The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) honored 21 midwives who have demonstrated leadership, clinical excellence, outstanding scholarship, and professional achievement both within and outside of the midwifery profession. Among the honorees was Nell Tharpe of East Boothbay.

A limited number of midwives are selected for this highly coveted distinction and are inducted as fellows during the ACNM Annual Meeting & Exhibition each year. Once inducted, a fellow is able to add “FACNM” (Fellows of the American College of Nurse-Midwives) to their credentials.

Tharpe, CNM, CRNFA, MS obtained her certificate in nurse-midwifery from the State University of New York and received her master of science degree in midwifery from Philadelphia University. Tharpe’s extensive clinical experience includes full scope midwifery, including both physiologic birth and surgical first assisting.

Tharpe is the original author of “Clinical Practice Guidelines for Midwifery and Women’s Health,” and she is the lead author of the ACNM Handbook “The Midwife as Surgical First Assistant.” Tharpe currently teaches as adjunct faculty at Philadelphia University and she functions as an independent perinatal and women’s health consultant.