RM, PhD, FACNM, Sci D (hc)
Professor
Lead Investigator, Birth Place Lab
MSFHR Health Professional Investigator
Email: saraswathi.vedam@ubc.ca
Phone: 604–875–2424 ext:5879
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Dr. Saraswathi Vedam is a Professor of Midwifery at the University of British Columbia and Lead Investigator of the Birth Place Lab. She is an internationally recognized clinician-scientist, educator, and policy leader whose work focuses on respectful maternity care, reproductive justice, health equity, and the integration of midwives into health systems.
National and international research programs examine experiences of care, access, quality, and safety in perinatal services. Dr. Vedam is Principal Investigator of several CIHR-funded studies, including the RESPCCT Study, a national Tri-Council funded project examining experiences of respect, autonomy, discrimination, and inequities across populations who engage with Canadian perinatal services. Along with Indigenous researchers Rachel Olson and Wanda Phillips-Beck, and Elder Dr Roberta Price, she was co-PI of Decolonizing Birth Research: Indigenous Researchers, Clinicians, and Communities Measuring Respect, which explored Indigenous approaches to evaluating childbearing care and health system accountability.
Dr. Vedam’s scholarship includes the development and validation of person-centred measures and metrics used to assess respectful pregnancy and childbirth care. These include the My Autonomy in Decision Making (MADM) scale; the Mothers on Respect (MOR) index; the Mistreatment in Childbirth (MIST) indicators; and the Midwifery Integration Scoring System (MISS). Collectively, these tools are now implemented in more than 64 countries and translated into 23 languages, supporting global research, quality improvement, and policy initiatives.
Dr. Vedam is also PI of the Justice and Equity in Perinatal Services Hub, one of ten CIHR-funded Pan-Canadian Women’s Health Research Coalitions established to mobilize and implement tools and curricula that respond to research findings. She was also the Founder and Chair of the Global Perinatal Task Force on Quality and Human Rights, an international collaboration of over 150 experts across 25 countries established to advance rights-based perinatal care during public health emergencies and humanitarian crises. Her work has informed clinical guidelines and public policy internationally, and she regularly advises governments, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and global health organizations on maternity care reform, equity, and midwifery education and regulation.
Announcement: The American College of Nurse-Midwives Lifetime Visionary Award 2025: Saraswathi Vedam, CNM, PhD, FACNM. Please see text of the nomination in The Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health full announcement (PDF).
Education
University of Sydney, PhD (Transdisciplinary Collaboration)
Yale University, Masters of Science (Nursing)
Yale University, Certificate (Nurse Midwifery)
Yale University, Diploma (Registered Nurse)
Amherst College, Bachelors Degree (Comparative Literature)
Professional Affiliations
Birth & Beyond, Midwife
American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Fellowship
Child and Family Research Institute, Affiliated Investigator
Women’s Health Research Institute, Affiliated Investigator
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Affiliated Investigator
Courses
MIDW 430 Comprehensive Midwifery Theory & Practice
MIDW 440 Midwifery Clinical Clerkship
Publications and Presentations
Rubashkin N, Baji P, Szebik I, Vedam S (2020) A cross-sectional study of Hungarian women’s experiences with obstetric procedures and respectful care when they informally pay a “chosen” doctor for continuity of care. Birth, accepted November 10, 2020
Basile Ibrahim B, Knopf T, Vedam S, Squires A, Cheyney M, Kennedy HP (2020) “I had to fight for my VBAC”: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Women’s Experiences of Pregnancy and Birth After Cesarean Across the United States. Birth, in press, October 31, 2020
Kennedy, HP ed., Balaam MC, Dahlen H, Declercq E, de Jonge A, Downe S, Ellwood, D, Homer, CSE, Sandall J, Vedam S, Wolfe I. (2020) The Role of Midwifery and Other International Insights for Maternity Care in the United States: An Analysis of Four Countries. Birth, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12504, published online pre-print.
Niles P, Asiodu IV, Crear-Perry J, Julian Z, Lyndon A, McLemore MR, Planey AM, Scott KA, Vedam S (2020). Reflecting on Equity in Perinatal Care During a Pandemic. Health Equity, 2020, 4 (1). https://doi.org/10.1089/heq.2020.0022
Vedam S (2019). Moving from interprofessional disarticulation to transformative dialogue and action: examining a transdisciplinary process to address equitable access to high quality maternity care in North America. Doctoral Thesis, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, October 2019, pp 1-220. http://ciret-transdisciplinarity.org/biblio/biblio_pdf/Vedam_PhD_Thesis_final.pdf
Feijen-de Jong EI, van der Pijl M, Vedam S, Jansen DEMC, Peters LL. (2019) Measuring respect and autonomy in Dutch maternity care: Applicability of two measures. Women and Birth, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2019.10.008
Vedam S, Stoll K, Khemet Taiwo T, Rubashkin N, Cheyney M, Strauss N, McLemore M, Cadena M, Nethery E, Rushton E, Schummers L, Declercq E. (2019) The GVtM-US Steering Council. Giving Voice to Mothers: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States. Reproductive Health, 2019, 16:77. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-019-0729-2
Lefebvre K, Wild J, Stoll K, Vedam S (2018). Through the resident lens: examining knowledge and attitudes about midwifery among physician trainees. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 2018. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13561820.2018.1543258
Vedam S, Stoll K, McRae D, Martin R, MacRae L, Korchinski M, Jolicoeur G, CCinBC Steering Council. (2018) The Changing Childbirth in BC Study: examining autonomy in Canadian maternity care. Patient Education and Counselling, Nov 2018: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.10.023
McRae D, Janssen P, Vedam S, Mayhew M, Mpofu D, Teucher U, Muhajarine N. (2018) Reduced Prevalence of Small-for-Gestational-Age and Preterm Birth for Women of Low Socioeconomic Position: A Population-Based Cohort Study Comparing Midwifery and Physician-Led Models of Care. BMJ Open, October 3, 2018. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/10/e022220?rss=1
Kennedy HP, Cheyney M, Dahlen HG, Downe S, Foureur MJ, Jefford E, Michel-Schuldt, Sandall J, Soltani H, Speciale, AM, Stevens J, Vedam S, Renfrew MJ. (2018) Asking different questions: A call to action for research to improve the quality of care for every woman, every child. Birth, 2018;45(3): 222-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12361
Scarf V, Rossiter C, Vedam S, Dahlen HG, Ellwood D, Foster D, Foureur MJ, McLachlan H, Oats J, Sibbritt D, Thornton C, Homer CS. (2018) Maternal and perinatal outcomes by place of birth among women with low-risk pregnancies in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Midwifery, April 02, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2018.03.024
Vedam S, Stoll K, MacDorman M, Declercq E, Cramer R, Cheyney M, Butt E et al. (2018) Mapping integration of midwives across the United States: Impact on access, equity, and outcomes. PLoS ONE 2018. 13(2): e0192523. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0192523
Rubashkin N, Szebik I, Baji P, Szántó Z, Susánszky E, Vedam S (2017). Assessing quality of maternity care in Hungary: expert validation and testing of the mother-centered prenatal care (MCPC) survey instrument. BMC Reproductive Health, 2017. 14:152. DOI 10.1186/s12978-017-0413-3
Vedam S, Rossiter C, Homer, Scarf V, Stoll K (2017). The ResQu Index: a new instrument to appraise the quality of birth place research. PLOS ONE, 2017. 12(1): 1-19. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0182991
Baji P, Rubashkin N, Szebik I, Stoll K, Vedam S (2017). Informal cash payments for birth in Hungary: are women paying to secure a known provider, respect, or quality of care? Social Science and Medicine, 2017 Jul. http://authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S0277953617304483. Senior author and co-supervisor.
Vedam S, Declercq ER, Monroe S, Joseph J, Rubashkin N. (2017) The Giving Voice to Mothers Study: measuring respectful maternity care in the United States. Obstetrics & Gynecology: May 2017. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000514127.49923.0f
Vedam S, Stoll K, Martin, KK, Rubashkin N, Partridge S, Thordarson D Jolicoeur G & the CCinBC Steering Council. (2017) The Mother’s Autonomy in Decision Making (MADM) scale: Patient-led development and psychometric testing of a new instrument to evaluate experience of maternity care. PLOS ONE, 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171804.
Vedam S, Stoll K, Rubashkin N, Martin K, Cristofi N, Hayes-Klein H, Miller-Vedam Z, Jolicoeur G and the CCinBC Steering Council. (2017) The Mothers on Respect (MOR) index: measuring quality, safety, and human rights in childbirth. Social Science and Medicine: Population Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.01.005
Vedam S. (2016) Undisturbed Birth: Addressing Quality and safety in the United States. California Association of Midwives Annual General Meeting, Tahoe, CA.
Vedam S. (2016) Whose agenda and whose destiny? Enhancing quality, validity, and reliability in survey design. Master Class. University of Technology Sydney, Australia. April 5.
Vedam S. (2016) Person-centered maternity care: Measuring autonomy and respect in high resource countries. University of Sydney, Interprofessional Rounds, Royal Women’s Hospital. Sydney, Australia.
Vedam S, Stoll K, Schummers L et al. (2016) The Canadian Birth Place Study: Understanding conflict and controversy among maternity providers. Place of Birth Seminar, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia. April 29.
Vedam S. (2016) In search of common ground: the Home Birth Summit model for change. Place of Birth Seminar, University of Technology, Sydney, April 29.
