604–822–2680
Dr. Ellis, originally from Saskatchewan, has been teaching in UBC’s Midwifery Program since becoming faculty in 2004. Her special interest in global midwifery and global maternal infant healthcare has motivated her to work alongside and teach community-level and university-trained midwives in Mexico, Nicaragua, Kosovo, Zambia, Uganda, Bangladesh and Nepal. Cathy has developed a global maternal-infant health theory and practice course for UBC Midwifery and other health science students. Cathy teaches and examines in all years of the UBC program and in courses for midwives such as NRP and Midwives Emergency Skills Program. In 2019, she earned her doctoral degree at Simon Fraser University in Health Sciences (Global Health) focusing on access to midwifery care in remote Nepal. Cathy is the UBC lead for CAM’s Strengthening Midwifery Education and Practice in Somalia.
Education
Courses
Research Interests
Safe Motherhood, Global Midwifery
Publications and Presentations
(a) Journals
Begum T, Ellis C, Sarkar M, Rostoker JF, Rahman A, Anwar I, Reichenbach L. (2018). A qualitative study to explore the attitudes of women and obstetricians towards caesarean delivery in rural Bangladesh. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. Sept 12:18(1):368. doi: 10.1186/s12884-018-1993-9.
Mildenberger C, Ellis C, Lee K. (2017) Neonatal Resuscitation Training for Midwives in Uganda: Strengthening Skill and Knowledge Retention.” Midwifery. Vol 50, p.36-41.
Bacon, A, Ellis C, Rostoker J.F., Olaro, A. (2014). Exploring the role of midwives in Uganda’s post-abortion care: Current practice, barriers & solutions. International Journal of Childbirth. Vol 4 Issue 1.
Ellis C, Schummers L, Stoll K. (2013). Evaluation of the Educational and Professional Experiences of Midwifery Program Graduates in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice. Volume 12, issue 1
Ellis C, Schummers L, Rostoker M. (2011). Reducing maternal mortality in Uganda: Applying the “three delays” framework. International Journal of Childbirth, 1(4): 218-226(9).
Ellis C, Rostoker M (2009). UBC Nurse and Midwifery Two-year Project in Uganda. Report prepared for the Center for International Child Health.
Ellis C. (2008). “Here it is not like at home”: Cross-cultural competencies for midwives. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice, 7(3).
(b) Invited presentations
Presentation: A Global Midwifery Placement: But is it Ethical? International Confederation of Midwives. Toronto, June, 2017
Poster: Ellis C, Begum,T, Shaheen A, Rostoker M. Using supportive Supervision and Monitoring to Increase Quality of Care in Two Rural Public Hospitals in Bangladesh. International Confederation of Midwives, Toronto. June, 2017
Presentation: Traditional Birthing Practices and Customs in Solu, Nepal. Society for Applied Anthropology. Santa Fe, New Mexico. April 1, 2017.
Keynote Speaker: Improving Mothers and Newborns Health Through Midwifery Care. Second National Midwifery Conference. Kathmandu, Nepal. May 4,5, 2016.
Presentation: Reaching out to Rural and Remote Midwives Through Interprofessional Collaboration. Midwifery Society of Nepal. Second National Midwifery Conference. Kathmandu, Nepal. May 4,5, 2016.
Keynote Speaker: Reaching to unreached women: Strengthening midwifery services post-earthquake in-line with the policy decision 2006 in Nepal. Second National Midwifery Conference. Kathmandu, Nepal. 2015.
Poster: Nine Years in Uganda: A Global Midwifery Program. Consortium of Universities for Global Health. 2015
Presentation: A Scoping review: ‘Access to Skilled Birth Attendants in rural S.E. Asia’. November, 2014, Kathmandu Nepal.
Presentation: A Scoping review: ‘Access to Skilled Birth Attendants in rural S.E. Asia’ UBC Family Practice Research Workshop, 2014.
Presentation: A Scoping review: ‘Access to Skilled Birth Attendants in rural S.E. Asia’. Simon Fraser University. Knowledge into Action: A Collective Effort for better Health. Jan 25, 26, 2014.
Presentation. Partnerships in Global Midwifery care. Canadian Association of Midwives National Conference: Ottawa, November, 2013.
Workshop. Selected by Canadian Association of Midwives for: “Global Midwifery, the Roles We Play.” North American Midwifery Conference. Niagara Falls. Ontario, November 2011.
Poster: Evaluation of the Education Experiences of Midwifery Program Graduates of British Columbia. North American Midwifery Conference. Niagara Falls. Ontario, November, 2011.
Poster: Factors Contributing to Job Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction Among Hospital-based Midwives in Uganda. (2nd author with Rhonda-Stevens-Anderson, Anne Apoko Olaro and Monica Odella). North American Midwifery Conference. Niagara falls, Ontario, November, 2011.
Poster: Reducing Perinatal Mortality in Ugandan through a Midwifery Partnership. Canadian Society for International Health Conference, November 2011.
Co-presenter: Strengthening midwives and midwifery practice. International Confederation of Midwives Conference. Durban S. Africa, June 2011.
Reducing neo-natal mortality through professional mentorship: Canadian and Ugandan midwives in partnership. International Confederation of Midwives Conference. Durban S. Africa, June 2011.
Home Alone or Institutional Neglect: Choice of Location of Birth in Developing Countries. Paper accepted for Canadian Association of Midwives National Conference: Edmonton, Oct, 2010
Poster: Nurse-Midwifery Units Maintain Normal Birth: Normal Birth International Conference, Vancouver, July 2010
Poster: Students learn to Normalize Birth Though Global Practicums. Normal Birth International Conference, Vancouver, July 2010
Abstract: Students learn to normalize birth though global practicums. Normal Birth International Conference, Vancouver, July 2010
Abstract: Nurse-Midwifery Led Units Maintain normal Birth. Normal Birth International Conference, Vancouver, July 2010
(c) Grants
| Subject | $ Per Year | Year | Principal Investigator | Co- Investigator(s)/ Collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial University Dean’s Innovation Fund Spring Grants Program: research Development Grant. ‘Building Community Accountability: Using Participatory Action research to Inform Culturally Appropriate and Competent Maternal Health Care in Rural and remote Nepal | $20,000 | 2015 for 2016 | Dr. Jill Allison | Co-investigator with Dr. Mickey Rostoker (UBC) and Dr. Subedi Madhusan (Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal) and Midwifery Society of Nepal. |
| UBC - CIDA Muskoka Initiative Partnership Program for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. “Interrupting Pathways to Maternal, Newborn and Early Child Sepsis Initiative.” | 2.9 million over 3 years | 2012, 2013 | Dr. Charles Larson | Cathy Ellis, (co-lead Midwifery) |
| Uganda- Makerere-UBC Initiative | $55,000 Over 2 years | 2008, 2009 | Co-PI with others identified by Center for International Child Health | |
| Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences, Mowafaghian Child Health Practice and Research Award | $8,400 | 2015 for 2016 | Cathy Ellis | |
| Simon Fraser University Graduate Research Travel Award | $4,300 | 2014 | Cathy Ellis | |
| William Weber Award (for travel) for curriculum development in Nepal for Patan Academy of Health Sciences | $4,070 | 2009 | Cathy Ellis | |