pace of city life. Amy had the privilege of experiencing pregnancy and childbirth herself as a surrogate for close friends. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and eating far too much cheese. She is bilingual in English and French, and is working hard at beginner-level Spanish. Amy is thrilled to support the families of Toronto and is happy to call this city home for now. |
Alusha Morris, RM
Alusha received her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery with Honours from Ryerson University in 2012 and has since been working as a midwife in downtown Toronto. Prior to becoming a midwife, Alusha worked for many years as a Doula and enjoyed volunteering with pregnant and at risk youth. Alusha is a Clinical Preceptor at the Midwifery Education Program.
Alusha received her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery with Honours from Ryerson University in 2012 and has since been working as a midwife in downtown Toronto. Prior to becoming a midwife, Alusha worked for many years as a Doula and enjoyed volunteering with pregnant and at risk youth. Alusha is a Clinical Preceptor at the Midwifery Education Program.
Nour Shabib, RM
Hello I'm Nour Shabib! I am excited to be able to provide care in Arabic. I grew up on unceeded Algonquin territory known as Ottawa and moved to Tkaronto in 2020 to attend the Midwifery Education Program at TMU. I am passionate about decolonization and anti-imperialism with a focus on reproductive justice as it affects Indigenous peoples and other oppressed groups on Turtle Island, in my home country of Palestine, and globally. I have a background in community building, community health, and a strong understanding of the socio-political and economic determinants of health. I followed my heart to midwifery because it felt like an avenue I could positively impact people's lives, the larger community, and affect change in the systems we currently live in. Now I can not imagine myself doing anything else. My mission is to deliver safe, dignified, competent, and culturally appropriate care to my clients as well as challenge all forms of discrimination within the health care field. I am honored to go through this journey with you, your families, and your communities.
Hello I'm Nour Shabib! I am excited to be able to provide care in Arabic. I grew up on unceeded Algonquin territory known as Ottawa and moved to Tkaronto in 2020 to attend the Midwifery Education Program at TMU. I am passionate about decolonization and anti-imperialism with a focus on reproductive justice as it affects Indigenous peoples and other oppressed groups on Turtle Island, in my home country of Palestine, and globally. I have a background in community building, community health, and a strong understanding of the socio-political and economic determinants of health. I followed my heart to midwifery because it felt like an avenue I could positively impact people's lives, the larger community, and affect change in the systems we currently live in. Now I can not imagine myself doing anything else. My mission is to deliver safe, dignified, competent, and culturally appropriate care to my clients as well as challenge all forms of discrimination within the health care field. I am honored to go through this journey with you, your families, and your communities.
Fariba Shodjaie, RM
Fariba has been practising midwifery for over 23 years, and has been with Community Midwives of Toronto since 2001 and became a Partner in 2015. She became registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario through the Prior Learning and Experience (PLEA) program. Fariba graduated from University of Renée Descartes Paris V Faculté De Medecine Paris-Ouest with a Bachelor of Midwifery in 1991 and practised midwifery in both France and Iran. She is a Clinical Preceptor at the Midwifery Education Program. Fariba speaks Persian and French.
Fariba has been practising midwifery for over 23 years, and has been with Community Midwives of Toronto since 2001 and became a Partner in 2015. She became registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario through the Prior Learning and Experience (PLEA) program. Fariba graduated from University of Renée Descartes Paris V Faculté De Medecine Paris-Ouest with a Bachelor of Midwifery in 1991 and practised midwifery in both France and Iran. She is a Clinical Preceptor at the Midwifery Education Program. Fariba speaks Persian and French.
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Lisa Thacker, RM
Lisa began working with Community Midwives of Toronto in 2017 after receiving her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery from Ryerson University. She previously completed a BSc in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo in 2003, and worked in the fields of global health, food and nutrition, and teaching classical yoga. |
Bridget Lynch, RM, MA - Affiliate, Former Founding Partner
Bridget has been practising midwifery in Toronto for over 25 years. She was one of the first 60 midwives to be regulated in Ontario in 1994 following completion of the Michener Midwifery Program. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in history and an MA in women’s studies, and she is an Assistant Professor in the Midwifery Education Programme at McMaster University. She is the past president of the Association of Ontario Midwives and served for three years as the President of the International Confederation of Midwives. Bridget is a founding Partner of Community Midwives of Toronto (1994).
Bridget has been practising midwifery in Toronto for over 25 years. She was one of the first 60 midwives to be regulated in Ontario in 1994 following completion of the Michener Midwifery Program. Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts in history and an MA in women’s studies, and she is an Assistant Professor in the Midwifery Education Programme at McMaster University. She is the past president of the Association of Ontario Midwives and served for three years as the President of the International Confederation of Midwives. Bridget is a founding Partner of Community Midwives of Toronto (1994).
Jen Goldberg, RM - Affiliate
Jen has been practising midwifery for over 20 years. After completing a midwifery apprenticeship in Texas, she practiced midwifery in California and Mexico. In 2001 she became registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario through the Prior Learning and Experience Assessment (PLEA) program and joined Community Midwives of Toronto, where she has been a Partner since 2003. Jen is a clinical preceptor at the Midwifery Education Program. She has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University and is currently working towards a Master of Public Health (Family and Community Medicine) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Jen provides culturally competent care to queer and trans people. She speaks Spanish.
Jen has been practising midwifery for over 20 years. After completing a midwifery apprenticeship in Texas, she practiced midwifery in California and Mexico. In 2001 she became registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario through the Prior Learning and Experience Assessment (PLEA) program and joined Community Midwives of Toronto, where she has been a Partner since 2003. Jen is a clinical preceptor at the Midwifery Education Program. She has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University and is currently working towards a Master of Public Health (Family and Community Medicine) at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. Jen provides culturally competent care to queer and trans people. She speaks Spanish.
