FA C U LT Y 

MARINA ALZUGARAY, M.S., L.M., C.P.M., C.N.M.                 Marina is a midwife internationally known for her extensive work in waterbirth and the American Aquanatal Program. She is director of CoMadres Institute and brings insight, leadership and a true love to the future of midwifery care. Marina received her CNM from the University of California at San Francisco, and graduated from FSTM through our Licensure by Endorsement Program. She currently resides with her husband Steve in the Florida Keys. Marina is also the Clinical Director for FSTM. 

DENI BRECKENRIDGE, R.N.                                                 Deni has been a labor and delivery nurse for over 30 years, and has extensive experience with midwifery in both homebirth and birth center settings. She has a degree in nursing from the University of Nevada. Deni has also worked in Women’s Health clinics, with disaster medical relief, and in Third World medical relief. Deni is the mother of two grown children. 

JANA BORINO, FOUNDING DIRECTOR                                    Jana Borino is a founding mother of the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. She had dedicated her professional life to the advancement of midwifery in Florida and nationally. Jana has attended births as a midwife assistant since 1986 and has served on numerous boards and committees of national, state and local midwifery organizations. Her work continues to advance midwifery through education, fund-raising, grant writing and public speaking. Jana was very involved in legislative action during key political years that resulted in successful passage of Florida Statue 467, The Midwifery Practice Act. She and her husband, Keith, have three beautiful daughters, all born at home. 

ELIZABETH BOROS-HARDENBROOK, B.A., M.S.W.            Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University with a dual major in Social Work and Psychology. Elizabeth also holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida State University. Her work in the field of HIV/AIDS began in February 1994, and has included community prevention and education to sixteen counties in Florida, counseling and testing, sponsoring a support group and referrals to case management and medical services. Elizabeth teaches FSTM’s HIV/AIDS course. 

JUNE BYRD, L.M., L.P.N.                                                        June is a 2001 graduate of the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery and is the owner/operator of the Birth Center of Gainesville. June also works with homebirth clients in Alachua, Union, Marion, Levy, and Citrus counties, and her passions are midwifery and birth. In addition, she has been a nurse for 18 years and has worked in many settings, including labor and delivery. June is very happy to be teaching at FSTM and looks forward to future joint endeavors. 

RAE DAVIES, C.D. (DONA), I.C.C.E., I.B.C.L.C.                             For over thirty years, Rae’s professional career has been dedicated to preparing women for birth through childbirth education, assisting at births, labor support and providing training programs for doulas, childbirth educators and the public. She has been preserving the sacredness of natural birth since the 1960’s. Rae is an endorser of the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative and current executive director of the coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) ,where she represents CIMS on the United States Breastfeeding committee. 

KYM DALTON, I.C.C.E., C.L.D.                                     Kym has been teaching childbirth education and supporting women during pregnancy, labor and birth since 1994. She is an ICEA Internationally Certified Childbirth Educator and ICEA program evaluator and volunteer. She is a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula and is the CAPPA Representative for the state of Florida, as well as a CAPPA approved Labor Doula Trainer. Kym is also a Midwife Assistant. She is a mother of two, as well as the director of Traditions of Love Childbirth Services in Gainesville, Florida. 

JOANNA VARADI, C.N.M.                                                 Joanna received her nurse midwifery education at the University of Mississippi in 1982. Joanna has extensive experience with both in and out-of-hospital birth. She practiced at The Birth Center of Gainesville for ten years, attending home births and providing well-women gynecology. Today, Joanna sits on our Advisory Board and continues to dedicate her life to improving woman centered healthcare. 

STACEY WALDEN, L.M.                                                    Stacey is the Clinical Director for FSTM and has worked as an instructor here for fi ve years. She began her midwifery training at FSTM in 1995 and graduated from Sage Femme Midwifery School in California in 1998. She has worked as a licensed midwife in California, Alaska, and Florida in both homebirth and birth center practices. Stacey’s enthusiasm and dedication to midwifery motivate her to educate future midwives for the continuation of midwifery in Florida. 

JEFFREY WEISBURG                                                         Jeffrey is an experienced Mediator, trained in Conflict Resolution and Non-Violent Communication by Marshal Rosenburg He serves as a volunteer in the Florida Court system working with juveniles and adults. Jeffrey has been leading personal growth programs for over 15 years; is a Facilitator of Men’s Work, Gender Healing Workshops; and is an Inspirational Breath Facilitator & Trainer. He s a founding member and serves on the Board of Directors of Peace Partnership International whose mission is forging partnerships with and among government, civil society and business, to catalyze the transformation from a culture of violence to a culture of peace throughout the world.