Chana Schaffer, CNM

Chana Schaffer, MSN, CNM is a board-certified nurse midwife who sees patients at the Highland Southern OB/GYN and Midwifery office, and has admitting privileges to attend births at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Chana is the Midwife Director for the Southern Midwifery team. She provides comprehensive care across the lifespan including gynecologic care and family planning services. Family planning encompasses access to contraception, abortion care and care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.

Her clinical interests include adolescent education in health and sexuality, gynecologic procedures (IUD and Nexplanon insertion and removals, endometrial biopsy), providing patient and family centered prenatal care.

Chana attended her first birth at age 19. She was awe-struck and knew that she had witnessed something sacred and powerful. This experience planted the seed and set the course for Chana’s professional work. Her practice is rooted in the belief that all women, and people with a uterus, deserve access to care that is respectful, culturally sensitive, evidence-based, collaborative, trauma informed and grounded in autonomy.

Why should someone choose you to care for their health?
To partner with a clinician who has a deep respect for a person’s insight when it comes to their own physical, emotional and spiritual health.

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them?
My role is to listen, understand and offer guidance and options that are in alignment with your goals and values. I encourage patients to engage in their care and share in decision making. This is a collaborative process that is most impactful when mutual respect and trust are cultivated. My goal is for people to leave an appointment feeling seen and heard.

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you’re not caring for patients?
In my free time I enjoy hiking, traveling, cooking, baking and spending quality time with my loved ones (including my sweet elderly rescue dog Rosie).

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward?

It is a privilege to bear witness to the most powerful and vulnerable moments of a person’s life. This is profound work, and it is rewarding beyond words.