Our Certified Nurse Midwives

Meet Our Midwives Video


Marni Barrs, CNM I am excited to join Kaiser Permanente in 2014 as the Chief Nurse-Midwife. I have been a midwife since 1996, primarily in the Washington D.C. area. I love being a midwife! I feel blessed to be able to work with and care for women and their families at this important juncture. I aim to work in collaboration with each woman so that she feels respected, informed, and listened to, throughout her pregnancy and birth. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring Northern California. View my page »


Marcy Ronneberg, CNM After graduating from the University of California San Francisco with a Master’s degree in Nurse Midwifery, I worked as a CNM in private practice before finding my home in the midwifery service here at Kaiser Permanente in 2008. I love what I do and feel privileged to be with patients and families during pregnancy and birth. I strive to provide safe, compassionate, respectful, individualized care to every person I see, and desire to help patients and families achieve the birth experience they want. When I am not working, I love spending time with my family including my husband and three growing boys. I am an avid reader, enjoy being active/outdoors, and have a passion for travel. Our midwifery team looks forward to meeting you! View my page »


Viktoriya Pasechnik, CNM When still in high school, I volunteered at a local Obstetrics and Gynecology office and fell in love with Women’s Health. After graduating from the University of California, Davis, I decided to become a midwife and moved to the east coast to attend Yale University School of Nursing. After completing my degree, I worked as a midwife in private practice. Returning home to the Greater Sacramento Area and becoming part of Kaiser Permanente in 2013 has allowed me to care for women and families of this diverse community. I consider it a privilege to care for women and families during this beautiful time. My desire is to provide compassionate, evidence-based, and individualized care through the journey of pregnancy and childbirth. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and kids, traveling, reading, cycling, and being outdoors. View my page »


Katie Towers, CNM I joined the Kaiser Permanente midwifery team in 2015, and love getting to know the women and families we have the privilege to care for. Prior to Kaiser, I spent over ten years working with birthing families in various capacities in home and birth center midwifery practices. I also worked as a lactation consultant and childbirth educator in private practice, for Kaiser, and at WIC here in Sacramento. I love helping families create the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience they desire while sharing individualized, evidence-based information to help in decision-making. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking to and swimming in our local rivers, gardening, taking dance classes, baking, and spending time with my husband and two school-age children who always keep me on my toes! View my page »


Joanie Seacrist, CNM It’s a pleasure to be a part of the Kaiser Permanente Midwifery group. I’ve been caring for women and children for my entire nursing career, and I especially love supporting women during this important time in their lives. Although I have done many things in my life, I still think that mothering my own four children is one of my greatest experiences, and I feel honored to be a witness to so many births. I have had the unique experience of nursing abroad and spent 2 years living and working at a hospital in Sierra Leone West Africa caring for women with birth-related injuries. During my time in Sierra Leone, I was able to lay the groundwork for a birthing center that is now training midwives. It was that experience that brought me back to California and the midwifery program at UCSF in 2009. In my spare time, I love being outdoors, camping, hiking, or being in my garden, and being a grandma is pretty cool as well. View my page »


Lauren Wipperman, CNM I am thrilled to be part of the Kaiser Permanente family! I have been in the birth world for over 20 years in many evolving roles, both here in California and throughout the Midwest. Prior to becoming a nurse-midwife, I practiced as a holistic health practitioner, herbalist, massage therapist, doula, and L&D nurse. I completed my Doctorate of Nursing Practice with a focus on perinatal mood disorders and birth trauma. My most rewarding accomplishment has been being a mother to three beautiful children. My own births have ranged from an unmedicated tub birth to a C-section with a preterm baby. Both my life experience and professional training have fostered a passion to support and empower women in all phases of their lives. I believe that those I care for are the experts of their own bodies, including their physical, mental, emotional, and informational needs. Outside of work, I enjoy getting outdoors, traveling, doing yoga, knitting, and dreaming about sleeping in. View my page »


Matt Larsen, CNM What a pleasure to serve the women and families here in the North Valley. I most recently served as a Nurse-Midwife in California’s High Desert, working in community health. I completed my Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It’s a privilege for me to work in this profession and I am grateful for the opportunity to share in the journey you and/or your loved ones have while in our care. I strive to provide individualized care backed by evidence and sound clinical judgment to empower and support women in making their choices. My wife and I enjoy venturing outside with our two kids, exploring our new surroundings here, and eating at local restaurants. I speak Spanish fluently and am a soccer fanatic. View my page »


Amy Payne, CNM I feel extremely honored to be part of the Kaiser midwives! I have been practicing as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) since 2015. Before my midwife life, I received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Columbia University in New York and worked as a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit. That experience solidified my desire to start care sooner and promote healthy pregnancies so that babies and mothers would have the best outcomes possible. After earning my Doctor of Nursing Practice from Baylor University in Dallas, Texas, I worked in a myriad of women’s health settings, including a military facility, a private practice, and an out-of-hospital birthing center. My favorite aspect of being a CNM is the ability to form a relationship with families so that I can help them prepare for one of the most important events of their lives and help them thrive. I am originally from Texas (yeehaw!), but I have lived in California for a couple of years, and I never want to leave! When I am not working, I enjoy reading, traveling, hiking, cycling, and spending time with my family, friends, dog, and two cats. View my page »


