Mimi Niles, PhD, CNM, MPH is a full spectrum midwife and a midwifery care researcher from New York City, NY. Her work explores the potential of integrated models of midwifery care in creating health equity in historically disenfranchised communities. Her research has been generously funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health – a division of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Her dissertation work titled ‘Kairos care in a Chronos world: An analysis of midwifery care in urban public hospitals’ explored both the potential and challenges of practicing midwifery in historically disenfranchised communities. As a researcher, she hopes to generate midwifery knowledge as a tool to build equity and liberation for marginalized and minoritized people and families.
Dr. Niles was recently appointed to the NYC Department of Health Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Committee, one of the few midwives serving in this role. She is an active member of the midwifery in her local and national communities and has received various awards including the Johnson & Johnson Minority Faculty Award, Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Award, Macy Foundation’s Biggs Health Policy Scholar, and ACNM’s 2018 Carrington-Nieves-Hsia Doctoral Student of Color award. Dr. Niles now serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives.