At the age of 15, 1920 Society member Marilyn Kieffer-Andrews discovered her life's passion of caring for women through working as a nurse aide in both labor and delivery rooms of the 1960's.  Marilyn quickly gained a unique perspective and deep compassion for women during one of life's most beautiful and transitional times - becoming a mother.  Fueled by her commitment to support women, Marilyn pursued a career in nursing and then nurse-midwifery.   She continued to gain a deeper understanding of how important options were to women when choosing a more personal approach to childbirth and overall health care.  After calling Arizona home for several years, in 1981, Marilyn was the first nurse-midwife, nurse, nurse-practitioner to establish a professional corporation in the state.   Shortly after, she was the first to open an independent nurse-midwifery practice in Phoenix and obtain hospital privileges as a certified nurse-midwife in private practice.  Among her many accomplishments, Marilyn was an instrumental force in helping change Arizona's statutes that in 1982 granted all specialties of nurse practitioners authorization to prescribe and administer medications to their patients independently, with only collaborative, not employment under a physician, thereby increasing the scope and access of healthcare for women and men alike.

After years of improving the childbirth experience for women and their families, Marilyn went on to earn her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and Biomedical Ethics.  Since then, Marilyn has received numerous accolades for her extensive work.  She has served her community in various roles from being a clinical director who assisted in establishing the first homeless shelter in Arizona for individuals with serious mental illness to a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner in private practice specializing in helping individuals and couples through pregnancy, postpartum, infertility, and unexpected loss. Today, Marilyn continues to have a positive impact on health care as she works with patients in a style that is empathic, encouraging, validating, educating, and challenging, helping guide them to personal integration and happiness.  

Marilyn’s life devotion to women goes beyond breaking barriers in the health field.  She has been a committed and generous supporter of the National Women’s History Museum since 2005, believing that the stories of women’s impact in their communities needs to be recognized and celebrated.

What first drew you to supporting the National Women Women’s History Museum?

I remember being so excited and delighted when I received a brochure about a museum for women's history.   I just had to begin supporting it.  I believe much has been done for and by women that is lost in our history.   I LOVE hearing about women's contributions especially all those, who prior to recent times, have gone unacknowledged or endured pain and suffering for the sake of other women, men and their families.  It is wonderful to have a place where all contributions can be easily accessed.

Are there particular Museum education programs or online exhibitions that you enjoy most?

I found the online programs very informative and well done.   A lot of information is presented in a concise and visually appealing manner.  Well done and easy, easy to look at online.

What women from the past or present inspire you?

It is hard to say who inspires me the most.  I gain something from each and every one of them.   I truly enjoy learning about women that I have had no knowledge about and being informed regarding their work, sacrifices and achievements for the benefit of so many others.  I am in awe of them.

If you were to curate an exhibition about the history of women in your community, what story you would want viewers know?

If I look at Payson, AZ where I have lived part time for the past 15 years, I would want to curate an exhibition about the women who truly created and raised the money for the health care being delivered in this little Arizona town.  It is the foundation of the many services available now.  I know only parts of the history, but it is real here...not folklore....and well-respected.

With such an extensive career of supporting women, what aspect of health care do you find most rewarding?

At this point in my life, I find providing direct mental health counseling and medications most rewarding for both the women and men.  I have a thriving mental health practice in which I address psychological and medication issues.  As I have specialized in pregnancy and postpartum many of my current patients, both women and men, have been with me for 20+ years.  It is rewarding to be a resource for both them and their families in addressing ongoing needs, as well as, the occasional challenges that just require a brief one or two sessions with options for stabilizing and moving forward.   

In the past, when medications for anxiety and depression were beginning to proliferate, I presented workshops for primary care nurse-practitioners and physicians to assist them in assessing and prescribing psychotropic medications until their patients were able to be followed by a mental health provider.   I loved, loved the teaching and helping them help their patients.  Now, however, my teaching passion has shifted to preparing to teach Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Therapeutic Yoga and Pilates.  I want to focus on maximizing and preserving the ability to move with wisdom, stability and ease.  Graceful, strong physical and mental aging is the goal.  

What advice would you offer nurses who are either just beginning their careers or expanding their roles?

Learn and work.  Observe and seek unique places where they can be passionate and present.  Seek  like-minded colleagues who can support and challenge them.  Meet with them regularly for professional consultation and exchange.  Seek what "isn't there or could be there" to enhance the care they are providing.  Keep learning for the sake of knowing more, not just checking off the regulatory requirements.

If you were to have lunch with any woman from history, who would it be and why?

Myra Breckenridge, the woman who founded Frontier Nursing Service in Hyden, Kentucky and from which the first Nurse-Midwife Education program in the United States was created.