Samantha Smith, CNM I am honored to be a part of Kaiser Permanente’s midwifery service. I discovered my love of midwifery working alongside midwives during my time in the Air Force. I completed my Master’s degree in Midwifery/Women’s Health at Georgetown University in Washington DC. I have been in healthcare for more than 20 years with the majority of that time in women’s health. I started my midwifery career practicing in private practice and at an academic hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. I then moved to the Sacramento area and worked in a community health center prior to joining Kaiser. It is a great privilege to care for pregnant patients and their families during this life-changing, vulnerable time. My desire is to empower women to be active participants in their care while providing compassionate and evidence-based care. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking, reading, exploring new areas, and traveling. View my page »


Kathryn (Kate) Wilson, CNM What an honor it is to join the Kaiser team! I received my Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University specializing in Women’s Health and Midwifery. I have been lucky to provide midwifery care to women in a variety of settings throughout California including rural hospitals, freestanding birth centers, client’s homes, and health clinics primarily focusing on underserved populations. As a midwife, I am committed to educating patients and encouraging each individual to be an active participant in their care. Sharing knowledge to help women and families understand the options available to them is truly one of my favorite parts of the job. I grew up in El Dorado County and after spending years traveling for work and training, it is lovely to have the opportunity to settle back into my hometown and serve the families of my community. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my wonderful family, finding new places to travel, and practicing yoga. I look forward to meeting you! View my page »


Brittney Wood, CNM My introduction to midwifery care was through volunteer work alongside local nurses and midwives in Abuja, Nigeria during high school. After this unique experience, I knew I wanted to pursue nursing as a profession, specifically within women and infant services. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at San Diego State University in 2013. I soon began working as neonatal intensive care and postpartum nurse for several years before transitioning into the midwifery role. I graduated from UC San Francisco’s Nurse-Midwifery & Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program in 2019. I worked as a Certified Nurse Midwife in Los Gatos, California until joining the Kaiser, Roseville team. Having a breadth of experience within these areas allows me to provide comprehensive and holistic care with a unique lens of the client’s experiences throughout their healthcare journey. I was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, CA, and enjoy visiting there as much as possible. In my spare time, you can find me spending time with my husband and daughter. I enjoy hiking and exercising. I love spending time at the beach whether that is a lake, ocean, or river. I enjoy cooking and sharing meals with family and friends. My hobby in progress is learning to garden. I hope to practice floral work in the years to come. View my page »


Hannah Russell-Goodson, CNM I’m excited to join the wonderfully talented and caring midwifery team here at Kaiser Permanente. I studied nursing and midwifery at UCSF and love being here in Northern California. It is a joy to witness new life entering the world and to help families transition into a new chapter. I aim to ensure all pregnant people and their families feel safe, heard, and well-informed about their options. I’m committed to continuing to learn about how to give the people I work with the best experience for them. Outside the hospital I’m typically running on trails, climbing, surfing on the coast, or biking up a hill. I also enjoy cooking for friends and finding time for creativity in dance, painting, and printmaking. Looking forward to meeting you and your family! View my page »


Chris Wynn, CNM I am so excited to join the Kaiser Roseville team! I have been practicing as a Certified Nurse Midwife since 2013. I attended Columbia University School of Nursing where I earned my bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree in nurse-midwifery. Since then, I have worked in several settings serving a diverse group of women and their families in New York City. These settings include a small private practice, an out-of-hospital birthing center, and a large, Federally funded health center dedicated to providing care to medically underserved communities in New York. I love connecting with women on a personal level. I am passionate about educating women and their families so that they can make health decisions that leave them feeling empowered. I myself have two young children and a small dog with my husband. We have recently relocated from Brooklyn to Northern California to be closer to family. We look forward to the warmer temps and lots of hiking in the hills. View my page »


Michelle Francis, CNM I have always been interested in the process of pregnancy and birth. It kind of feels like women’s health was my destiny. I have had the privilege of working in labor and delivery since 2006 when I started as an L&D nurse and then went on to get my master’s degree in Nurse Midwifery. I feel truly blessed to be able to aid women during the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I built a reputation as a strong advocate of women with an appreciated ability to calm situations. As a woman of color, I have at times been on the receiving end of assumptions and misinformation. In healthcare, those attitudes can make childbirth a more insecure time. I hope to be an anchor to those feeling rocked by the waves of childbirth and a resource to help empower families to make choices that are appropriate for them and their needs. My husband and I moved to the Sacramento area with our newborn daughter to be close to family. I look forward to living and learning about my community as well as being a resource to promote informed healthcare decisions. In my off time, I enjoy traveling, long drives through scenic destinations, and reading fiction. View my page »


