SOUTH CAROLINA • NORTH CAROLINA • GEORGIA
Tristate Midwifery Conference
Using Our Voice: Advocating for Families, Communities, and Midwives
February 18–21, 2027
Beach House Resort • Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hosted by the South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina Affiliates of the American College of Nurse-Midwives
WELCOME!
Welcome to the 2027 Tristate Midwifery Conference
The South Carolina Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, along with our co-host affiliates from North Carolina and Georgia, is hosting a Tristate gathering to bring together dedicated midwives, educators, healthcare leaders, and advocates from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and beyond.
This event aims to foster collaboration, share the latest research and best practices, and empower midwives and women’s health providers to deliver excellence in maternal, newborn, and women’s health care.
Conference Objectives
- Describe current developments in midwifery practice and maternal health systems.
- Discuss considerations related to the development of Alongside Midwifery Units and their integration into maternal health systems.
- Identify evidence-based principles relevant to home blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy, induction of labor, hormone replacement therapy, and use of herbal products in care of individuals with postpartum depression.
- Describe the relevance of social determinants of health in relation to maternal mental health and family health.
- Discuss interdisciplinary perspectives on maternal mental wellness, postpartum depression, and the role of community-based advocacy and support.
REGISTRATION
Conference Registration
Full meeting schedule: Thursday, February 18 – Sunday, February 21, 2027
No half-day fees.
| Registration Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Early bird — register on or before December 1, 2026 | $225 |
| Certified nurse-midwives / midwives — December 2, 2026 through February 18, 2027 | $275 |
| Same-day registration | $300 |
| Student registration | $100 |
CNM / MIDWIFE
Full Conference Registration
Regular registration is $275 beginning December 2, 2026 through February 18, 2027.
Register & PaySTUDENT
Student Registration
Student registration for the full Tristate Midwifery Conference.
Student Register & PaySame-Day Registration
$300. Same-day registration is listed in the conference program. Online advance registration should use one of the options above.
Registration Information
The registration process includes attendee information such as email address and ACNM number for continuing education records, method of payment, dietary restrictions, and accessibility/accommodation needs.
Cancellation policy: The current conference program indicates that the registration page will include a cancellation policy, but the policy language has not yet been provided. It will be posted when confirmed.
Additional event costs: The program indicates that additional event costs will be included when applicable. No additional-event fee is specified in the current program.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Beach House Resort
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Use the official conference hotel reservation link to book your stay for the conference dates.
Conference Stay
Arrival: February 18, 2027
Departure: February 21, 2027
The program states that hotel room rates will be included on the registration page. A specific room rate is not listed in the current program; use the official conference booking link for current room options and pricing.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting to Hilton Head Island
- Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport — approximately a 1-hour drive to the resort.
- Uber is the easiest option to the resort; shuttles are also available.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 18 – Sunday, February 21, 2027
Thursday — February 18, 2027
| Time | Session | Presenter / Location |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | Check-in at Beach House Resort | Check-in opens at 4:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM | On-site registration opens | Sand/Surf Ballroom |
| 5:00–8:00 PM | Welcome reception & networking Dunes Open Air Pavilion | Provided |
Friday — February 19, 2027
| Time | Session | Presenter / Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–7:45 | Yoga (on the beach) or breakfast | Provided |
| 8:00–2:00 | Poster presentations | Sand/Surf Ballroom |
| 8:00–9:00 | ACNM Update | Michelle Munroe, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, CEO ACNM |
| 9:15–10:15 | Grow Midwives / Alongside Midwifery Units | Leslie Rathbun, CNM, MSN, FACNM |
