Kim attended the University of Connecticut where she earned her Bachelor of Science in biology in 1983. From there, she went on to Yale University School of Medicine and became a certified physician associate. She then attended San Diego State University where she successfully completed the Certified Nurse Midwifery Program.
Kim has worked with Dr. Sanford since 1988. They shared the vision of a freestanding birth center, and together brought The Birthing Inn into being. Kim continues as director of The Birthing Inn.
In what little free time she has, Kim enjoys cooking and gardening, hiking and beach combing, and fantasizes about some day having time for golfing and painting again. Until then, she'll continue attending dance recitals and ball games with her two active teenagers, and catching babies on her on-call days.
Kimberly E. Horvath
Linzee M. Langsford, CNM, ARNP
Linzee studied at the University of Washington where she earned her Bachelor of Art in Psychology in 1976. She went on to Seattle Central College to become a Registered Nurse. In 1985, she earned her Certificate of Midwifery at St. John's Hospital of Midwifery in Chelmsford, England. The following year, she attended the University of Southern California’s completion course for internationally-trained midwives to earn her Board Certification from the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
With two active kids at home, Linzee no longer stays up nights to deliver babies. She is currently devoting herself to women’s gynecology needs, including colposcopy (evaluation and treatment of abnormal pap smears), and endometrial ablation.
Linzee M. Langsford
Kay Jackson, CNM, ARNP
Kay attended Mount Saint Mary's College in Los Angeles, California and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1986. In 1994, she graduated from the Nurse-Midwifery Education Program at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. That same year, Kay earned her Master of Nursing at the University of California in Los Angeles.
Aside from catching babies and helping manage The Birthing Inn, Kay has a special interest in women’s health problems, including polycystic ovarian syndrome and metabolic syndrome.
Kay and her husband live in the country and enjoy restoring antique sewing machines. Kay has a huge library, many animals, and is learning to play the Irish harp.
Kay Jackson
Joan Fischer, CNM, ARNP
Joan received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1981 from Seattle University. She graduated the University of Washington’s Nurse Midwifery Program in 1999, when she also earned her Master’s in Nursing and became Board Certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives.
Joan is a great resource for new mothers, as she has four kids of her own, two boys and two girls. When she’s not herding them or catching babies, she enjoys softball, tennis, golf, and running with her dog (even though she insists she’s a cat person).
Joan Fisher
Sylvia Wood, CNM, ARNP
Sylvia earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Murray State University in Lexington, Kentucky, and her Master's in Midwifery and Education from the University of Kentucky in 1978.
She served in the Army Nurse Corps for 20 years, and is currently an Associate Professor of Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. In her spare time, she helps Pearl Place Midwives deliver babies.
After raising three children, she's now immersed in raising her puppy, Abby, and her grandbaby, Eleanor.
Sylvia Wood
Bernie Hillson, CNM, ARNP
Bernie graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor's degree in nursing in 1974. Following a rich career in international medicine in Somalia, East Africa, and Michoacan, Mexico, she returned to the Universiy of Southern California where she completed the Nurse-Midwifery education program in 1992. Her Master's degree in nursing was awarded in 1996.
Bernie's first birth teachers were the traditional birth attendants of Africa and Mexico. She currently loves the wisdom and shared experience of the midwives at Pearl Place. The energy and beauty of labor and birth continue to amaze her.
When not "birthing," Bernie is the social director for her large Irish/German clan, which now includes members from China and Latin America. Her hope is to eventually finish the renovation of a cabin in the North Cascades with the help of her talented younger brother.
Bernie Hillson
Christy Aberg, CNM, ARNP
Christy attended Hamilton College in northern New York where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1999. A few years later, she returned to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and became a registered nurse.She worked as a gynecologic oncology nurse for several years at the University of Washington Medical Center before she graduated from the Nurse-Midwifery program at the University of Washington and earned a Masters of Science degree.
One of Christy’s favorite things about being a nurse-midwife is hearing women’s life stories and experiencing the strength women possess as they travel through pregnancy and birth.
Christy has a passion for the outdoors and loves hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, and biking.She practices yoga regularly and enjoys shopping at local farmers’ markets.
