Meet the Board

The PATTCh board members are a group of healthcare professionals and birth workers who are dedicated to bringing together like-minded individuals to educate childbearing women and families and maternity care professionals; develop effective prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care practices to prevent or reduce traumatic birth and post-birth PTSD; and identify and promote effective treatments to enhance recovery.

Melina Rapazzini, MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC,

President

Melina Rapazzini has been providing professional support to childbearing families for the past 9 years in diverse maternal-child health settings, both domestically and internationally. She currently works as a certified nurse midwife providing full scope care in the Bay Area.

Melina is passionate about providing care that is trauma-informed, antiracist and LGBTQ-affirming. She was awarded the UCSF 2021 Community Impact Award for her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Sarah Davis, MA, Maternal Child Health Services

Vice President

Sarah Davis is a perinatal advocate and healthcare professional in South King County, WA. She holds a masters in Maternal Child Health Systems and has completed training in birth doula support, health equity, and process improvement. Her varied background provides a strong foundation in social and reproductive justice.

She has 8 years of experience in public hospital health systems, working as a Community Health Facilitator then Clinic Supervisor for the past 5 years, and currently Patient Relations Manager and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Co-Chair.

Her passion for positive birthing experiences and improved health outcomes is fueled by her own personal experiences and the experiences shared with her by community members. She is dedicated to ending health disparities and adverse birthing experiences that negatively impact the livelihood of birthing people and their children, with a primary focus on marginalized communities.

She is currently completing individual qualitative research focused on the impact of community-based doulas and continuous labor support in hospital settings.

Rina Patel-Jerls, DC, Webster and Perinatal Certified

Treasurer

Dr. Rina Patel-Jerls (she/her) is a certified perinatal and pediatric chiropractor serving the Southeast Missouri area. She received my Bachelor’s in Science from the University of Central Florida and my Doctorate in Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. Moms and families have always been her passion. For years she has seen the rise of traumatic childbirth. She felt it was important to educate other practitioners about how to prevent and treat traumatic childbirth and advocate for mother's rights. Education is the largest form of prevention and it starts with practitioners.

Our Founding Members

Penny Simkin

Founder

Sabrine Chengane has a strong record of leadership and taking initiative to identify and create opportunity for improvement in a variety of settings.

She is passionate about maternal and child health with particular interest in global women’s, environmental, and mental health. Sabrine has participated in research projects on contraception, environmental and occupational health, and mental health. She served in different active roles with student organizations, including the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation, in which she served as Chairperson of Public Health in 2016-2017.

Sabrine has a master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center (USA) and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Algiers (Algeria). In May 2021, she was inducted as an alumni member into the Gamma Omicron Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.

Phyllis Klaus

Founder

Available for speaking engagements

She has 8 years of experience in public hospital health systems, working as a Community Health Facilitator then Clinic Supervisor for the past 5 years.

She is currently completing individual qualitative research focused on the impact of community-based doulas and continuous labor support in hospital settings.

Annie Kennedy, MA - MCHS

Founder- Consultant

Available for speaking engagements

Annie Kennedy is a maternity care advocate based in Seattle, Washington. Annie has worked in education and the birth professions since 1989. She is founding President of PALS Doulas, a Founder of DONA International and former Director of the Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations at Bastyr University. She holds a Masters in Maternal-Child Health Systems.

Annie serves on several other non-profit boards and coalitions including Global Perinatal Services and Doulas for All Washington State. She is passionate about humane childbirth, respectful maternity care and health and race equity.

Interested in joining the board? LEARN MORE