Mavis Schorn, M.S., C.N.M.
Schorn to lead VUSN’s nurse midwifery program
Mavis Schorn, M.S., C.N.M., has been appointed the new program director for Vanderbilt University School of Nursing's nurse midwifery program, one of the most popular specialty programs at the school.
“Mavis has taken on the academic role with an impressive progression in teaching skills as well as scholarly activity,” said VUSN Dean Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D. “The future of our program remains strong and I look forward to the leadership Mavis brings.”
Schorn received her B.S.N. from the University of Texas, her M.S. from Texas Women's University, and certificate of midwifery from Baylor College of Medicine.
She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Kentucky and anticipates a 2007 graduation.
Schorn succeeds Barbara Petersen, Ed. D., R.N., C.N.M., who stepped down as program director in December. Since founding the program in 1995, Petersen has been instrumental in obtaining $5.4 million in DHHS Division of Nursing funding awarded to the school and has developed one of the strongest nurse midwifery programs in the country. She remains at VUSN as full-time faculty.
The practice of midwifery at Vanderbilt is gaining strength along with education. The VUSN-run West End Women's Health Clinic now has eight full-time and two part-time certified nurse midwives and one full-time women's health nurse practitioner.
The practice handles more than 8,000 patient visits a year. For the first six months of this fiscal year, West End Women's Health has delivered more than 20 percent of the babies born at VUH, and accounts for about 30 percent of increased births at VUH so far this year.