Dr. Patricia Olenick, CNM, is a nurse-midwife and registered nurse of over thirty years of experience with birthing families in a variety of settings, from free-standing birth centers to major academic hospitals. She is currently faculty with the graduate school of nursing at Texas Tech University Health Science Center where she teaches in the nurse-midwifery program via distance technology. Her doctoral research was in breastfeeding education and another area of experience and interest is in global health. She currently maintains a clinical practice as a nurse-midwife with South Texas Family Planning and Health Corporation in CC. She is here today to discuss becoming a nurse-midwife.