Michelle Telfer, DNP, MPH, CNM
Associate ProfessorCards
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Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Clinical Faculty and Lecturer, Nurse-Midwifery and Women's Health Specialty, Obstetric Specialties & Midwifery
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Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Clinical Faculty and Lecturer, Nurse-Midwifery and Women's Health Specialty, Obstetric Specialties & Midwifery
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Are You a Patient?
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View Doctor ProfileAdditional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Clinical Faculty and Lecturer, Nurse-Midwifery and Women's Health Specialty, Obstetric Specialties & Midwifery
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Clinical Faculty and Lecturer, Nurse-Midwifery and Women's Health Specialty, Obstetric Specialties & Midwifery
Biography
Dr. Telfer has been providing full-scope (well woman care/gyn, family planning, prenatal care, labor & birth and postpartum care) for nearly two decades in New York City and the greater New Haven area. She came to midwifery after working in global public health in The Gambia, West Africa where she experienced the importance of access to safe midwifery care in low-resource settings. She is passionate about partnering with women and their families to help them achieve their best health, pregnancy, and birth experiences. All women deserve compassionate, culturally sensitive, and skilled care throughout their lives. She is privileged to be a part of the Yale Midwifery group that strives to provide this care.
Areas of research and interest include reducing unnecessary primary cesarean sections though promoting physiologic birth and avoiding early labor admissions. She is working with colleagues in the school of medicine and nursing at Yale and at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda to support advanced midwifery education, clinical excellence and the midwifery model of care to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. She is an Assistant Professor in the midwifery and women's health specialty at the Yale School of Nursing and is faculty in the Yale School of Medicine.
When not working, she enjoys hiking and exploring Connecticut with her husband and two children.
Appointments
Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Clinical InstructorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Obstetric Specialties & Midwifery
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- DNP
- Frontier Nursing University (2017)
- MSN
- Columbia University, Midwifery (2002)
- BSN
- Columbia University, School of Nursing (2001)
- MPH
- Tulane University School of Public Health, Global Reproductive Health (1999)
- BA
- UC Berkeley, Philosophy (1992)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-8176-3936
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Bridget Basile Ibrahim
Gina Novick, PhD
Holly Kennedy
Joan Combellick, PhD, MPH, MSN, CNM
Labor, Obstetric
Maternal Mortality
Midwifery
Cesarean Section
Publications
2024
Decoding Newly Graduated Midwives: A Value-Based Philosophy of Vocational and Professional Midwifery Program in Indonesia
Adnani Q, Chairiyah R, Argaheni N, Khuzaiyah S, Widyasih H, Telfer M. Decoding Newly Graduated Midwives: A Value-Based Philosophy of Vocational and Professional Midwifery Program in Indonesia. Midwifery 2024, 141: 104239. PMID: 39616820, DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.104239.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsMidwifery programsMidwifery educationIndividualised carePre-registration educationEducation programsWell-being of mothersProfessional programsMidwifery competenciesMidwives' competenceMidwifery roleMidwives' practicePractice midwiferyProfessional education programsMidwiferyMidwivesCurrent educational programsHealth OrganisationNeonatal mortalityVocational programsWell-beingIncreased collaborationProgram centresCareProgram valueValue-basedA case study analysis of a successful birth center in northern Uganda
Telfer M, Zaslow R, Mbalinda S, Blatt R, Kim D, Kennedy H. A case study analysis of a successful birth center in northern Uganda. Birth 2024, 51: 783-794. PMID: 38923627, DOI: 10.1111/birt.12837.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBirth centersCommunity health workersHigh-resource countriesSmall group interviewsNeonatal mortality rateMidwifery careQuality MaternalBirthing peopleIntegrated careQuality careNorthern UgandaHealth workersMaternal deathsGroup interviewsCareNeonatal outcomesPerinatal morbidityQMNCDocument reviewField notesCommunity knowledgeNeonatal morbidityMortality rateBirthParticipant observation
2023
Midwifery care during labor and birth in the United States
Combellick J, Telfer M, Ibrahim B, Novick G, Morelli E, James-Conterelli S, Kennedy H. Midwifery care during labor and birth in the United States. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2023, 228: s983-s993. PMID: 37164503, DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.09.044.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMidwifery careCesarean deliveryHigh-income countriesContinuum of pregnancyMore vaginal birthsInduction of laborHigh patient satisfactionNeonatal mortality ratePreterm birthVaginal birthIntrapartum careIntrapartum periodPatient satisfactionLive birthsHealth characteristicsIntrapartum settingRespectful careMortality rateHealth outcomesHealthcare providersPractice protocolsCareMidwivesBirthNational outcomes
2022
Competency of Midwives in Assisting Vaginal Breech Births and associated factors: A Cross-sectional study in Lower Level Health Facilities of Hoima District, Uganda.