Heather Olmsted Hamlin, CNM I am thrilled to be joining the midwifery team at Kaiser Roseville. Prior to becoming a nurse-midwife, I worked in trauma Emergency Departments in the greater Sacramento area for almost nine and a half years, as well as part-time as a nurse in a freestanding birth center. I am passionate about women’s and reproductive health, and I am excited to be able to provide midwifery care to birthing people and their families during pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. I enjoy helping people feel empowered and that they are in control of their own pregnancy and birth experiences while providing safe, evidence-based care. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, walking, embroidering quirky designs, and working in my garden. View my page »


Jessica Nagel, CNM Hello! I am new to Kaiser Roseville in 2022 but began my journey in Women’s Health a couple of decades ago. At a crossroads in college, I was on my way to a degree in early childhood education when some timely wisdom from my mother shifted my path into midwifery. I trained as a doula while in nursing school, and upon graduation in 2004, I joined a wonderful group of nurse-midwives in a community birth center. While working there, I began my midwifery training through Frontier Nursing University, and in 2009, I began my midwifery career in private practice. I have had the pleasure of attending births in homes, at a community birth center, and at a hospital, working with women and families from all walks of life. My favorite part of being a midwife is spending time educating women and their families to reduce fear and help increase knowledge, joy, and understanding of themselves and their health. I enjoy offering prenatal care through Centering Pregnancy as it promotes both physical and emotional well-being during pregnancy. I also enjoy educating students from many disciplines. When I am not working, my husband, son, and 2 cats keep me company at home. I enjoy cooking, gardening, camping, practicing yoga, hiking, and can easily get lost in a good book! View my page »


Shoba Monteserin Narayana, CNM I am excited to join the Kaiser team of Certified Nurse Midwives. Prior to joining Kaiser, I worked in home birth and birth centers which helped me gain an appreciation for the mysteries and wonders of the labor and birthing process. My goal as a midwife is to partner in your care. I strive to create a safe environment for birthing folks and their families where they feel heard and respected. As I am originally from the wintry East Coast, outside of work, I enjoy being in nature all year round in California! View my page »


Jessica Nghiem, CNM I am a native Sacramentan and attended the UCSF Certified Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. As a midwife, I aim to partner with pregnant people and their families to provide care that is compassionate, empowering, and evidence-based. It is an honor to serve the community here at Kaiser and to witness the transformational journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I look forward to meeting you and your family! View my page »


Teresa Reagan, CNM I grew up in the Bay Area, and after high school, I joined the US Navy. I was an Aviation System Warfare Operator-Rescue Swimmer. I served during OIF/OEF. As a part of the 1st Naval Air Ambulance Detachment in Northern Kuwait, I was the unit’s Sexual Assault Victim Advocate. After eight years in the Navy, I graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2011 with my Bachelor’s in Nursing. I started nursing in Florida. While working with the midwives in Florida, I found my passion for learning the old art of laboring support. Together, with a few midwives and nurses, we formed a natural birth group. I became a Certified Lactation Counselor in 2013. I moved back to California in 2013 and have worked with Kaiser Foundation Hospital for the past eight years as an L&D nurse. Since working with Kaiser, I helped implement peanut ball use in labor. I went back to school to become a Certified Nurse Midwife to continue to provide support to families. In late 2021, I graduated with my Master’s degree in Nursing-Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University. View my page »


Adrienne Zimmerman, CNM I am thrilled to have found my place with this esteemed group of midwives at Kaiser. I earned my master’s degree from Frontier Nursing University, and prior to that, served as a registered nurse caring for patients across the lifespan. I have been on the journey to midwifery for the last 18 years since the very first birth I witnessed as a doula touched my heart. There is no honor like ushering new parents into the most exciting and terrifying role they’ll ever play. I absolutely love reflecting on their power together and reminding them that they are both capable and wise when they trust themselves and listen to their instincts. I have a passion for serving birthing people in the LGBTQIA+ community and providing trauma-informed care. Outside of work, I love spending time with my kiddo, playing games, traveling, and making art. View my page »


Jennifer Scholz, CNM I have always been passionate about women’s health, including pregnancy and birth. Working at Kaiser Permanente allows me to fulfill my lifelong dream of providing care to you and your family during your pregnancy and supporting you during labor and birth. My goal is to empower you to take control of your healthcare and we can form a partnership and make decisions about your health together. View my page »


Sylvie Lauzon, CNM It is an honor to join the Kaiser Roseville team and partner with you and your family during this special time. My journey to midwifery began with my own mother’s reproductive health diagnosis and my appreciation for elevating women’s voices within healthcare. Wanting to make a change in healthcare by pursuing a degree in public health, I quickly realized that my passion in reproductive health does not lie with policy and research but rather with people– working one-on-one to holistically meet their reproductive healthcare needs. I decided to work as a reproductive health educator and birth doula, supporting women both in hospitals and in their homes. From there, I went on to pursue a graduate degree from UCSF’s Certified Nurse Midwife/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner program. In my practice, I feel strongly about working with my patients to help them feel empowered throughout their pregnancy and birth. Providing evidence-based care while partnering with my patients to meet their individual needs is at the heart of my practice. I feel honored to work with you and your family and be a part of your birthing journey. View my page »