Martine Jean-Baptiste

Martine Jean-Baptiste has been involved in women’s health since 1986 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. She has worked with women and their families throughout the lifecycle in a variety of settings. Her professional roles have included working as a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Allen Pavilion, Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center (a free-standing birth center) and the Center for Community Alternatives. Additionally, she started a solo private childbirth education and professional labor support (doula) service in New York City.

In 2000, Ms. Jean-Baptiste graduated from State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center with a Master of Science in Midwifery. As a licensed midwife (Certified Nurse Midwife/Licensed Midwife), she worked at St. Barnabas Hospital as well as Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. In June 2002, along with her business partner, Martine started a homebirth midwifery practice, JJB Midwifery, providing pre-conceptual counseling, well woman gynecological care, contraception and home birth services in New York City.

Martine loves to say she “was conceived in Haiti and born in the USA” and has always maintained a deep love and strong connection to Haiti. Over the years she struggled to figure out how best to provide assistance in the battle to decrease Haiti’s high maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rates. She figured the obvious answer was Haitian midwives for Haitian women/families!  In 2013, Martine spearheaded the founding of Foundation for Advancement of Haitian Midwives, Inc. (FAHM), a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization which continues to play an integral role in increasing awareness around the midwifery profession as well as increasing the knowledge and skills of professionally educated Haitian midwives living and working in Haiti through educational conferences, professional association building, media coverage, and social media campaigns all while working closely with the Haitian midwifery association, midwifery school and Haiti based businesses and professionals. She strongly believes in “Haitians helping Haitians” and her work has made a powerful impact on the lives of Haitian women, babies and families in Haiti.

Martine strongly believes in women’s innate ability to care for themselves and their families. She believes in supporting women’s right to safe, supportive and informed healthcare throughout the lifecycle.”