Nandawula P, Elizabeth A, Nyashanu M, Telfer M, Mbalinda S. Competency of Midwives in Assisting Vaginal Breech Births and associated factors: A Cross-sectional study in Lower Level Health Facilities of Hoima District, Uganda. Student's Journal Of Health Research Africa 2022, 3: 21-21. DOI: 10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i9.243.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsVaginal breech birthCross-sectional studyBreech birthLower-level health facilitiesMidwifery practiceCrude odds ratiosSelf-administered questionnaireHealth care systemBirth trainingFrank breechBreech deliveryCompetency of midwivesOdds ratioHealth facilitiesHealth unitsCare practicesStudy participantsCare systemMidwivesConfidence intervalsStandard guidelinesMean scoreHoima districtScoresDescriptive statistics
2021
Review of midwifery education in Uganda: Toward a framework for integrated learning and midwifery model of care
Telfer M, Zaslow R, Chalo Nabirye R, Nalugo Mbalinda S. Review of midwifery education in Uganda: Toward a framework for integrated learning and midwifery model of care. Midwifery 2021, 103: 103145. PMID: 34607055, DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMidwifery educationMidwifery education curriculaEducation curriculumInternational ConfederationMidwives Global StandardsEducation standardsEducation structureEducational advancementNew graduatesEducationCurriculumNewborn Care FrameworkGraduatesScope of practiceMidwifery modelHealth nursingNursingGovernment reportsGlobal standardsClear pathwayHuman capitalTrainingGreater resourcesMaternity nursesNewborn mortality ratesImplementing an Evidence-Based Bundle to Reduce Early Labor Admissions and Increase Adherence to Labor Arrest Guidelines: A Quality Improvement Initiative.
Telfer M, Illuzzi J, Jolles D. Implementing an Evidence-Based Bundle to Reduce Early Labor Admissions and Increase Adherence to Labor Arrest Guidelines: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Journal Of Doctoral Nursing Practice 2021, 14: 130-138. PMID: 34006599, DOI: 10.1891/jdnp-d-20-00026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsEvidence-based bundleLabor management guidelinesLabor admissionCesarean birthManagement guidelinesSingleton vertex pregnanciesCesarean birth ratePatient satisfaction scoresPlan Do Study Act cyclesStudy-Act cyclesQuality improvement initiativesLabor arrestIncrease adherenceVertex pregnanciesChart auditCurrent guidelinesMaternity careWorld Health Organization benchmarkSatisfaction scoresAdmissionMeaningful quality improvementImprovement initiativesBirth rateAct cyclesAdherence
2019
Community Identification and Referral of Surgical Congenital Anomalies: A Pilot Assessment in Uganda
Sibindi C, Hong S, Kakembo N, Penny N, Telfer M, Ozgediz D. Community Identification and Referral of Surgical Congenital Anomalies: A Pilot Assessment in Uganda. Journal Of The American College Of Surgeons 2019, 229: e133. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2019.08.1086.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2003
Need for Paediatric Surgery Care in an Urban Area of the Gambia
Bickler S, Telfer M, Sanno-Duanda B. Need for Paediatric Surgery Care in an Urban Area of the Gambia. Tropical Doctor 2003, 33: 91-94. PMID: 12680542, DOI: 10.1177/004947550303300212.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSurgical problemsSurgical conditionsSurgical careCommon surgical problemChild health programsPediatric surgical careAge 15 yearsCent of childrenSurgical infectionsSurgery careCongenital anomaliesSurgical diseaseSurgical proceduresCumulative riskHealth programsCareChildrenSaharan AfricaPresentation rateInjuryInfectionYearsDisease
2002
Experiences of mothers with antenatal, delivery and postpartum care in rural Gambia.
Telfer ML, Rowley JT, Walraven GE. Experiences of mothers with antenatal, delivery and postpartum care in rural Gambia. African Journal Of Reproductive Health 2002, 6: 74-83. PMID: 12476731, DOI: 10.2307/3583148.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsAdolescentAdultCohort StudiesDelivery, ObstetricDeveloping CountriesFemaleGambiaHealth Care SurveysHealth Services AccessibilityHumansMaternal Health ServicesMaternal MortalityPatient Acceptance of Health CarePatient ParticipationPatient SatisfactionPostnatal CarePregnancyPrenatal CareQuality of Health CareRural PopulationSurveys and QuestionnairesConceptsEssential obstetric servicesMaternal health servicesMaternal mortality ratioCommunity-based studyType of careFarafenni areaPostpartum careObstetric servicesPostpartum periodMortality ratioExperiences of mothersHealth servicesRural GambiaHealth careCareWomenGambiaDeliveryRural areasFarafenniVisits
2000
Maternal mortality in rural Gambia: levels, causes and contributing factors.
Walraven G, Telfer M, Rowley J, Ronsmans C. Maternal mortality in rural Gambia: levels, causes and contributing factors. Bulletin Of The World Health Organization 2000, 78: 603-13. PMID: 10859854, PMCID: PMC2560770.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLive birthsMaternal deathsMaternal mortalityHealth careDirect obstetric causesReproductive age mortalityMaternal mortality ratioPrimary health careMaternal mortality estimatesObstetric causesLack of transportObstetric deathsEarly pregnancyObstetric referralsMortality ratioRural GambiaMortalityDeathCareIndirect causesAge mortalityBirthCauseMortality estimatesSame period
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor Fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives
National AwardAmerican College of Nurse MidwivesDetails05/30/2020United Stateshonor Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing
National AwardNightingale Nursing AwardsDetails05/09/2019United Statesactivity Makerere University/Yale University (MUYU) Collaboration
ResearchDetails09/25/2017 - PresentKampala, Central Region, Ugandahonor Outstanding Preceptor Award
National AwardAmerican College of Nurse MidwivesDetails05/18/2016United States
Clinical Care
Overview
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Midwifery
Learn More on Yale MedicinePain Management for Vaginal Childbirth
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Certified Nurse-Midwife
- Certification Organization
- American Midwifery Certification Board
- Latest Certification Date
- 2010
- Original Certification Date
- 2002
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