Marion McCartney is the Director of Professional Services at the American College of Nurse-Midwives.  In this role she works with policy makers, health care professionals, the public and ACNM members on a wide range of issues affecting primary health services to women and their families. She has had 24 years of clinical experience as a nurse-midwife in private practice, and has served as the President of the National Association of Childbearing Centers. Ms McCartney has been clinical faculty to midwifery, medical and nursing students and has been a speaker at national meetings on primary health care for childbearing families. She is a coauthor of the book The Midwife=s Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth.