Our Team – Seattle

Our Team

 

Jocelyn Alt

After starting her career in health policy and planning to go to medical school to become an OB/GYN, Jocelyn took a doula training in 2006 and realized she had found her life’s calling. She loves the process of getting to know expecting parents and their hopes and fears about birth and early parenting, and supporting them along that journey.

Jocelyn brings to her doula work an interest in both the scientific and emotional/spiritual aspects of the birth process. She stays up to date on current research related to birth and enjoys digging in to the evidence around different medical practices with clients who are interested. Jocelyn similarly enjoys working with clients to process the many emotional, identity, and relationship changes and challenges that can come up around birth. She has training in a variety of Birthing From Within techniques for emotional preparation such as storytelling, the labyrinth of birth, experiential preparation, and sound therapy. Jocelyn’s own spiritual practice is woven together from her heritage and her spiritual seeking process and includes threads of Judaism, Quakerism, progressive Christianity, and Earth-based reverence and ritual.

Jocelyn is also a bereavement doula, supporting parents whose babies die in utero or in infancy. Jocelyn has a special place in her heart for this work as well as supporting families who have experienced past losses, miscarriages, or challenging fertility journeys.

Jocelyn is the Lead Doula of the Swedish Hospital doula program, and has advised medical centers and doulas around the country on starting hospital-based doula programs. She has a BA from Yale University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. She is certified as a doula through the Pacific Association of Labor Support. Jocelyn lives near Seward Park in Seattle with her partner and two children. In addition to supporting birthing families, Jocelyn enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking, yoga, hosting dinner parties, and eating dark chocolate.

 

Autumn Duckworth

Autumn’s passion for birth evolved from her love for athletics, health, and wellness. In 2006, she graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutritional Sciences, obtained her license as a Registered Dietitian, and worked in WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) clinics in both Washington state and Hawaii providing nutrition counseling and breastfeeding education. She also had the privilege of volunteering at a maternity home in Puyallup as a dietitian, staff assistant, mentor, and birth mother advocate. The more she worked with pregnant women, the greater her desire to become a birth doula was ignited! Doulas of North America (DONA) International certified Autumn as a birth doula and shortly afterwards she became a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). She has been serving pregnant and nursing mothers throughout King and Pierce County for over 8 years.

Autumn was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in the suburbs of Seattle. Her life is richly blessed as a follower of Jesus Christ, wife, mother, birth doula, dietitian, and lactation counselor. In February of 2011, she married her wonderful husband who encourages her to pursue life to the fullest! They have established roots in Kirkland, Washington. Her husband’s job as a Project Manager and her occupation as a Mother of three and Birth Doula keep them fairly busy. However, in their free time, they enjoy eating at new restaurants, cooking, kickboxing, hiking, watching Cutthroat Kitchen by the fire, reading, leading a Bible Study, volunteering with their Church, traveling, hanging out with extended family, and taking their kids to the park. Autumn looks forward to meeting each of you and supporting you in bringing your beautiful miracle into this world!

Advisors

Julie Harrison

Certified Nurse Midwife

Julie is a Certified Nurse Midwife with 35 years of experience providing health care to women. She was the Director of Midwife Service at Saints Mary & Elizabeth Medical Center for 12 years. Julie retired from midwifery in 2012, and now continues to be involved in the field through her role on the Ohana Advisory Group and other activities. Julie is the mother of two grown children.

Paul Leamon

Entrepreneur

Paul is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for shaping innovative ideas into successful, high growth enterprises through his company Venturenetix. His most recent success, Wellfount, is a venture capital backed, healthcare services company that has grown from seed concept in 2006 to employing over 100 staff across 9 states of operation today. His previous experience also includes almost 10 years of work in healthcare/business services consulting and investment banking with Booz Allen Hamilton and Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Securities). He holds a BS in Public Affairs from Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Anita Verna Crofts

Public Health and Communications Professional

Anita is on faculty at the Department of Global Health and the Department of Communication at the University of Washington, where she serves as the Associate Director of Academic Affairs for the Communications Leadership graduate program. Her courses include: story creation and social engagement, leadership and organizational design in the digital age, and the interplay of culture, identity, and communication. Anita collaborates with partner institutions in the health care space worldwide to develop capacities in leadership, management, and policy development.