With women, for a lifetimeTM Commendation
Tamara L. Kessel, CNM Potomac Valley Physicians for Women (Petersburg, WV)
After graduating as a midwife from Georgetown University and successfully passing midwifery boards, Tamara Kessel joined Potomac Valley Physicians for Women, a solo physician practice providing medical services to women of all ages. The primary location of practice has been the Grant Memorial Hospital in Petersburg, West Virginia, with satellite locations of five counties in rural West Virginia. Grant Memorial Hospital has been providing midwifery care to women and newborns since 1991.
As an active member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, Tamara has been providing preceptor education for the Shenandoah University midwifery program since its conception. Providing education to medical schools and allied health students is a major part of her employment as a midwife.
In the late 1990s, Tamara assisted in transitioning Grant Memorial Hospital to a breast friendly institution. Along with the pediatric staff and Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program, the hospital initiated breast pumping stations at all major industrial facilities in the immediate area. This approach to education proved to be valuable with the increase in successful breastfeeding mothers.
The Potomac Highlands area has seen an influx in the Hispanic Population. Tamara has worked hard to learn the language and cultural differences of these patients and to assist them in finding assistance for their medical and financial needs. In and effort to further assist this growing population, she continues to locate and initiate payment programs for translators to accompany the families during the birthing process.
Tamara assists in providing education of disease and pregnancy issues for teens through the county school systems. Her involvement has made a positive impact to lower teen pregnancy rates in the community. Working with the local health department, she is able to continue care by providing family planning services and other women's issues. As she experiences birth with many families and continues to provide care for the mothers and then the children as they grow to be teens and then to adulthood, she is truly 'with women throughout their lifespan.
