Who We Are

Lana Becker, RM

Although a native of the Kitchener area, Lana did her midwifery training in Texas, completing internships in Texas and Ohio. Coming back to Ontario, she completed Ryerson University’s International Midwifery Preregistration Program with a placement in Thunder Bay before becoming registered in 2006. Lana worked as a Registered Ontario Midwife for her first four years with the women of Brantford Ontario, and now is happy to be settling back in her hometown!

Jennifer Bowman, RM, B. Kinesiology, BHSc (Midwifery)

Following graduation from the Midwifery Education program at McMaster University Jennifer began her midwifery career in London.  During her first degree in Kinesiology she was constantly amazed at the capability of the human body, especially during pregnancy and birth.  Her strong passion for women’s health and her belief that birth is a natural, healthy event led her to pursue a degree in Midwifery.  Throughout the program, she worked in Kingston, St. Jacobs, and London.  She also volunteered in the labour and delivery unit and the neonatal intensive care unit in Botswana. Jennifer is glad to be back in her home community and working with St. Jacobs Midwives.  She looks forward to working with women and their families to help create a positive birth experience.    

Julie Corey,  RM, BHSc, MHSc

Julie graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1997. She became interested in midwifery in 1987 when she started providing volunteer labour support to single women. Julie completed a six month internship in El Paso, Texas, and apprenticed with a community midwife for two years in Edmonton, Alberta. She also certified as a childbirth educator. She also became the mother of three children along the way. Julie continues her journey with mothers and babies with the St. Jacobs Midwives.

Evelyn Cressman, RM, RN

Evelyn graduated from nursing in 1976 and over the years worked in various settings in hospital including several years on a small obstetrical unit. She also received a diploma from Mohawk College in perinatal nursing. Evelyn's original midwifery training was in England where she became registered as a midwife in 1989. In 1991, prior to beginning work in the community, she attended many births in a clinic setting in Paraguay, South America. Since July 1991, she has been working as a midwife in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Michaela comes to St. Jacobs Midwives as a graduate of the Laurentian University Midwifery Education Program.  Prior to midwifery, she was a practicing massage therapist.  It was through her pregnant clients that her interest in childbirth began.  With a strong belief in the body’s abilities, she began her journey into midwifery.  Along the way Michaela has volunteered with local organizations providing labour support, childbirth education and breastfeeding support.  She is originally from Florida and has lived in Kitchener-Waterloo with her husband and children for over 15 years.  Michaela is excited to be working in her community and looks forward to providing care to women and their families during this special time.
 

Stephanie Gingerich, RM, BA (Religious Studies), BHSc (Hon. Midwifery) 

Stephanie graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University in 2008. She is from the KW area and spent the first two years of her midwifery career practicing in Cambridge. Stephanie fell in love with the art and science of midwifery while observing midwifery care as the norm while living in the Netherlands, as well as witnessing the birth of her sisters’ children with St. Jacobs Midwives. With a love for adventure and travel, Stephanie has enjoyed teaching English in China prior to becoming a midwife, as well as traveling in Nepal and volunteering as a midwife in a Nepali hospital. Stephanie is thrilled to be practicing in the St. Jacobs area and is honoured to provide professional and personalized care to the women and families of our community.  

Elleana Hoekstra, RM

Elleana grew up in the small town of Coldwater, Ontario.  She entered the midwifery education program at Laurentian University in September, 2004. She did clinical placements in Barrie, Toronto, and Ottawa as well as her final year with Guelph Midwives and an elective placement in Tanzania, Africa.  Elleana's midwifery journey since graduation has included working in the community of Cambridge as well as spending a year in Malawi, Africa working as a midwife and teacher for Malawian midwifery students.   She also worked in a disaster relief birth clinic set up after the earthquake in 2010 in Jacmel, Haiti. Elleana looks forward to caring for you and your family during your experience of pregnancy and birth.

Janessa Otto, RM, BHSc (Hon. Midwifery)

Janessa began her midwifery career with the Niagara Midwives after graduating with honours from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University.  She grew up in New Hamburg, ON and is very excited to be back in her home community to work with the St. Jacobs Midwives.  While studying midwifery, she completed clinical placements in Kitchener, Welland, and St. Jacobs as well as Benin (West Africa).  Janessa feels very privileged to be invited into the birth experiences of her clients and their families.

Nicole Roach, RM, BA (Hon. Psych.), BHSc (Midwifery)

Nicole joined the practice in 1998 and is proud to be raising her family in Waterloo and practising midwifery in this region. An alumnus of the McMaster University Midwifery Education Programme, she earned a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Midwifery graduating Summa Cum Laude. Nicole is also an alumnus of the University of Waterloo where she earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with studies concentrated on the area of Sexuality, Marriage and the Family. Currently, Nicole is an active clinical preceptor and is working on a Masters of Public Health degree.

Gaby Sabados, RM, BSc (Health Studies, Women's Studies), BHSc (Midwifery)

Gaby joined the practice following her graduation with honours from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University.  Her first degree is in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo.  Gaby completed clinical placements in St. Jacobs, Ottawa and Scarborough during her training.  She has worked and travelled in Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe  and Central America but is pleased to return to her hometown to continue her midwifery career. 

Andrea Horst, Practice Administrator

Andrea is our practice administrator. She will most likely be your first contact with our practice. She will be happy to answer your questions or direct your inquiries appropriately. She has been a midwifery consumer and advocate since the mid-eighties. Andrea has been a member of our team since 1994.

Diane Reid, Office Assistant

Diane assists in the office and acts as our bookkeeper.  She is the proud mom of two daughters. Diane has been working with St. Jacobs Midwives since 1998.