| 10:15–10:45 | Coffee break | Provided |
| 11:00–11:30 | Transforming Maternal Health Model (TMaH) Grant [Prenatal | Birth | Postpartum] | Tangee Summers, DrPH, MPH Kristine Hobbs, MSW |
| 11:45–12:45 | Unheard and Unseen: Women’s Lived Experiences Recovering From Peripartum Cardiomyopathy | Curisa Tucker, PhD, RN |
| 12:45–1:45 | Lunch | Provided |
| Afternoon / evening | Beach time, shopping — dinner on your own |
Saturday — February 20, 2027
| Time | Session | Presenter / Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–7:45 | Yoga (on the beach) or breakfast | Provided |
| 8:00–2:00 | Poster presentations | Sand/Surf Ballroom |
| 8:00–9:00 | Mental Health Support Through Hormone Replacement Therapy (Rx CE) | Michelle Rhude, MSN, CNM, Owner BellaDonna Midwifery |
| 9:15–10:15 | Maude Callen, Legendary Nurse-Midwife of South Carolina | Lindsay Street, author, journalist |
| 10:15–10:30 | Coffee Break | Provided |
| 10:30–11:30 | Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (Rx CE) | Kaprice Robinson, PhD(c), FACNM, FAAN, MPH |
| 11:45–12:45 | Keynote Address: Community-Based Advocacy | Peter Johnson, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, President, ACNM |
| 12:45–1:45 | Lunch | Provided |
Sunday — February 21, 2027
| Time | Session | Presenter / Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–7:45 | Yoga (on the beach) or breakfast | Provided |
| 8:00–1:00 | Poster presentations | Sand/Surf Ballroom |
| 8:00–9:00 | Herbal Support of PP Mental Health (Rx CE) | Belinda Lashea, PhD, CNM |
| 9:10–10:10 | Why Women Need to Run for Office | Jenna Arsenault, RN, Postpartum Doula, Candidate for SC State House |
| 10:15–10:30 | Coffee Break | Provided |
| 10:30–11:30 | Maternal and Family Wellness | Tamika Walker, Doula, Owner Energy Evolution Holistic Health and Wellness |
| 11:30–12:30 | Chamber of Mothers | Erin Erenberg, CEO, Chamber of Mothers |
| 12:30–1:00 | Wrap-up, poster awards, and submit CE evaluations | Sand/Surf Ballroom |
SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS
- SC Affiliate of the ACNM
- University of South Carolina College of Nursing
- Georgia Affiliate of the ACNM
- North Carolina Affiliate of the ACNM
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Friday, Saturday & Sunday — morning beach yoga.
- Friday — optional trip on your own to Penn Center, a national historic landmark celebrating the history and distinct culture of the Gullah-Geechee people along the NC, SC and GA sea islands. Located on St. Helena Island, approx. 70 min drive from Beach House Resort.
- Beach time, shopping, and touring Hilton Head Island.
PLANNING COMMITTEE & CONTACT
Conference Planning Committee
- Jennifer Baumstark, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM
Nurse-Midwifery Program Director, U of South Carolina. SC Affiliate President
j.baumstark@sc.edu - Linda George, CNM, MS, FACNM
SC ACNM Affiliate Treasurer
skzmmsss@gmail.com - Melanie Kittrell, CNM, MSN
SC Affiliate Secretary, MUSC Health Orangeburg
jeff05melanie@gmail.com - Sheila Dell, CNM, CPM
SC Affiliate Vice Chair, Owner Celestial Midwifery
sheila@celestialmidwifery.org - Sharon Bond, CNM, PhD, FACNM
SC Affiliate Board member
sharonmbond@gmail.com - Michelle Munroe, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
CEO American College of Nurse-Midwives
- Kathryn Kravitz Carr, PhD ©, MSN, CNM, FACNM
Emory University
kkccnm@gmail.com - Eileen Thrower, PhD, CNM, FACNM
Department Chair Midwifery Frontier Nursing University, Region 3 Rep for ACNM Board
eileen.thrower@frontier.edu - Michelle Rhude, MSN, CNM
Owner/Director La Vita Bella Birth Center and Bella Donna Midwifery. NC ACNM Affiliate President
michelle.rhude@belladonnamidwifery.com - Kaprice Robinson, PhD(c), FACNM, FAAN, MPH
Emory University
kaprisimone71@gmail.com - Belinda Lashea, PhD, CNM
Nurse-Midwifery Program Director, East Carolina University, NC ACNM Affiliate VP
lasheab20@ecu.edu
CONFERENCE POLICIES & CE INFORMATION
Important Conference Information
Continuing Education
ACNM continuing specialty education credits have been applied for, including pharmacology credit. The current program contains a placeholder for the final number of pharmacology hours; the confirmed number will be posted when available.
ADA / Dietary Restrictions
The Tristate Conference complies with the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you have dietary restrictions and plan to attend any of the meal functions, please let us know as soon as possible.
Equal Opportunity
Events and activities approved by ACNM are available without regard to participant’s race, color, sex, national origin, disability, or age.
We can’t wait to see you at the beach!
Register for the 2027 Tristate Midwifery Conference and reserve your room at Beach House Resort.