Maria Garcia De Frutos is a Midwifery Lecturer and Admissions Tutor for the BSc Midwifery course at City, University of London. She has a range of midwifery experience having previously worked in the NHS and third sector, and has expertise in public health and the politics or reproduction.
Discovering Midwifery
I have always felt passionate about women’s health. I developed an interest in sexual health and reproduction that led me to explore, study and practice the science and art of midwifery. I was particularly drawn to the close links between reproduction and politics, and saw midwifery as an opportunity for advocacy and activism for women’s rights and human rights as a whole.
Academia
I went to the University of Salamanca, one of the oldest Universities in Spain, to study Nursing in 2000. Later on, I completed a degree in Midwifery in London. A few years later I developed an interest in Global Health that led me to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to do a postgraduate Diploma in Tropical Nursing and a MSc in Public Health.
During my time as a student at university, I was fascinated about the diversity of backgrounds where my colleagues were coming from, the variety of reasons of why each one of us was studying the same subject and the rich and broad experiences we were all bringing into the courses.
Working as a Midwife
I have worked in the NHS for over 16 years, first as a nurse and then as a midwife. I spent the last few years caring for pregnant women with complex psychosocial factors in East London. I have worked both in the NHS and in the third sector, volunteering as a midwife with migrants and refugees in London and abroad.
Lecturing at City
I decided to move to lecturing as I wanted to make an impact in midwifery education and ultimately in the care that women and pregnant people would have in the future.
I have an expertise in public health and the politics of reproduction. I am particularly interested in the sexual and reproductive health of socio-politically excluded women and displaced populations. I am involved in both pre-registration and MSc programmes, and my favourite modules to teach are those related to Public Health and Global Maternal Health.
I find the most rewarding part of my job is engaging in group discussions with students and exploring all the different ideas and experiences that they bring into the classroom.
The Student Experience
We support our students throughout their studies to make sure they develop the knowledge, skills and values required to practice the art and science of midwifery. Students are taught by an excellent and passionate academic team with a great expertise in teaching and research.
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