The new accreditation will support the school’s collaboration with community partners to reach women and children in every corner of the state and its efforts to build a highly educated and well-resourced nursing workforce.The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing Nurse-Midwifery Pathway has earned the maximum five-year initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. This recognition reflects rigorous standards for teaching excellence and academic quality. As the program is only ACME-accredited nurse-midwifery education pathway in Alabama, this achievement is a pivotal advancement for women’s health in the state and across the region.
“This accreditation affirms the high standards of nursing education and excellence for which our school is internationally known and speaks to the strength of our MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway,” said Maria R. Shirey, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair. “It reinforces our commitment to preparing nurse-midwives to help improve the health of women and children, advancing our mission to make a meaningful impact on health outcomes in Alabama.”
Aimee Holland, DNP, professor and associate dean for Graduate Clinical Education, says the accreditation reflects a strong team effort and a turning point for health care in the state.
“The ACME accreditation marks a significant step forward for the health of Alabama’s families by expanding access to high-quality women’s health, infant and maternity care, supporting better outcomes and strengthening the maternal-child health workforce statewide,” Holland said.
Alabama consistently ranks among the nation’s worst for perinatal outcomes, including high rates of low birth weight and preterm birth, according to the March of Dimes. Only about one-third of Alabama counties have adequate access to maternity care, leaving many women with limited or no local options.
“Growing our nurse-midwifery workforce and integrating nurse-midwives into evidence-based interprofessional models of care will be critically important for improving access to high-quality maternity care across Alabama,” said Allison Shorten, Ph.D., executive director of the Women and Children Health Initiative. “Expanding opportunities for nurse-midwives to be fully embedded into our health care services will contribute to improvements in perinatal outcomes so urgently needed in Alabama.”
The school relaunched the MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway in 2022 to meet the increased statewide demand for qualified maternal-infant health care providers. By educating nurse-midwives to manage the reproductive health of women, provide early care for infants, and work collaboratively with physicians, the school is meeting a critical need across Alabama.
“The first cohort of the reestablished Nurse-Midwifery Pathway graduated in August 2024, expanding access across Alabama and beyond to comprehensive, team-based women’s health, pregnancy and infant care,” said Elizabeth Muñoz, DNP, assistant professor, interim director of the MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway and co-director of WACHI.
“Receiving initial accreditation through 2030 is the strongest outcome a program can achieve,” Muñoz said. “The momentum of our pathway, and the achievements of our students and graduates, inspire tremendous optimism. I am confident they will continue to help drive meaningful, long‑term improvements in maternal and infant health outcomes throughout Alabama.”
Nurse-Midwifery is one of the key initiatives of the Women and Children Health Initiative, which encompasses all the school’s maternal and child health-focused work across its teaching, research and practice missions. WACHI’s vision is to assure a future where women and children in Alabama are healthy, thriving and achieving their highest potential.