Celina Cunanan, MSN, APRN-CNM
Cunanan graduated with her MSN from FPB in May 2000. She earned her BA from the University of Rochester and her BSN from St. Louis University.
From 2007 to 2022, Ms. Cunanan served as University Hospital’s inaugural Division Director for Nurse-Midwifery and, from 2017, as System Chief for Nurse-Midwifery, growing the largest network of midwives in Ohio. In response to Cleveland’s high preterm birth and infant mortality rates, she co-founded Babies Need Boxes Ohio, addressing sleep-related infant deaths.
Previously, as Director of the UH Office of Community Impact, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI) and co-chair of the Social Justice & Equity Committee, Cunanan expanded UH's Food for Life Markets, Cook Ross Bias Training, and LGBTQ+ education. She initiated the Departmental Equity Officers program and engaged underrepresented in medicine (URiM) faculty, advancing the UH Health Scholars program for Black and Brown students. In Sept. 2022, she was appointed Chief Diversity, Equity & Belonging Officer at UH.
Cunanan is on the executive board of First Year Cleveland, co-chaired the Centering Pregnancy Coalition, and served as president of the Northeast Ohio chapter of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. She was inducted as a Fellow in 2019. Recognized by Becker’s Healthcare and Crain’s Cleveland Business. Cunanan lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with her husband, Matthew Kelly, and their two sons, Maxwell and Mason.
Desiree Blake Osby, MSN, APRN, CNM, WHNP
Osby earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in 2010 and worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse at University Hospital (UH) until 2015. Inspired by her experiences, Osby returned to CWRU and earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing in 2015, with dual certification in Midwifery and Women’s Health. She is Board Certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and the National Certification Corporation.
After five years of midwifery practice in a hospital setting, Osby founded Beautiful Beginnings & Beyond Midwifery LLC in July 2020. Her mission is to provide women with personalized, evidence-based care that addresses the shortcomings of the current healthcare system. She emphasizes individualized care plans, extended visits, and a deep connection with her patients.
Osby believes in the importance of allowing women to give birth freely and safely outside of the hospital when appropriate. She advocates for minimal intervention in normal births, focusing on safety and natural processes. She is a devoted mother to her son CJ and daughter Charli Ella and is married to Charles Osby Sr.
Her philosophy: “Once a person finds their purpose in life, they will find peace.” For Osby, that purpose is providing holistic care that empowers women throughout all stages of their lives.
Lauren Mix, MSN, APRN-CNM
Mix is a compassionate Certified Nurse Midwife and the Director of Midwifery at Mt. Eaton Midwifery in Wayne County, Ohio. Her exclusive service to the Amish community is a testament to her dedication to providing culturally competent care. Mix earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the University of Akron in 2013, followed by her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in 2020, where she specialized in nurse-midwifery and women's health.
Mix’s journey into midwifery began after years as a critical care nurse, a role she held for six years after earning her BSN. During this time, she felt a growing desire to be part of the life-affirming moments of childbirth. This realization led her to shift her career focus towards midwifery and prompted her to pursue an MSN degree at CWRU, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing.
Overcoming challenges posed by the global pandemic, Mix graduated with her MSN and joined Mt. Eaton Midwifery in July 2020. She is a healthcare provider, educator, and leader, deeply committed to building strong, supportive relationships with her patients and their families. She views her work as a calling, going beyond the duties of her job to support her patients through their joyous and difficult moments.
Mixs dedication to the field of midwifery and her unique role in serving the Amish community exemplify her commitment to providing culturally competent, compassionate care.
Samantha Buckholtz, MSN, APRN-CNM
Buckholtz is a dedicated Certified Nurse Midwife at University Hospitals of Cleveland. Sam earned her MSN specializing in Nurse-Midwifery and Women’s Health from FPB in 2018, following her MN degree in 2016 and a BA in Anthropology from Ohio State University in 2011.
Samantha's passion for midwifery ignited in 2011 during a transformative class at Ohio State University called Global Perspectives on Women’s Health. Viewing "The Business of Being Born" sparked her interest in the field of birth. During the final summer of her BA program, she lived among a Mayan population in Belize, conducting research on women’s reproductive health and providing education on menstrual cycles and pregnancy prevention. It was then that she realized her calling to midwifery.
Determined to pursue this path, Samantha spent the next several years immersing herself in the field. She completed prerequisite courses, became a doula, and interviewed midwives, including Jalana Lazar of Yellow Springs, Ohio. She even attended midwifery conferences before becoming a nurse, proudly earning the title of "Midwife groupie." Her forever mentor, Gretchen G. Mettler, played a pivotal role in her decision to choose FPB.
After graduating in 2018, Samantha began her career in rural northern California. Since the fall of 2020, she has been back in Cleveland, where she provides full-scope midwifery care at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, committed to empowering women and supporting their birth journeys.
Updated September 2024