Our Midwives & Staff

Midwife

Heather Nelson

It is a privilege to work with families at Access Midwifery and Family Care, here in my hometown of Victoria. It is also a pleasure to work with such skilled and committed colleagues on a daily basis. I am currently a partner in the Access Midwifery clinic.

I graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Midwifery Education Program in 2008. I have learned from and worked with midwives and other maternity care providers in the Lower Mainland, on Salt Spring Island, in Uganda, and here in Victoria. I continue to learn from the many families I have served over the past 10+ years as a Registered Midwife

My own children were born at home, into the caring and capable hands of our midwife. Having received the benefit of midwifery care myself, I strive to bring the knowledge, compassion, and advocacy of the profession to the clients we serve at Access Midwifery.

Midwife

Lorna McRae (On Leave)

I have been working with Heather Wood since we studied together at McMaster University to become Registered Midwives in the late 1990s.

We founded Access Midwifery and Family Care together. Our plan was to establish a practice to respectfully serve all parents to be with excellent clinical care. That is what we continue to do. With my Master of Social Work, I have worked in community development, anti-violence work, and as faculty teaching in the Midwifery Program at the University of British Columbia.

I love my work. It is amazing to see such strength and determination of families growing every day!

Midwife

Heather Wood (On Leave)

I am a founding partner of Access Midwifery. Our clinic has expanded since 2006 to include many dynamic and energetic midwives and nurse practitioners. Our mission continues to be to serve all clients, with a focus on serving individuals and families whose lives are made more challenging by factors such as poverty, violence, substance use and dislocation.

I am a graduate of the Midwifery Program at McMaster University. I have learned so much from the people I work with, from my colleagues and from midwives I’ve worked with in Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia. Being with families as they birth with strength and dignity makes this work tremendously rewarding.

Our three adult children were all born with the help of midwives.

Midwife

Melanie Mason

Hi! My name is Melanie. I am thrilled to be joining the team at Access as a registered midwife and to serve the families of this community.

I completed my midwifery education at the University of British Columbia. Throughout my educational journey I had the honour of serving several communities in BC including Victoria, Duncan, Kamloops and Abbotsford. I had the privilege to learn under wise midwives, obstetricians, nurses and other healthcare providers.

Prior to midwifery I completed a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology and minor in Indigenous studies. I look forward to incorporating the knowledge and skills that I have gained throughout my previous undergraduate and midwifery education to best serve the families at Access Midwifery.

As a Metis woman with a passion for client-centered care, I have a real interest in expanding midwifery services in Indigenous communities. Giving birth can be a powerful and life-changing experience for the birthing person, their family, and their community. I believe that the care and support provided by midwives is a significant step in ensuring the health and happiness of our society.

Midwife

Gillian Paterson

I am very grateful for the opportunity to join the team of midwives at Access Midwifery in January 2020. I completed my final clinical placement of the UBC Midwifery program here at Access, and am delighted to return. Before I start at Access, I will be working as a midwife in Parksville, BC and taking full advantage of all the outdoor activities on the Island. I was born and raised in Victoria, and am excited to return to serve families in my home community. When I’m not working I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and surfing.

My interest in healthcare began through travelling and volunteering in Nicaragua, South East Asia and Europe. These experiences revealed my passion for community based healthcare, and led me towards midwifery.
I have also had the privilege of working with Island Sexual Health Society and AIDS Vancouver Island. Both of these wonderful organizations ignited my interest in linking midwifery with social justice.

I am honoured and excited to be included in your pregnancy and birth, and am looking forward to joining the midwifery community. Thank you for sharing this amazing experience with me!

Midwife

Maghan Campbell

To the birthers and families who have chosen Access Midwifery for their pregnancy care, thank you! I am so honoured to be a part of your team.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and linguistics from the University of Alberta, but my working background is in music, harm reduction advocacy, mental health work, and social justice-focused research. During my time working, curiosity led me to train as a doula. I immediately found that my experience providing compassionate, non-judgemental, harm-reduction-focused care for folks with concurrent mental health disorders and drug addiction, extended beautifully into birth work. The fierce strength I was seeing at every birth moved me to study midwifery, and I graduated from the UBC Midwifery program in 2020. I could not be more delighted to be returning to Victoria to join the amazing midwives at Access, who I had the honour of learning from in my third year of the midwifery program.

My son was born with the help of some incredible midwives, an experience that cemented my commitment to providing birthers with gentle and informed care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

In my spare time, I enjoy going on adventures with my family, swimming outside, banging on my drums, and reading a good book. I am really looking forward to meeting you soon!

Midwife

Devi Garner

Hi there, my name is Devi Garner, my pronouns are she/her, and I am delighted to join the excellent midwifery team here at Access Midwifery. I am from a family of European ancestry and was born in Aotearoa (New Zealand), the traditional territory of the Te Atiawa Maori. I have lived in four countries, but for most of the last 20 years I have been grateful to live, study, work, and raise my children on southern Vancouver Island, as an immigrant and settler in the traditional unceded territories of the Lekwungen-speaking Coast Salish peoples.

Long before completing my training as a Registered Midwife at the University of British Columbia, I grew up listening to stories from my midwife auntie and witnessing the excellent midwifery care that welcomed my five younger siblings. My own children were born at home into the skilled hands and hearts of midwives. Providing support to friends and family as a doula and working as a medical office assistant for midwives made the call to birth work impossible to ignore. Prior to becoming a midwife, I earned a diploma in Business Administration. I have a background in environmental science, fine art, technology, and entrepreneurship. I am particularly interested in perinatal mental health, building community, and working with families affected by migration.

Outside of midwifery, I maintain my own wellness through belly laughs with friends, trying to keep up with my wonderful teenagers, and walking my clever dog and determined cat with my partner. I can often be found breathing in forests, listening to the ocean, and muddling my way through yoga and meditation.

Facilitating connection and empowerment for my clients during the transformative time of pregnancy and birthing is deeply gratifying. I can’t imagine a greater privilege than to accompany you and your family in your journey. I look forward to being part of your care team and to supporting you as your experience unfolds.

Administrator

Emily McGregor

I joined Access Midwifery in Fall 2020. I will be one of the first faces when you walk in the door and will help facilitate your journey at Access Midwifery. As a mom of three and grandmother to six, all of whom were delivered by the Midwives here at Access I am happy to be here as the administrator. As an experienced community doula, I have had the privilege of working with and educating families about their bodies and birth.

Access Midwifery has a great atmosphere and I love working with the Midwifery teams and all of you.