Nursing Faculty Win Recognition

Cheryl Pearce and Connie Swentek Receive Teaching Awards

July 8, 2008

By Mimi Ko Cruz

Being excellent teachers, inspiring mentors and committed nurse-midwives has earned nursing lecturers Cheryl Pearce and Connie Swentek awards from the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

The 79-year-old women's health care organization presented Pearce its "Award of Excellence in Teaching" and Swentek its "Award of Excellence" based on student nominations.

In their award nomination for Pearce, students said that she is "extremely knowledgeable and has the unique ability to simplify difficult concepts into a practical format that is easy to understand."

Swentek's nominators wrote: "Swentek has served Kaiser Permanente as a midwife and spokesperson for the midwifery service in Orange County. ... She provides leadership on the state and local levels and is an exemplary role model to those pursuing midwifery careers and those practicing midwifery."

The duo teach courses in the master of science in nursing program, women's health care concentration. Pearce, a midwife at Kaiser Permanente in La Palma, teaches a variety of theory courses, including advanced health assessment. Swentek, a past president of the California Nurse Midwives Association and chapter chair from 1994 to 1998, is the placement coordinator for the concentration and teaches clinical courses.

"We are very happy to have these active midwives teaching in our program," said Paula Herberg, chair and professor of nursing. "Because they are both working midwives while teaching part time, they bring a 'real world' perspective that students thoroughly enjoy."

ACNM administers and promotes continuing education programs, establishes clinical practice standards and conducts research. Its mission is to promote the health and well being of women and infants through the development and support of midwifery as practiced by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives.