Voluntary faculty are typically clinicians or others who are employed outside of the School but make significant contributions to department programs at the medical center or at affiliate institutions.
Voluntary rank detailsMichelle Telfer, DNP, MPH, CNM
Clinical InstructorAbout
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Titles
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.
Departments & Organizations
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
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-8176-3936
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Holly Kennedy
Bridget Basile Ibrahim
Erin Morelli, CNM, MSN, FACNM
Gina Novick, PhD
Joan Combellick, PhD, MPH, MSN, CNM
Labor, Obstetric
Maternal Mortality
Midwifery
Cesarean Section
Publications
2025
Implementation of Team Communication and Nurse Feedback to Reduce Cesarean Rates
Suess J, Vandyck R, Telfer M. Implementation of Team Communication and Nurse Feedback to Reduce Cesarean Rates. Journal Of Obstetric Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing 2025 PMID: 40840535, DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2025.07.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsCesarean rateClinical teamPlan-Do-Study-Act cyclesPlan-Do-Study-ActLower cesarean ratesInterprofessional clinical teamsQuality improvement initiativesMain Outcome Measure(sLow-risk pregnanciesNurse midwivesNurse feedbackNursing practicePhysiological birthRate of complianceCesarean birthMaternity unitsResident physiciansVertex presentationClinical auditOutcome Measure(sEligible birthsImprovement initiativesNursesEpic reportNulliparous womenTrends and determinants of antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care utilization among Indonesian women (2012–2017): associated factors in midwifery service utilization between midwives and other health professionals
Adnani Q, Maulina R, Ramadhan K, Argaheni N, Kennedy H, Telfer M. Trends and determinants of antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care utilization among Indonesian women (2012–2017): associated factors in midwifery service utilization between midwives and other health professionals. BMC Nursing 2025, 24: 912. PMID: 40660232, PMCID: PMC12257849, DOI: 10.1186/s12912-025-03527-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsService utilizationHealth outcomesIntranatal carePostnatal careAntenatal careCare utilizationHealth SurveyHealthcare servicesIndonesia DemographicFactors associated with accessPostnatal care utilizationMaternal health servicesMaternal healthcare servicesMaternal health outcomesNeonatal health outcomesChild health outcomesHealthcare service provisionYoung maternal ageSocio-demographic characteristicsIndonesian womenMidwives’ engagementMidwifery servicesHealth professionalsHealth servicesNormal birth
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 ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsMidwifery 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 ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsBirth 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
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Makerere University/Yale University (MUYU) Collaboration
09/25/2017 - PresentResearchDetailsKampala, Central Region, Uganda
Honors
honor Fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives
05/30/2020National AwardAmerican College of Nurse MidwivesDetailsUnited Stateshonor Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing
05/09/2019National AwardNightingale Nursing AwardsDetailsUnited Stateshonor Outstanding Preceptor Award
05/18/2016National AwardAmerican College of Nurse MidwivesDetailsUnited States
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