She/her
Nurse-Midwife
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Kathleen "Katie" Butler is a certified nurse-midwife at WHA's Midwifery Birth Center in Portland, Oregon.
“As a labor and delivery nurse for five years, I supported hundreds of births in the hospital. And while each one was beautiful and moving, it wasn’t until I attended my first birth in a birth center that I understood how peaceful and truly magical it can be away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital. Everyone deserves to know there is another option for bringing your baby into the world.”
Having spent time in a busy hospital setting, Katie’s decision to pursue nurse-midwifery was inspired by her desire to offer all pregnant and birthing people access to a different experience; one where they are in the driver’s seat and the role of the care team is to provide information and support while monitoring the health and safety of parent and child. Beginning with her year of service as a nurse with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in central Washington, she had the opportunity to care for many migrant families who did not have access to this type of care, and she holds dear the belief that everyone should feel comfortable asking questions, being active participants in their care and building confidence to make healthcare decisions. She enjoys working with teens and people with diverse backgrounds and identities and emphasizes that “no question or concern is too small” and each person is in charge of their own pregnancy and birth experience. Katie trained at WHA’s Midwifery Birth Center during her master’s program and returns to our team after working as a certified nurse-midwife at a birth center in Denver.
Katie loves the Pacific Northwest and takes advantage of the outdoor abundance it offers—paddle boarding, hiking and camping (she even named her four pets after mountains). In addition to her Jesuit volunteer experience, she was also a volunteer in the YMCA’s Aspire program mentoring young girls and is eager to find new ways to get involved now that she has completed her nurse-midwifery training. She also loves hosting visitors, travel and exploring new cultures.
Graduate Degree:
Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Midwifery, Frontier Nursing University, 2021
Undergraduate Degree:
Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Saint Louis University, 2010
American College of Nurse-Midwives
