Kristin Kile, CNM - Beacon Medical Group Midwifery Centered Care

About Jo Anna Curless With a family full of teachers and trade workers, Jo Anna Curless, WHNP, says she honestly has no idea when and how she decided on a medical career. As for choosing women’s health as a specialty, she says, “I didn’t choose this specialty, it chose me.” While working at a hospital in labor and delivery as a Registered Nurse, there was a need for a lactation nurse. “I happened to be pregnant at the time and was planning on breastfeeding my son, so I was “voluntold” to be the lactation nurse for the department,” she recalls. After one lactation counselor course she was hooked. Jo Anna then went back to school to earn her Nurse Practitioner degree so she could help women even more by being their provider and not “just” their nurse. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Purdue University North Central, Westville, IN, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University, Versailles, KY. She is IBCLC-IBCLCE certified (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners). Caring for women from puberty to death, Jo Anna’s philosophy as a provider is to follow the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She says, “I try very hard to meet all my patients where they are and spend as much time with them as they need during a visit to help them make informed decisions about their own health.” Jo Anna says her patients have taught her to listen intently. She hopes they feel she provides them the time they need to make informed decisions. “I am committed to providing compassionate and evidence-based care.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? I don’t have just one, because one person has not shaped who I am today. But if I had to just pick one, it would be my mother. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I was a lifeguard and a swim instructor for the La Porte County YMCA. I remember I liked teaching swim classes to the younger kids. What is your favorite food? Movie? Food: Tacos Movie: A League of Their Own (1992) What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? I was good at anything that wasn’t government, history, geography or statistics. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? God: God could answer any question you could ever ask. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? Learning new things, especially useless facts. I spend so much time using my brain, I like to learn things that don’t require much brain power. What are your hobbies, interests? Who has time for those? I have a husband, two children, two dogs, two cats, 20 chickens, 12 ducks and 7 bunnies. After adding in a full -time job, my interests include sleeping. What is something most people don’t know about you? I secretly want to be a librarian.

About Kelly Vogel As early as the 7th grade, Kelly Vogel, CNM, knew she wanted to deliver babies. In fact, she did a drawing of a nurse in art class that year – and she still has it. “It has always been my passion to care for women and to empower them to make the best choice for their care,” she says. Kelly earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at California State University, Fullerton, CA, and her Master of Science-Midwifery at Frontier Nursing University, Versailles, KY. As an RN, she has worked in perinatal care and has been a perinatal bereavement specialist. She has taught courses on perinatal loss at University of California Irvine Medical Center and their School of Nursing, where she was also an adjunct clinical faculty member. Providing care to women from teenagers to women over the age of 65, Kelly helps mothers learn about pregnancy and childbirth. “I will empower you to make the right decision for you and your family,” she says, adding that education is the key to providing competent medical care and Kelly believes we must keep on learning. Kelly shares that she had a NICU baby and that the separation from her child was very rough. “No mother should have that experience,” she says, noting the advantage of the rooming-in experience for mom and baby at Beacon. “It was truly one of the number one reasons I choose to work for Beacon as a RN.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My best-friend Bonnie has showed me how to rise above the past and forge into the future. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I worked at a perfume store and my brother was my manager…awkward. What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite foods: Anything grilled on the barbeque Favorite movie: Titanic What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best subject was JROTC, worst was English. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? My great-grandmother is who I would love to meet. This woman had 18 children back in the 1930s and that was not the norm. I would want to learn how she lived life back then with so many children. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? Raising my children as well-balance humans. What are your hobbies, interests? Watching hockey and gardening Do you have pets? Yes, a rescue pit-bull named Piper. What is something most people don’t know about you? I was a competitive tap dancer as an adult.

Susana received her bachelor of science degree in nursing and her master of science degree in nursing and midwifery education from the University of Illinois at Chicago. During her clinical rotations at Carle Hospital, Greenville Regional Hospital and the University of Illinois Medical Center, Susana provided women's health and obstetrical services and education for women of various ethnic and social groups. She is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Susana is a native Spanish speaker and is proud to serve the Latino community in Michiana. She is focused on promoting midwifery care and providing excellent obstetrical, gynecological and primary health care services for women across their lifespan.