Our director, Linda Arnold is a professional and highly experienced midwife. Her caliber of leadership stems from the fires of experience.

Her training began in 1975 with a California physician. Three years later she relocated and began her own private practice. This experience was the foundation of the superior skills she uses today. Here, she was able to develop and polish the heart, hands, and philosophy of midwifery, bringing safe and gentle home births to the Idaho region. Often these births occurred in rural areas where emergency services were not readily available. Using her heart, hands and previous medical experience, she had a successful practice with a transport rate of only 3%.

In 1985, Linda came to El Paso with a dream of serving the community along with teaching others the skills needed to practice safe midwifery in their own communities. As founder and Director of Casa De Nacimiento she has used her acquired skills and techniques to continue this dream.

Through her leadership, Casa De Nacimiento has provided safe Midwifery care for thousands of women and their babies. Casa's clinical site provides midwives from all over the world with the opportunity to practice the ancient art of midwifery with the concepts of modern medicine through the fires of experience.
 
Linda Arnold is a contributing author of
Birth Centres: A Social Model for Maternity Care.
 Click to read her chapter, which provides an engaging history of Casa.
 

Hightlights & Qualifications:

  • NARM Certified Professional Midwife
  • New Mexico Licensed Midwife
  • California Licensed Midwife
  • Texas Licensed Midwife
  • Florida Licensed Midwife
  • Neonatal Resuscitation
  • CPR Certification
  • IV Certification
  • ALSO Certification (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics)
 

Alyson Kuntz Butler L.M., C.P.M. began her training in 1990 at Casa de Nacimiento. Alyson gained her El Paso Midwifery Permit 1992 and Texas License in 1994.  In 1998 she became a NARM Certified Professional Midwife. She has been a staff midwife at Casa since 1992 and has attended over 2000 births. Recently, she was given the position of Clinical Supervisor. She has a small private homebirth practice and loves teaching midiwifery classes around the country. She is married with two beautiful daughters.
 

LaVern Calvin Stevenson, L.M.  came to Casa in 1995 as an intern after apprenticing with a local midwife in St. Thomas, V.I. After completing her internship she became a Texas Licensed Midwife and has been living out her dream as a midwife. She is continuing her education and working on her associates degree in nursing. LaVern has four children and one darling little grandson.
 

A'Maya Ettien Pettibone, L.M., C.P.M.

A’maya Ettien joined Casa as staff midwife and administrative assistant in 2007, after completing a 3 month internship and continuing as a resident. She is a Texas licensed midwife and a CPM. A’maya moved to El Paso from Montana and is mother of two wonderful girls.
 

Jenny Booth, L.M., C.P.M. After completing a 3 month internship, Jenny continued her studies at Casa as a resident. She joined Casa as staff midwife in 2008. She is a Texas licensed midwife and a CPM. She lives in Las Cruces, NM.
 


(left to right in photo: Gina, Luz, Adriana)

Gina Salas is our front office supervisor. She came to Casa in 1997 as a medical assistant extern and soon became one of the Casa family. Gina manages all the responsibilities of the front desk duties which includes clients, phones, charts, money and birth certificates all at the same time! She is a native El Pasoan with a husband and three great kids!

Luz Chavez is our Medical Assistant Extern; her job includes reception, phones, client intakes, histories, appointments, client education, and classes. Luz came to Casa in 2004 and is a quiet resourceful help to all. She is single, living at home with her parents.

Adriana Rojas came to Casa for medical assistant training in 2007. She loved the work here and joined Casa as a medical assistant and front office staff member in 2008. She is enthusiastic and loves to learn new skills.
 

Teodora "Licha" Zavala, "Casa" keeper
Teodora "Licha" Zavala was Casa’s oldest and most beloved employee. She retired in November of 2005 and now spends her time with her children and doting on her grandbabies!