Called to Care: Deaundra Lamont's Journey to Midwifery

For Deaundra Lamont, CNM, becoming a midwife was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. "As a child, I would watch the show called Birth Day [on Discovery Health] when I was like 10, 11 years old. I'm just watching these ladies have babies all day. And from there I was like, I want to be a nurse one day."

That passion led her into nursing and eventually to Mary Washington Healthcare, where she worked as a labor and delivery nurse before completing a midwifery program and clinical training with the organization's midwifery team. Along the way, she balanced work, family life and the births of her own two children.

"My ultimate goal has always been to deliver babies. I wanted to be there for birth days. It was a lot of hard work [to get here], but I had an amazing support system," Deaundra said. "It was crazy but we got it done."

Today, Deaundra provides care for women across all stages of life, from gynecologic care to pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum support. Her goal is simple: ensure every woman feels seen, heard and cared for.

“But my ultimate goal and the ultimate reason why I am as passionate as I am about midwifery is because of women's health in our country,” Deaundra said. “As a black woman, we are three times more likely to die during childbirth than our white counterparts. And I want to combat that gap. I always have a passion for it.”

That passion continues to motivate her every day. "I'm excited to care for women during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives," Deaundra said.