Editorial Leadership & Board
Dr. Deepali Upadhyaya PhD, MS, BSN, BA, RM, CNM
Role: Co-Editor
Institutional Affiliation: Mount Royal University
Biography:
Dr. Upadhyaya is an Associate Professor of Midwifery at Mount Royal University and a practicing Registered Midwife. She holds a PhD in Community Health Sciences (Medical Education) from the University of Calgary, an MS in Nurse-Midwifery from Oregon Health Sciences University, and degrees in nursing, political science, and philosophy. Her academic and clinical work spans perinatal and neonatal care, health professions education, and global maternal-child health. Her research focuses on midwifery preceptorship, experiential curriculum design, and cultural humility in midwifery education, as well as perinatal and newborn care in low- and middle-income countries. She serves in national and international leadership roles supporting midwifery education and regulation and contributes to advancing scholarship that strengthens midwifery systems and professional practice.
Dr. Kirsty Bourret, PhD, RM
Role: Co-Editor
Institutional Affiliation: NOSM University; Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute
Biography:
Dr. Bourret is a Research Associate working across academic and health system partnerships in Northern Ontario. Her work focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of learning health systems research. A Francophone settler, midwife, and researcher raised in Thunder Bay, she brings experience spanning Northern Ontario, Nunavut, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sweden. Her scholarship is grounded in intersectional feminism and health systems research, with expertise in integrated knowledge exchange and mixed methods methodologies. She is committed to advancing equitable access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and to strengthening health policy and systems that center community needs.
Patricia McNiven, PhD, RM
Role: Editor Emeritus
Institutional Affiliation: McMaster University
Biography:
Dr. McNiven is an Associate Professor of Midwifery at McMaster University and serves as Editor Emeritus of CJMRP. Her academic career has focused on advancing midwifery education, research, and professional standards. She has contributed extensively to the development of midwifery scholarship in Canada and to strengthening academic–clinical partnerships within midwifery education programs. Her leadership within the journal reflects a longstanding commitment to rigorous peer review, ethical publishing, and the dissemination of research that advances midwifery practice and maternal-child health outcomes.
Karen M. Lawford RM AM PhD RSC
Role: Editorial Board Member
Institutional Affiliation: McMaster University
Country: Canada
Biography:
Dr. Lawford is an Anishinaabeg midwife and enrolled member of Lac Seul First Nation. She is a registered midwife in Ontario and the first Indigenous midwife in Canada to obtain a doctoral degree and hold a university appointment. Her health systems research advances comprehensive, gender-inclusive sexual and reproductive health grounded in Indigenous theories, methodologies, and methods. A founding member of the National Council of Indigenous Midwives and the Global Council of Indigenous Midwives, she works to influence policy, program, and systems change aligned with the TRC Calls to Action, MMIWG Calls to Justice, and RCAP recommendations. Her scholarship centers Indigenous governance, knowledge systems, and culturally grounded care.
Dr. Josée LaFrance SF, PhD, Professure Department Sage Femme, Universite du Quebec of Trois-Rivieres
Role: Editorial Board Member
Institutional Affiliation: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Biography:
Dr. Lafrance has served as faculty in the midwifery department at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières for over two decades. She is deeply engaged in practicum education, midwifery research, and interprofessional education initiatives. She holds a doctorate in education, a master’s degree in primary health care, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Having trained and practiced as a midwife internationally, she is recognized as one of the pioneers of midwifery education and professional development in Quebec. Her work emphasizes experiential learning, competency development, and strengthening midwifery education within academic and clinical environments.
Dr. Karline Wilson-Mitchell, DrNP, FACNM, RM
Role: Editorial Board Member
Institutional Affiliation: Toronto Metropolitan University
Biography:
Dr. Wilson-Mitchell is Director of the Midwifery Department at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her work is grounded in reproductive justice and advances equity in midwifery education, practice, and global partnerships. She has practiced as both a registered nurse and midwife in urban and rural settings across North America and has served as a consultant in leadership and curriculum development in several countries. Her scholarship addresses health disparities experienced by Black communities and promotes culturally responsive and justice-oriented maternity care. She is committed to transforming educational spaces to reflect diverse histories, traditions, and models of perinatal care.
Johanna Geraci, BHsM, MSc, RM
Role: Editorial Board Member
Institutional Affiliation: Ontario College of Pharmacists
Biography:
Johanna Geraci is a graduate of the McMaster Midwifery Education Program and holds a master’s degree in Health Research Methodology. She has conducted research on prenatal care delivery in Nunavut and competency-based assessment in midwifery education. Her professional experience includes clinical midwifery practice, mentorship, regulatory program development, and policy work. She has contributed to midwifery implementation initiatives and regulatory reform efforts and now works in health professional regulation and policy. Her interests center on governance, competency standards, and strengthening regulatory frameworks that support safe, accountable health care delivery.
Naomi Wolfe, RM
Role: Editorial Board Member
Institutional Affiliation: Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre
Country: Canada
Biography:
Naomi Wolfe is an Aboriginal midwife practicing in Sudbury within the traditional territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnaabeg. She works at Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre and is pursuing graduate studies in midwifery. She was the first Indigenous trainee to complete the International Midwifery Pre-registration Program and has worked to expand access to culturally grounded maternal-child health services. Her practice integrates traditional knowledge, ceremony, and collaborative clinical models to support Indigenous families. She is committed to advancing culturally safe care and strengthening Indigenous midwifery education and leadership within community-based health systems.