The waiting and watching paid off! In May 2014, I took my first Provider position. Hudson River Health Care signed me on as a CNM in their Amityville office when it was converted from the Suffolk County Department of Health Clinic.
A little history…
While a midwifery student, I came across an article in a local newspaper that talked about a system of Federally Qualified Health Centers based in Peekskill that was planning on enveloping the Suffolk County health clinics into their network. Knowing it can be difficult landing that first midwife position without experience specifically in the field, I was hopeful I would be afforded the opportunity in this huge expansion of HRHCare. I would have liked to have been placed in the health center in my backyard of Southampton, but that spot was taken and I was placed in Amityville. Despite the commute, I was thrilled to begin, having waiting two years to find that elusive first job that did not involve a three hour commute into the city or even worse, a move to another area.
Well, I can now say that the work of school and the wait for a position was worth every effort and the faith it took to succeed.
Amityville is a fascinating little area on the South Shore of Long Island, about mid way to the island of Manhattan from Southampton where I live. The population we serve was such a surprise to me in its diversity and fascinating human surprises for this small town girl (well, a long time ago, that is). Despite having lived up and down the West Coast and then in three states along the East Coast, I never had the opportunity to be a small part of the lives of women and their families from many parts of the world, and I love it! More later…
Serene Mind for Life 