Alix Bacon BMID’12

Degree and Grad Year: BMID’12
Current home city: Vancouver BC
Current Job Title:  President, Midwives Association of BC, Registered Midwife, South Delta Midwifery

Bacon is a Registered Midwife at South Delta Midwifery, where she meets with midwifery clients in the clinic and attends births at home as well as at Richmond Hospital and provides postpartum home visits. When she’s not catching babies, Bacon can also be found at the Midwives Association of BC Office where she chairs the MABC Board, oversees negotiations and guides implementation of programs to support BC Midwives.

1. Today in healthcare it’s important to…Refocus on primary care, client centered care, informed choice and collaborative care. We must also commit to addressing health inequities for aboriginal and rural families.

2. What made you interested in midwifery as a profession? My nana had four babies at home in Ireland. She is practical, health focused and confident in her body and offered a positive contrast to the social birth narrative of my youth.

3. What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?: I have found a career that is integrity with my values and has allowed me to lift myself and my mother out of poverty and into a place of wellbeing.

4. Name the last book you couldn’t put down: The Mountain Shadow by Gregory David Roberts

5. What is the best professional advice you’ve received? Take the time to build relationships with clients, continuity improves outcomes and decreases litigation.

6. What is your favourite UBC memory? Nights spent in CiTR’s on air booth speaking with listeners.

7. Who was your favourite UBC Faculty of Medicine professor?  Cathy Ellis, RM Senior Faculty at UBC. Cathy has worked in Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Kosovo, Zambia, Uganda and Nepal as a midwife and instructor. She taught me how to manage obstetrical emergencies, to triage in low resource environments, to build and create international partnerships, teach midwifery students and mentored me through the process of publishing research.

8. What advice would you give to current midwifery students? Go on the Global Placement to Uganda! You’ll have an amazing adventure, learn how to provide care in low resource settings and build the confidence and skills to handle any birthing  situation.

9. What profession might you have pursued, if not for midwifery: Marine Biologist. Children’s Librarian.

10. Please name a few of your favourite hobbies and activities: Kayaking, yoga, vegan cooking.

11. Bucket List Item? Climbing the steps to Lhasa.

 Bacon also represents BC Midwives in the media and on joint committees working with the Ministry of Health and other primary care providers, obstetricians and nurses to implement provincial health policy. Prior to Midwifery, Bacon worked as a Certified Sexual Health Educator.  Volunteering as Clinical Faculty with UBC, Bacon continues to be recognized for her leadership in the field of Midwifery, receiving the Young Midwives in the Lead Award 2016, UBC Midwifery Vision and Leadership 2015, Patricia Jansen Research Award 2012, College of Health Disciplines Jessie Gordon McCarthy Award 2011 and 1^st Place Health Council of Canada Innovation Award UBC C.A.R.E.S. Team 2011.