About our authors
Michele R. Davidson completed her ADN degree from Marymount University and worked in multiple women's health specialty areas, including postpartum, newborn nursery, high-risk nursery, labor and delivery, reproductive endocrinology, gynecology medical-surgical and oncology units as a registered nurse while obtaining a BSN from George Mason University. She earned her MSN and a nurse-midwifery certificate at Case Western Reserve University and continued to work as a full-scope nurse-midwife for 16 years. Dr. Davidson has delivered more than 1,000 babies during her career as a nurse-midwife. She completed her PhD in nursing administration and healthcare policy at George Mason University (GMU) and began teaching at GMU in 1999 while continuing in her role as a nurse-midwife. In 2018, Dr. Davidson earned an additional degree as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). She has an ongoing interest in women's mental health and focuses her research on perinatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. Dr. Davidson also has an interest in the care of individuals with disabilities; she has served as a member of the Loudoun County Disability Advisory Committee and is a disability advocate in her community. She was a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives Certification Council, the body that writes the national certification examination for certified nurse-midwives. Dr. Davidson was recently appointed to the Virginia State Maternal Mortality Review Board and has served on several federal task forces for the prevention of maternal mortality. She is a member of numerous editorial and advisory boards and has a passion for writing. In 2003, Dr. Davidson founded the Smith Island Foundation, a nonprofit organization in which she served as executive director for 8 years and later held an appointment as the vice-president of Smith Island United, a community advocacy group. Dr. Davidson founded Chesapeake Bay Psychiatry in 2020 to provide pregnant and postpartum families with mental health services throughout the perinatal period. Dr. Davidson currently serves on the Board of Directors for Postpartum Support International and is the current infanticide coordinator. Dr. Davidson has also completed certifications in lactation consulting, forensic nursing and as a surgical first assistant. In 2012, her book, A Nurse's Guide to Women's Mental Health, won an American Journal of Nursing Book Award. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her mother, writing, gardening, internet surfing and spending time on Smith Island with her nurse-practitioner husband, Nathan, and their four children, Hayden, Chloe, Caroline and Grant. Dr. Davidson and her family love the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia and continue to be part-time residents of Smith Island.
Marcia L. London received her BSN and School Nurse Certificate from Plattsburgh State University in Plattsburgh, New York, and her MSN in pediatrics as a clinical nurse specialist from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. She worked as a pediatric nurse and began her teaching career at the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital Affiliate Program. Mrs. London began teaching Pediatric and Maternity Nursing at Beth-El School of Nursing and Health Science in 1974 (now part of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) after opening the first intensive care nursery at Memorial Hospital of Colorado Springs. She has served in many faculty positions at Beth-El, including assistant director of the School of Nursing. Mrs. London obtained her postmaster's Neonatal Nurse Practitioner certificate in 1983 and subsequently developed the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) certificate and then the master's NNP program at Beth-El College of Nursing. She is active nationally in neonatal nursing and was involved in the development of National Neonatal Nurse Practitioner educational program guidelines. She is a long-term member of AWHONN, an original member of NANN, and an educational affiliate member of ACOG. Mrs. London pursued her interest in college student learning by taking doctoral classes in higher education administration and adult learning at the University of Denver in Colorado. She feels fortunate to have been involved in the education of her future NNP colleagues and undergraduate education. She retired from active teaching in 2016 after 47 years. Mrs. London and her husband, David, enjoy reading, travel and hockey games. They have two sons: Craig, who works with internet companies and lives in Florida with his wife Jennifer (a critical care nurse), daughter Hannah and son Ayden; and Matthew, who works in computer teleresearch. Both are more than willing to give Mom helpful hints about computers.
Patricia A. Wieland Ladewig received her BS from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minnesota; her MSN from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC; and her PhD in higher education administration from the University of Denver in Colorado. She served as an Air Force nurse and discovered her passion for teaching as a faculty member at Florida State University. Over the years, she has taught at several schools of nursing. In addition, she became a women's health nurse practitioner and maintained a part-time clinical practice for many years. In 1988, Dr. Ladewig became the first director of the nursing program at Regis College in Denver. In 1991, when the college became Regis University, she became academic dean of the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions. Under her guidance, the School of Nursing added a graduate program. In addition, the college added a School of Physical Therapy and a School of Pharmacy. In 2009 Dr. Ladewig became Vice President for Academic Affairs, and in 2012 she became Provost at Regis University. She retired in 2016. She remains active professionally, serving on the Community Health Values Committee of Centura Health. She and her husband, Tim, enjoy traveling, skiing and baseball games. However, their greatest pleasure comes from their family: son Ryan, his wife Amanda, and grandchildren Reed and Addison Grace; and son Erik, his wife Kedri, and grandchildren Emma and Camden.
