Neldara Dowell

I joined WomanCare Centers in October of 1999 as a Certified Nurse Midwife and after 20 years, I am still so happy to be a part of this team. Our philosophy embraces the support of families during pregnancy and birth and empowers women to make healthy decisions about their lives.

As long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a nurse. My mother was the beloved nurse whom the community used as a resource for advice and support. Following in her path, I attended DePaul Nursing School and after graduation worked in Labor and Delivery for 16 years. It was my dream job! I loved mom and babies so much that I knew Midwifery was my next calling. I obtained my Bachelors and Masters in Nursing from Old Dominion University as my children were toddlers, then attended The Midwifery school at the University of New Jersey Medicine and Dentistry Midwifery program in Newark, NJ.

My first midwifery job after graduating in 1997 was in a practice in Chesapeake, VA where I practiced as a solo midwife for 2 years. It was a wonderful experience, but when presented with the opportunity of establishing the first birth center in Hampton Roads for families to welcome their babies in a space supportive of low intervention, I knew I could not pass that up. It was one of the highlights of my career and it is my pleasure to continue to welcome babies and support women through their life’s journey.