By Staff
Maternal health outcomes are shaped not only by clinical care, but by the strength of the workforce behind it, where mentorship, access and training play a critical role. For many students, a career in nurse-midwifery begins with a moment of inspiration, but those moments can influence far more than individual paths—they can help shape the future of care.
Karsyn Thomas, BSN, RN, a Master of Science in Nursing Nurse-Midwifery Pathway student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, finds her inspiration in a deeply personal, lifelong connection to the clinician who helped shape her family’s story. Assistant Professor Felecia Brown, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM, a clinician, educator and nationally recognized leader in nurse-midwifery, delivered Thomas’s siblings, taught her mother in nursing school in Mississippi and now mentors Thomas as she prepares to enter the same profession.
“Dr. Brown was always a familiar and trusted presence in my family’s life,” Thomas said. “I grew up knowing her as the person who got the babies out of mommies’ tummies. My mother trained under her as a labor and delivery nurse and consistently spoke highly of her skill and character.”
Through her mother’s work in labor and delivery, Thomas was exposed early to both the clinical and relational sides of women’s health. What began as familiarity gradually took on deeper meaning, shaping her career path toward nurse-midwifery.
“My passion for nurse-midwifery began about ten years ago when I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Brown as a high school student,” Thomas said. “While I have since shadowed several other nurse-midwives, her clinical expertise and the way she connects with her patients have stood out the most. She exemplifies the balance of skill, compassion and advocacy that I hope to bring into my own practice and her passion for the field has set a standard I strive to reach.”
That combination of clinical depth, mentorship and patient-centered care left a lasting impression on Thomas as she began shaping her own path, including where she chose to pursue her education.
“Dr. Brown influenced both my decision to pursue nurse-midwifery and my choice to attend the UAB School of Nursing,” she said. “As a clinical instructor, she brings a wealth of knowledge and the opportunity to learn directly from her was a major factor in choosing this program.”
“When I learned that Karsyn had applied to the UAB School of Nursing and ultimately pursued midwifery, it was an incredibly meaningful moment for me,” Brown said. “I felt a deep sense of pride knowing that I may have played a small role in influencing her journey into healthcare.”
Brown’s career reflects a broader commitment to advancing women’s health and preparing future providers by bridging clinical practice and education to expand access to high-quality, compassionate care—especially in communities that need it most.
“Experiences like this represent the very essence of why I do what I do,” Brown said. “As a nurse-midwife, I have the honor of caring for women and their families during some of the most vulnerable and transformative times in their lives. And as a clinical instructor, I am shaping the next generation of providers to do the same. To see those two roles intersect, caring for a family and then later mentoring the next generation from that same family, is incredibly powerful.”
Brown’s expertise reflects more than 20 years of practice in women’s health, supported by multiple advanced certifications and national recognition as a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Her excellence in teaching and mentorship also has been recognized through honors, including receiving the Daisy Foundation Extraordinary Nurse Educator Award and being named the 2025 UAB School of Nursing Graduate Clinical Preceptor of the Year—distinctions that underscore her impact on both patients and the next generation of providers.
Now teaching in the School’s MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway, that connection has taken on new meaning as she trains under Brown’s guidance. Students like Thomas are equipped to deliver patient-centered care, with an overall goal of improving maternal and infant health outcomes in Alabama and beyond. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, simulation and hands-on clinical experiences, students learn to provide care that is both evidence-based and deeply rooted in relationship-building.
“It has been both meaningful and reassuring knowing that the skills I am developing as a future nurse-midwife are being shaped by someone I have long respected, bringing a deep sense of confidence,” Thomas said. “I have always admired Dr. Brown and am excited to learn from her. I know that training under her will prepare me well for the responsibilities of this profession.”
"Dr. Brown has had a significant impact on the development of our nurse-midwifery students, and she brings a depth of knowledge and experience to our teaching team,” said Elizabeth Muñoz, DNP, CNM, FACNM, Assistant Professor and Interim Director of the MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway. “It is incredible to see the impact Dr. Brown has had in her community, her practice in Meridian, and within our nurse-midwifery pathway."
The School relaunched Alabama’s only MSN Nurse-Midwifery Pathway in 2022 due to the increased statewide demand for highly qualified maternal-infant healthcare providers. In its first year of eligibility, the pathway ranked No. 16 in the country, as reflected in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report “Best Graduate Schools” rankings. Recently, the pathway earned the maximum five-year initial accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education, a recognition of ACME’s rigorous standards for teaching excellence and academic quality and marking a pivotal advancement for women’s health in the state and across the region.
Nurse-Midwifery is one of the key initiatives of the School’s 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 not only healthy but are thriving and achieving their highest potential. The School is collaborating with community partners to reach women and children in every corner of the state and are working together to build a highly educated and well-resourced nursing workforce, equipped and practice-ready to address our many challenges and to create solutions for a sustained healthcare workforce.
The lasting impact of nurse-midwives
As Thomas continues her training, her journey reflects a broader story about the holistic impact nurse-midwives have.
“The relationships we build, the compassion we show and the example we set can influence entire families for years or even generations,” Brown said. “Karsyn’s journey is a testament to how meaningful, respectful and supportive care can inspire others to follow a similar path and continue that cycle of service.”
Brown sees moments like this as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with her role and the profession.
“This experience has deepened my commitment to mentorship,” she said. “It reminds me that every interaction matters, whether with a patient, a student or a colleague. I am more intentional in modeling professionalism, compassion and clinical excellence because I recognize that students are always watching, learning and forming impressions that may shape their future. I strive to not only teach skills but to instill confidence, purpose and a passion for caring for women through nurse-midwifery.”
As Thomas continues her training, Brown’s influence remains a steady source of motivation rooted in skill, knowledge and the example set before her. While pursuing her studies at the UAB School of Nursing, Thomas works as a part-time labor and delivery nurse at Grandview Medical Center and is expected to begin nurse-midwifery clinicals in fall 2026. She hopes to eventually practice alongside Brown in Meridian, Mississippi.
Thomas added, “I hope others recognize that meaningful relationships and mentorship can have a lasting impact, often in ways you never expected.”