Melissa Saftner, PhD, MBA, APRN, CNM, FACNM

Dr. Melissa A. Saftner, PhD, MBA, APRN, CNM, FACNM, is a Clinical Professor and Program Director of the Nurse-Midwifery program at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, where she has dedicated over two decades to advancing holistic patient care and midwifery education. With extensive clinical experience as a Certified Nurse-Midwife at University of Minnesota OBGYN and Allina Health OB/GYN, Dr. Saftner brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her academic role, mentoring CNM/WHNP/FNP students and serving as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Her research expertise focuses on adolescent health with a global perspective, HIV care, and health disparities. As an active leader in professional organizations including the American College of Nurse-Midwives and SAHM STI/HIV/AIDS Committee Member, Dr. Saftner also serves as a peer reviewer for multiple professional journals and a senior site visitor for the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. Her comprehensive approach to healthcare combines clinical practice in adolescent health and outpatient care with academic excellence in teaching midwifery, reproductive healthcare, quality improvement, and health disparity prevention, making her a distinguished advocate for the midwifery model of care and nursing research.

Academic Interests and Focus

• Nurse-midwifery
• Nursing Research
• Health disparity prevention

Teaching Areas

• Midwifery
• Reproductive health care
• Quality improvement

Dr. Saftner currently clinically practices as a Certified Nurse-Midwife at University of Minnesota OBGYN and Allina Health OB/GYN. 

Clinical Interests: Adolescent Health, Outpatient Care, Midwifery Model of Care

Clinical Experience Statement:
I have worked for almost two decades caring for individuals and their families. It is an honor to work with patients as they transition through various life stages.

• Excellence in Leadership and Innovation Award (formerly the Kitty Ernst Award), American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2019
• Fellow, American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2018
• Excellence in Teaching Award, American College of Nurse-Midwives, 2017
• Outstanding Graduate Advisor Award, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2016
• Exceptional Mentorship, The Daisy Foundation Daisy Award, 2015
• MNRS Adolescent Health Research Section Dissertation Award, 2012

• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
• American College of Nurse Midwives

PhD, University of Michigan
Major: Women's Health Nursing

MBA, University of Minnesota
Major: Strategic Management 

MS, University of Michigan
Major: Nursing/Nurse-Midwifery

BSN, University of Colorado
Major: Nursing

BS, United States Military Academy
Major: European History

Skalisky, A.E., & Saftner, M.A. (2025), The Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Racism and Health Disparity Prevention Course for Midwives Continuing Education. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 0(0), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.70011

Neerland, C. E., Saftner, M. A., Delkoski, S., Galegher, E., Ruud, M., Woll, A., Miller, J. M., Melchionne-Martinez, D., & Clark, L. (2025). Development of a medication abortion simulation for midwifery and women's health nurse practitioner students: Not just another sim. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13786

Tukamushabe, P., Ngabirano, T. D., Okonya, J. N., & Saftner, M. A. (2024). Prevalence and factors associated with impaired maternal-infant bonding among mothers attending young child clinic in Kampala, Uganda. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 665. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060665>

Ainebyona, H., Ayebare, E., Nabisere, A., & Saftner, M. A. (2024). Prevalence of maternal fever and associated factors among postnatal women at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Uganda: A preliminary study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(3), 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030316

Saftner, M. A., & Ayebare, E. (2023). Using collaborative online international learning to support global midwifery education. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 37(2), 116-122. https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0000000000000722

Brown, C., Neerland, C.E., Weinfurter, E.V. & Saftner, M.A. (2023). The provision of abortion care via telehealth in the United States: A rapid review. Journal of Midwifery Women's Health, 68: 744-758. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13586

Miller, K. K., Saftner, M. A., McNamara, M., McMorris, B., & Olupot-Olupot, P. (2022). Provision of adolescent health care in resource-limited settings: Perceptions, practices and training needs of Ugandan health care workers. Children and Youth Services Review, 132, 106310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106310

Ngabirano, T. D., Saftner, M. A., & McMorris, B. J. (2022). Exploring health behaviors in Ugandan adolescents living in rural fishing communities. The Journal of School Nursing, 38(2), 148-160. doi:10.1177/1059840520947142

Saftner, M. A., Pruitt, K. S., & McRee, A. L. (2021). Conversation, condoms, and contraception: How does communication with sexual partners affect safer sexual behaviors among American Indian youth? Journal of School Nursing, 37(2), 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059840519849097

Arbour, M. W., Gordon, I. K., Saftner, M., & Tanner, T. (2020). The experience of sleep deprivation for midwives practicing in the United States. Midwifery, 89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2020.102782

Saftner, M., Thompson, M., Ngabirano, T. D., & McMorris, B. J. (2020). Adaptation of the event history calendar for Ugandan adolescents. Global Health Promotion, 27(3), 159-170. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757975919878179

Neerland, C. E., Avery, M. D., Looman, W. S., Saftner, M. A., Rockwood, T. H., & Gurvich, O. V. (2020). Development and testing of the preparation for labor and birth instrument. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 49(2), 200-211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2019.12.006

Neerland, C. E., Avery, M. D., Saftner, M. A., & Gurvich, O. V. (2020). Corrigendum to "Maternal Confidence for physiologic birth: Associated prenatal characteristics and outcomes" [Midwifery 77 (2019) 110-116]. Midwifery, 80, 102557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2019.102557

Ngabirano, T. D., Saftner, M. A., McRee, A., & McMorris, B. J. (2020). Considerations for conducting global health research with adolescents in rural communities. Journal of Global Health Reports, 4:e2020093.  https://doi.org/10.29392/001c.17605

Neerland, C. E., Avery, M. D., Saftner, M., & Gurvich, O. V. (2019). Maternal confidence for physiologic birth: Associated prenatal characteristics and outcomes. Midwifery, 77, 110-116.

Award: Adapting the STARx Transition Readiness Questionnaire for Ugandan Young People Living with HIV/AIDs (YPLHIV) and their Parents
Sponsoring Organization: UMN Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility 
Award Dates: July 1, 2020 - July 30, 2022

Award: Midwest Integration of the National HIV Curriculum (MINHC)
Principal Investigator: Rybicki, Sarah Louise
Sponsoring Organization: University of Illinois Chicago
Award Dates: 2019 - 2022

Award: Midwest Integration of the National HIV Curriculum (MINHC)
Principal Investigator: Rybicki, Sarah Louise
Sponsoring Organization: University of Illinois Chicago
Award Dates: 2019 - 2022

Award: Exploring Risk Behaviors in Uganda Adolescents Living in
Principal Investigator: Saftner, Melissa Ann
Sponsoring Organization: Sigma Theta Tau International
Award Dates: 2017 - 2018

Award: Exploring Adolescent Risk in Ugandan Fishing Communities
Principal Investigator: Saftner, Melissa Ann
Sponsoring Organization: Sigma Theta Tau International
Award Dates: 2017 - 2018