Throughout her career, Deb has frequently served as a charge nurse, overseeing unit operations and patient care coordination. This role has required rapid, informed decision-making and team leadership during critical situations, including shoulder dystocia, postpartum hemorrhage, and emergency cesarean sections.

Her extensive experience with both routine deliveries and complex, high-risk emergencies gives her the ability to recognize when something may have gone wrong. She’s able to help families better understand the circumstances surrounding a birth injury or complication.

As a long-time member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Deb is also committed to advancing the standards of maternal and newborn care.

“I have a particular interest in the role of communication in patient outcomes,” Deb said. “A lack of clear, timely information during labor and delivery can lead to confusion, fear, and long-term misunderstandings about the care received.”

That understanding comes not only from her professional experience but also from her life as a mother of four — with two of her children being born while she was in nursing school.

“I understand both personally and professionally how quickly things can change in the labor and delivery setting,” Deb expressed. “My first child was born by C-section due to breech presentation, which wasn’t discovered until I was fully dilated and ready to push.”

Her ability to connect with parents and caregivers stems from these shared experiences and her deep compassion for families navigating the impact of an injury that occurred before, during, or shortly after delivery.

“The families I speak with are seeking answers, and they deserve to understand what happened to their child,” Deb said. “Helping them begin that process is an incredible privilege.”