Janelle Potts, CNM is a certified nurse-midwife with Women's Healthcare Associates in Portland, Oregon.
“I am energized when I really truly feel like I have been able to help someone achieve a deeper understanding of their health and how to best manage it in the context of their life. To see that light bulb come on when you’re talking to someone about their body and know they are leaving with a greater sense of empowerment is really rewarding.”
Fascinated by the impact of culture and society on the birth experience, Janelle knew she wanted to catch babies after a college course on bio-cultural medical anthropology. After receiving her second bachelor’s degree in nursing, she worked as a labor and delivery nurse before returning to school for her master’s degree in nurse-midwifery.
Today, Janelle’s practice is rooted in trusting the knowledge of birthing bodies. As a certified nurse-midwife working with physicians in a hospital setting, she is able to provide the supportive, low-intervention approach of midwifery to a wider group of people, including those with higher risk pregnancies. Having been a teenage parent herself, Janelle believes every person deserves the opportunity to participate fully in their care, regardless of the circumstance. She enjoys adolescent health; holistic pregnancy care; and helping her patients with contraception, family planning and sexual health.
Janelle continues to advocate for patients through several volunteer positions on statewide midwifery committees. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, running, gardening, surfing and crossword puzzles, as well as spending time with her partner, teenager and dog.
Graduate Degree:
Master of Science, Nurse Midwifery, Frontier Nursing University, 2016
Undergraduate Degree:
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, 2010
Undergraduate Degree:
Bachelor of Science, Cultural Anthropology, Oregon State University, 2009
American College of Nurse-Midwives
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses