July 2026 Honoree
Anna Matthews, RM
Anna Matthews is one of the most amazing midwives we have ever worked with. She is so caring, so hardworking, incredibly knowledgeable in her specialty, and deeply dedicated to her high-risk and often very complex patients.
We would like to share just one example of the many women she supports to highlight how truly special she is. We will refer to this patient as "T."
T is a well-educated and quietly proud woman. For multiple reasons, her mental health had gradually declined, but like many women, she found it difficult to acknowledge her struggles and ask for help. Becoming pregnant made her home life, as well as her mental and physical health, significantly more challenging. It became clear that she was crumbling under the weight of everything she was facing.
T did not trust many people and found it difficult to open up about how these challenges were affecting her. In her role as a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwife, Anna took the time to call her several times each week and became an invaluable source of support. She was one of the very few people T felt she could be completely honest with about what was happening in her life and how she truly felt.
Anna continued to support T after the birth of her baby, and over time, T disclosed the domestic abuse she had been experiencing. This was an enormous step forward in her journey toward safety and healing.
Because T trusted Anna, she was willing to accept Anna's recommendations to work with the DSAT team and continue receiving support from the Community Perinatal Mental Health Team. Without Anna, we do not believe T would have trusted healthcare professionals in these allied specialties and may have remained trapped in her complex situation.
Anna made an immeasurable difference not only in T's ability to cope with her pregnancy and birth, but also in her willingness to trust others with her deepest fears and vulnerabilities.
Please remember that this is just one brief story among the countless women Anna supports every week. She cares for many patients facing similarly complex circumstances, and much of this vital work happens quietly behind the scenes, unseen by many of her colleagues.
We feel both proud and privileged to work alongside Anna every day.
Anna also inspired, encouraged, and supported me in taking on the role of Obstetric Lead for Perinatal Mental Health, and I am incredibly grateful that she did.
We would like to share just one example of the many women she supports to highlight how truly special she is. We will refer to this patient as "T."
T is a well-educated and quietly proud woman. For multiple reasons, her mental health had gradually declined, but like many women, she found it difficult to acknowledge her struggles and ask for help. Becoming pregnant made her home life, as well as her mental and physical health, significantly more challenging. It became clear that she was crumbling under the weight of everything she was facing.
T did not trust many people and found it difficult to open up about how these challenges were affecting her. In her role as a Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwife, Anna took the time to call her several times each week and became an invaluable source of support. She was one of the very few people T felt she could be completely honest with about what was happening in her life and how she truly felt.
Anna continued to support T after the birth of her baby, and over time, T disclosed the domestic abuse she had been experiencing. This was an enormous step forward in her journey toward safety and healing.
Because T trusted Anna, she was willing to accept Anna's recommendations to work with the DSAT team and continue receiving support from the Community Perinatal Mental Health Team. Without Anna, we do not believe T would have trusted healthcare professionals in these allied specialties and may have remained trapped in her complex situation.
Anna made an immeasurable difference not only in T's ability to cope with her pregnancy and birth, but also in her willingness to trust others with her deepest fears and vulnerabilities.
Please remember that this is just one brief story among the countless women Anna supports every week. She cares for many patients facing similarly complex circumstances, and much of this vital work happens quietly behind the scenes, unseen by many of her colleagues.
We feel both proud and privileged to work alongside Anna every day.
Anna also inspired, encouraged, and supported me in taking on the role of Obstetric Lead for Perinatal Mental Health, and I am incredibly grateful that she did.
Thank you, Anna, for your exceptional compassion, advocacy, and dedication to your patients. You truly make a difference.
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