06.06.2005
On 15 June 2005, Professor of Midwifery at the University of Brighton, Valerie Hall, will explore the development of midwifery knowledge, from ancient times to the present day.
Entitled 'Blending ancient wisdom with contemporary understandings: re-birthing midwifery scholarship', the event will take place at 6.30pm, at Westlain House Lecture Theatre, Falmer.
In particular, Professor Hall will argue that individual midwives develop their own unique knowledge, based on learning that comes from a number of previously unacknowledged sources, and which is influenced by the times in which they live. This challenges individual midwives to see themselves as scholars as they continually construct and reconstruct their knowledge base.
Professor Hall said: "Unlike the typical view of a scholar, a midwife will not only learn by studying books, looking at the contents of a test tube and observing human behaviour, but she will blend this knowledge with her own professional and personal experiences."
"A midwife must realise that her knowledge is changing on a daily basis and become more aware of the factors that influence the decisions she makes when caring for women and their families."
Professor Hall will also outline the views and practices of midwifery from ancient times to recent years focussing on how views of midwifery have influenced its practice.
Professor Valerie Hall is currently the Head of the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, University of Brighton where her duties include being professional and academic lead for midwifery education and the Research Student Division Lead for the Professional Doctorate in Midwifery.
Through her role as an education manager in Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in East London and for the last 11 years in Brighton and membership of national forums and working parties, she has contributed to the development of midwifery practice and shaped the content of the curriculum both locally and nationally. She has made a substantial contribution to quality assurance and enhancement of midwifery education through her involvement with the Quality Assurance Agency as a subject reviewer and as the chair of the midwifery group benchmarking academic standards.
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