Maria Openshaw

Maria Openshaw is an Assistant Professor in Nursing at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Her clinical practice focuses on midwifery care for immigrant/refugee families, with experience across diverse global healthcare settings. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, she emphasizes trauma-informed and reproductive justice frameworks in teaching. Professional affiliations include clinical roles at academic, community, and rural hospitals internationally.

Education:

• A.B. in Latin American Studies & Spanish, Bowdoin College
• M.S. in Nursing (Midwifery and Women's Health), University of California, San Francisco

Research focuses on global health systems, midwifery workforce diversification, and organizational culture. Key projects include the Malawi-based Global Action in Nursing (GAIN) mentorship initiative, addressing maternal/neonatal outcomes through sustainable training programs. Her work bridges clinical practice, education, and policy in low-resource settings.

Publications highlight themes of global maternal health interventions, healthcare documentation accuracy, and mental health impacts of childhood trauma. Ongoing work examines cultural dimensions of obstetric care in transitioning healthcare systems.

Awards: None explicitly listed.

Teaching and advising: No specific student list available. Active in curriculum development for reproductive justice and narrative practice methodologies.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in Malawi and Brazil on projects related to midwifery workforce development and maternal health equity.