Our Board
All our accomplishments are made possible by the continued effort of our US Board who help sustain the project through fundraising, advising, and volunteering in Guatemala.
James Carbone, MPH, RN
James Carbone is the former President and owner of The Wellness Corporation and holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota. A registered nurse by training, he became involved with Maya Midwifery International early in its history as a donor and supporter of Maya Mam midwives. His company and other U.S. donors helped make the construction of the original birth center possible in 2004. James remains committed to the organization’s long-term growth and currently serves as Board President.
Board President
Elisa Vandervort, FNP, CNM
Elisa Vandervort is a certified nurse-midwife and family nurse practitioner with more than two decades of experience working with community-based organizations focused on social justice. She has extensive clinical and educational experience in Latin America and East Africa, including cervical cancer prevention and maternal health programs in low-resource settings. Elisa provides hospital-based midwifery care in Vermont and is committed to strengthening respectful maternity care and lifesaving clinical skills among frontline health workers and midwives.
Board Treasurer
Board MemberNikki May, CNM, FNP, MSN
Nikki May is a certified nurse-midwife, family nurse practitioner, and educator with more than 45 years of experience. She trained at Frontier Nursing Service and later founded one of the first comprehensive midwifery services in the Boston area, as well as co-founding the Cambridge Birth Center. Nikki first met Maya Mam midwives in 2003 and has since served as a board member and frequent volunteer, sharing her clinical experience while learning from Maya culture, traditional medicine, and community-based birth practices.
Board MemberMary Ellen Galante, CNM
Mary Ellen Galante is a certified nurse-midwife and community health educator with more than 30 years of experience in maternal and child health. Her global health work has included long-term service in Haiti, Mexico, and Guatemala, with a focus on maternal health and nutrition. As Maya Midwifery International’s first Program Manager, she helped launch the mobile clinic initiative and now contributes her clinical and program expertise as a board member. She is fluent in Spanish and Haitian Creole.
Aishia Antionette Glasford is an international development and humanitarian leader with more than 15 years of experience in sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equity, financial stewardship, grants management, and cross-cultural partnership building. She has held leadership and advisory roles with UNFPA, UNICEF, the American Refugee Committee, and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, supporting programs across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and helping manage donor relationships connected to portfolios exceeding $20 million. Aishia holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University and brings deep expertise in governance, donor relations, program oversight, reproductive justice, and sustainable organizational growth.
Board Co-TreasurerAishia Antionette Glasford, JD, MPP
Dr. Cheryl Hamlin is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Mount Auburn Hospital who completed her residency at Boston Medical Center. Her global health work has taken her to Africa and Latin America, and her advanced Spanish skills help her provide accessible care to Latina patients. During regular visits to Guatemala, Cheryl exchanges clinical knowledge with Maya Mam midwives and supports the integration of appropriate biomedical care with ancestral midwifery practices. She currently serves as Board Clerk.
Board ClerkCheryl Hamlin, MD
Carol Bedrosian
Carol Bedrosian is the founder of Spirit of Change Magazine, a New England publication focused on holistic health, personal transformation, and community well-being. She is also co-producer of the Natural Living Expo, one of the region’s largest annual holistic events. A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, Carol brings extensive experience in communications, publishing, outreach, and community engagement to her service on the Maya Midwifery International board.
Board Member
Judy Luce, CPM
Judy Luce is a homebirth midwife with more than 35 years of experience and the original founder of the project that became Maya Midwifery International. Her involvement with Guatemalan communities began through the Sanctuary Movement in Vermont, and in 1999 she met the original group of Maya Mam midwives who envisioned creating their own birth center. Judy helped transform that vision into a lasting educational and birth center initiative and continues to serve on the board, inspired by the knowledge, creativity, and leadership of Maya midwives.
Board Member and Founder
Board MemberTimothy Frey, MD, MPH
Dr. Timothy Frey is an interventional radiologist with previous experience as an emergency physician and global health practitioner. His international work has included primary care, water and sanitation projects, and training Indigenous midwives and community health workers to use ultrasound to strengthen prenatal care. He holds a medical degree from the University at Buffalo and a Master of Public Health in International Health from Harvard University. Tim speaks Spanish and serves on the boards of Maya Midwifery International and Partners in International Development.
Board MemberJennifer L. Pfau, MD
Dr. Jennifer Pfau is a family physician, educator, and maternal-child health leader with extensive experience in maternity care, newborn health, clinical quality improvement, and health equity. She serves as a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Boston University and as an attending physician at Boston Medical Center, where she has led interdisciplinary teams across family medicine, obstetrics, midwifery, pediatrics, and nursing. A bilingual Spanish-speaking provider with international experience, Jen completed Maya Midwifery International’s Global Health Immersion Program at the Naye Xjaw Birth Center in Guatemala in 2025 and brings a strong commitment to respectful collaboration between ancestral midwifery knowledge and contemporary maternal-health practice.
Jane Carbone is Director of Development at HRI, a nonprofit affordable housing organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has more than 32 years of experience in housing development and construction. She oversees project managers and all stages of the development process, from planning through construction, and has been a leader in incorporating sustainable building and renovation practices. Jane holds a degree in Environmental Design and City Planning from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is a licensed construction supervisor and LEED Accredited Professional.
Board MembeRJane Carbone
Dr. Cheryl Hamlin is an obstetrician-gynecologist at Mount Auburn Hospital who completed her residency at Boston Medical Center. Her global health work has taken her to Africa and Latin America, and her advanced Spanish skills help her provide accessible care to Latina patients. During regular visits to Guatemala, Cheryl exchanges clinical knowledge with Maya Mam midwives and supports the integration of appropriate biomedical care with ancestral midwifery practices. She currently serves as Board Clerk.
Board Member