Vedam S, (2016) Stoll K, Jolicouer G, Martin K et al. Person-Centered Maternity Care: Measuring Autonomy and Respect in North America. Canadian Association of Midwives Annual General Meeting, Victoria, British Columbia.
Vedam S, (2016) MacDorman M, Stoll K, DeClercq E, Cheyney M, Fisher T, et al. Mapping Integration of Midwives and Access to Physiologic Birth across 50 states. International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress, Toronto, Canada, abstract accepted.
Vedam S, (2017) Stoll K, Monroe S, Jennie Joseph J, Paula Rojas P, Roberta Eaglehorse R, Strauss N, DeClercq E. et al. The Giving Voice to Mothers Study: Measuring Respectful Maternity Care in North America. International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress, Toronto, Canada, abstract accepted.
McRae D, Muhajarine N, Stoll K, Mayhew M, Vedam S, Mpofu D, Janssen P. (2016) Is model of care associated with infant birth outcomes among vulnerable women? A scoping review of midwifery-led versus physician-led care. Social Science and Medicine: Population Health.
Vedam S, Stoll K, Martin K, Jolicouer G. (2015) Women taking charge of changing childbirth in British Columbia. Abstracts from Research Forums Presented at the American College of Nurse-Midwives’ 60th Annual Meeting. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 60: 637.
Vedam S, Leeman L, Cheyney M, Fisher T, Myers S, Low L, Ruhl C. (2014) Transfer from planned home birth to hospital: Improving interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. 59(6):624
Vedam S, Stoll K, Fairbrother N, Thordarson D, Dharamsi S, Kornelsen J, Klein M, Liston R, Schummers L, Rogers J Kaczorowski J (2014) The Canadian Birth Place Study: Examining attitudes and interprofessional conflict. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 14:353
Cheyney M, Bovbjerg M, Everson C, Gordon W, Hannibal D, Vedam S. (2014). Outcomes of Care for 16,924 Planned Home Births in the United States: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004 to 2009. J Midwifery Women’s Health. 59(1):17-27.
Cheyney M, Bovbjerg M, Everson C, Gordon W, Hannibal D, Vedam S. (2014) The MANA Statistics Project: Development of a national registry of data on midwife-led planned home and birth center births. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. 59 (1): 8-16.
Vedam S, Stoll K, Schummers L, Rogers J, Paine L. (2014) Home birth in North America: Attitudes and practice of American Certified Nurse-Midwives and Canadian Registered Midwives. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. 59(2):141-152.
De Vries RG, Parachuri Y, Lorenz K, Vedam S. (2013) Moral Science: Ethical argument and the production of knowledge about the safety of hospital and home birth. J Clinical Ethics, 24(3):222-235.
Vedam S, Schummers L, Stoll K, Rogers J, Klein MC, Fairbrother N, Dharamsi S, Liston R, Chong GK, Kaczorowski J. (2012) The Canadian Birth Place Study: Describing maternity practice and providers’ exposure to home birth. Midwifery, 28(5): 600-608.
Schummers L, Vedam S, Fairbrother N, Klein M, Kaczorowski J. (2012). The Canadian Birth Place Study: Development, validation, and administration of a questionnaire to multi-disciplinary maternity care providers. Canadian Journal of Midwifery and Practice, 11(1):35-45.
Ellis C, Schummers L, Stoll K, Carty E, Vedam S. (2012) Assessment of the Midwifery Education Program at the University of British Columbia: A survey of graduates and midwife mentors. Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice, 12(1), 8-18.
Michal, CA., Janssen PA., Vedam, S., Hutton, EK., De Jonge, A. (2011). Planned home vs hospital birth: a meta-analysis gone wrong. Medscape: Obstetrics and Gynecology, available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/739987
Vedam, S., Aaker, J., Stoll, K. (2010). Assessing certified nurse midwives’ attitudes towards planned home birth. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 55(2): 133-142.
Vedam, S., Stoll, K., Aaker, J., White, S., Schummers, S. (2009). Nurse-Midwives experiences with planned home birth: Impact on attitudes and practice. Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care, 36(4): 274-282.
Janssen PA., Henderson AD., Vedam S. (2009). The experience of planned home birth: Views of the first 500 women. Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care, 34(4): 297.
Vedam, S., Goff, M., Marnin, V. (2007). Closing the theory-practice gap: Intrapartum midwifery management of planned home births. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 52(3): 291-300.
Research Interests
My interests in patient-centered, evidence-based perinatal care have led me to study, speak and publish about home birth practice and aspects of care which are especially relevant to midwifery practice. Midwife attended planned home births and birth center births are venues in which midwives practice in an independent and interdependent management role, and hence, can observe the effects of applying the best available evidence and collaborating with clients and colleagues on individualized plans for perinatal care. Describing the characteristics of normal birth, the midwifery process of care, and integration of the midwifery model of care into the health care system are the areas of my scholarship.
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