BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Suzanne Byam is a state certified prevention specialist, working with “at risk” teens in the Gainesville area. She has worked in partnership with the following schools and programs: First Step Facility for girls, PACE for girls, Horizon Middle School, Gainesville High School, Hoggetowne Middle School, and Loften High School. She has also worked with Theatres for Social Change in New York and Gainesville. Suzanne was drawn to the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery through her commitments to Loften High School and the PACE program, and is pleased to be making a contribution to women’s health. 

Susan Nelson, ENP, CPM, has worked with Alachua County Fire/Rescue as the county E-911 Coordinator since 1997. Prior to working for Alachua County Ms. Nelson was the manager of marketing and programs for an international nonprofit. She has a Bachelors degree in organizational communication from the University of Colorado and is a State of Florida Certified Public Manager. She is married and lives in Gainesville. She has three daughters, all born into the hands of midwives. 

Linda Nichols, M.S., has a B.S. in Zoology and an M.S. in Medical Physiology from the University of Florida. She has worked for Santa Fe Community College for twenty years as an educator in the health sciences, in addition to teaching science to children at Jordan Glen School in Archer, Florida. She has three teenage children and has been a supporter of midwifery since their births. She wholly dedicates herself to midwifery and to education. 

Heart Phoenix is a social justice, environmental and peace activist who considers one of her greatest contributions to be that of birthing her five beautiful children naturally. Throughout the country, she is an Inspirational Speaker and Facilitator of Personal and Spiritual Growth Workshops and Trainings. She believes that supporting women empowers them before, during and after the birthing process and is an essential element in developing a more healthy and peaceful planet. She feels that midwifery holds the key to that empowerment, not only for the mother to-be, but for the entire world. 

David West is a fourth generation Chiropractor. Dr. West attended the University of Florida and graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1997. He then completed a four year program at the Palmer College of Chiropractic, graduating in 2000. Currently he is the President of the Mid-Florida Chiropractic Association and is on the Board of Examiners for the State of Florida. Dr. West treats patients with many conditions as well as the pediatric and geriatric populations. When not in the office, Dr. West enjoys spending time with his family, woodworking, being outdoors, and collecting fine wine and watches. 

Yesenia Sevilla is a tri-lingual marketing professional with seven years of experience in the medical device industry, and a solid background in University Executive Education. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Certificate in Integrating Strategic Business Skills in Health Care from the University of Miami. She has consulted for the University of Florida, and continuously works to craft her marketing knowledge base. She was drawn to FSTM by its unique combination of higher education, healthcare issues, and community building through families. Yesi is also the mother of two beautiful children with a commitment to women’s health issues. 

Celeste Shitama holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Penn State University and has completed graduate work in English at the University of Florida. She later returned to the University of Florida for graduate studies in the department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Along the way, she and her husband raised their five children, all born at home in Gainesville. Her own home birth experiences brought her into the world of midwifery at the very beginning of the modern “home birth movement” and the subsequent direct-entry and nurse midwifery legal reformations. She remains an advocate of home and midwife assisted birth. 

Michael Tubbs is a graduate of the University of Florida. He is a community member interested in the well being and mission of the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery.