March 2013

AAUW – Bradford Branch met March 9 at the Bradford Regional Medical Center. Sharie Radzavich, co-president, expressed her appreciation to the hostess committee members, Anita Herbert, Susan Hughes and Holly Spittler and to the Bradford Hospital Foundation for sponsoring the program. Sharie welcomed guests Debbie Digel and Gae Colligan. Program co- chairperson Nancy Dryden introduced the guest speaker, Kimberly Garcia, CNM, DNP.   Garcia is part of the Women’s Health Services at Bradford Regional Medical Center. Garcia began her career as a bi-lingual journalist for a newspaper in Texas covering the violence and unrest created from the civil wars in Central America.  Seeking economic security for her family, Garcia decided to pursue a degree in nursing. Once she started on this path, she was offered full scholarships from Case Western University in Cleveland to pursue her master’s degree as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).  As part of the Women’s Health Services team, Garcia stressed that she works with women of all ages, not just those who are pregnant, to help them make decisions related to their health needs.  Garcia is the only Doctor of Nursing in the region specializing in natural childbirth and women’s health promotion. She works collaboratively with Dr. Batchev and Dr. Gredzens to provide a comprehensive approach to care designed specifically for women’s health needs.

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.  The Bradford Branch of AAUW was established in 1921. Membership is open to any woman who has earned an associate’s (or equivalent, e.g. RN), bachelor’s, or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.  For more information contact Susan Hughes, membership chairperson.

Submitted by Holly Spittler

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