Tamika Julien

Tamika Julien, DNP (doctor of nursing practice), CNM (certified nurse-midwife), says she relishes her role of taking care of all childbearing individuals from adolescence through menopause.

Julien, who is also a women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP), practices at Cornell Scott Health Center in New Haven and Yale New Haven Hospital’s Labor and Birth Unit.

“I always knew I wanted to practice nursing and completing a licensed practical nurse (LPN) program at age 17 in high school solidified my interest,” Julien says. “In college, while completing my bachelor’s degree, my first clinical rotation was at Planned Parenthood. I had the opportunity to learn and provide women’s health care. I enjoyed educating patients about the menstrual cycle and providing birth control and sexually transmitted disease counseling. After that clinical rotation, I knew I wanted to specialize in reproductive health.”

After completing a baccalaureate degree in nursing, Julien received a full scholarship to pursue a masters degree in nursing specializing in women’s health. Julien says she enjoys working with teens and all ages. “I love the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system and how it functions, from conception and fetal development to labor and birth. It’s amazing what the human body can do,” she says.

After working as a WHNP for eight years, she started to think about midwifery. “In the outpatient setting, I provided prenatal care for patients throughout their pregnancy and would often be asked if I will be attending their delivery. I didn’t have the skills set and that is what motivated me to further my education to expand my scope of practice,” says Julien, who then became a certified nurse midwife.

The best part of her job, she says, is caring for patients and advocating for them—and the midwifery model of care. “Every childbearing individual has a right to equitable, ethical, and accessible reproductive health care. In the midwifery profession, midwives of color are under-represented so I acknowledge my vital role as caregiver, educator, and activist while increasing diversity of our health care team,” she says.

Julien says an important part of her job is staying abreast of evidence-based practices and educating her patients. “It’s important to provide facts and debunk myths. I believe educating patients decreases a lot of anxiety and fear,” she says. “A prime example is the COVID-19 vaccines. There is so much misinformation circulating and it’s integral for patients to receive accredited information to make an informed decision.”

Julien’s research interests include promoting and improving breastfeeding rates, decreasing maternal mortality, and identifying and removing barriers to improve postpartum care.