Meet the Midwives
Stephanie McDonnell
Stephanie McDonnell is a graduate of the Ontario Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University and has been a Registered Midwife since 2007. Prior to studying midwifery, Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Wilfrid Laurier University, trained as a doula and volunteered with various women's organizations and community groups. Stephanie completed a large portion of her clinical training in a rural midwifery practice with a high home birth rate where she enjoyed caring for a large Mennonite and Amish population. As a student she also travelled to British Columbia and worked with a nurse, an obstetrician, a family doctor and a midwife to gain a greater understanding of maternity care across the country. Since graduation Stephanie has worked full-time as a midwife in Belleville, Ontario, helping women from the local military base, native and deaf communities with their pregnancies and births. Stephanie is thrilled to be serving women in Orangeville and is pleased to help bring midwifery to this community. Stephanie cherishes her work and strongly believes in supporting women's choices and trusting the birth process. She is constantly humbled by the strength of the women she serves and feels it is a great privilege to be a midwife.
Linda Stahl
Linda Stahl has been working with pregnant women and babies for the past twenty years, first as a childbirth educator and doula, and later as a midwife. Linda is a maritimer, but trained as a midwife in the U.K. and worked as a 'delivery suite midwife' at the Radcliffe Hospital for Women in Oxford, England. Linda went on to complete the International Midwifery Program at Ryerson Univeristy. She then worked in southwestern Ontario for six years in a rural farm community of many Amish and Mennonite people. Linda has two daughters, both born at home. Linda feels that being a midwife is central to who she is. It is a committed vocation, which is deeply satisfying. Linda enjoys making relationships with her clients and supporting them in their remarkable experience. A baby brings huge transitions physically and emotionally on every level, and navigating that experience with women is very rewarding. Linda enjoys knowing mothers well; caring for them with compassion and helping them have a safe and satisfying birth.
Heather Tompsett
Heather Tompsett graduated from Birthwise Midwifery School, in Bridgton, Maine, in 2005, after completing clinical placements in Maine, Edmonton and the Philippines. Her background also includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from McMaster University. Heather registered as a midwife in Ontario in March 2006 after completing the International Midwifery Pre-registration Program at Ryerson University. After registration, she worked for three years in a rural Ontario practice with a high homebirth rate, and many Amish and Mennonite clients. She enjoys traveling during her holidays and was able spend time in a mission hospital in Bangladesh working with midwifery and obstetric staff. She recently spent ten months in New Zealand, working at a tertiary level hospital designed for women having high-risk pregnancies. As part of her post-graduate certificate in complex care midwifery run through the Auckland University of Technology, Heather rotated through the various maternity wards and units, gaining experience caring for women and newborns with complications. She is currently working again in a rural Ontario practice, and will join the Midwives of Headwater Hills in the summer of 2010. She looks forward to working in the Orangeville area, and feels honoured to continue to have the opportunity to share the incredible childbearing experience with families.
Samantha Stevenson - Practice Administrator
Samantha Stevenson was born and raised in Orangeville and has made her home here with her wonderful husband and beautiful daughter. "It is better to be one of a kind than one of many" (Johnny Cash) is a motto that Sam lives by and she definitely loves being one of a kind. Sam has a zest for life and loves trying new things. She is also a strong believer in midwifery and looks forward to greeting everyone in the office. Feel free to stop by and share a smile, laugh and the joys of your pregnancy with her.
