Dr. Deborah Gleisner
Naturopathic doctor
licensed midwife
A Seattle native, Dr. Deborah Gleisner (she/her) graduated magna cum laude from Western Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and a minor in music. After many years in the health insurance industry, she decided that healing people was more important to her than helping them with paperwork, so she returned to school.
Dr. Gleisner earned her doctorate in naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University, an institution renowned for its science-based approach to natural medicine. Dr. Gleisner’s electives and clinical rotations were focused on women’s health and pediatrics. She also trained as a doula, and earned a certificate in midwifery by catching or helping to catch over 120 healthy babies before she finished school.
Deborah has served on the board of directors for the California Naturopathic Doctors Association and the Midwives’ Association of Washington State. You will often find her participating in community outreach programs, working on increasing the scope of NDs and LMs, training new midwives, and running the clinic. When she has free time she bakes, knits, and hangs out with her husband Seth and daughter Arya and their pet hamster, Marshmallow.
Camila Hellmeister
licensed midwife
Camila (she/her) was born and raised in Brazil, where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Political Sciences at the University of Campinas.
After moving to Boston, Camila trained as a Professional Medical Interpreter, providing interpreting and translation services for Harvard’s three hospital campuses and numerous health clinics. This was Camila’s introduction to working in healthcare, and the first time she learned about the Midwifery Model of Care and options in childbirth. Learning more about the harsh challenges of our current healthcare system, especially embodied in how maternity care is currently provided to many families, brought out a passion and determination to contribute to a change in health care that Camila couldn’t have anticipated.
Since then, Camila has incessantly sought out training and experience in both Brazil and the US in order to provide maternity services for diverse populations and become an agent of change. She certified as a midwife assistant at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee and trained as a Midwife at Bastyr University in Seattle.
Camila is a fierce advocate of health care as a means to empower people to take personal control over their health decisions and their lives. This arises from care that is individualized to each person’s needs, values, priorities, and aspirations, and when healthcare is fully understood as a relationship between person and provider that happens through sharing of knowledge and affection.
Jennifer Marsh
licensed midwife
Jennifer (she/her) has been in the medical field since graduating high school. She started working at a plasma collection center while obtaining her Associate of Science degree in medical assisting. From there she worked in a rural healthcare clinic on Orcas Island as a medical assistant/phlebotomist. After moving to “the mainland”, she then started working in the lab at Virginia Mason hospital.
After Jennifer had her second baby with a midwife at a birth center she became enthralled with pregnancy and natural childbirth. She decided to become a doula. Although she loved supporting people in labor as a doula, she realized it wasn’t what she wanted to do. She then enrolled in midwifery school at the Midwives College of Utah, earning her Bachelor in Midwifery. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to help guide families through their pregnancies, birth and postpartum periods.
Jennifer lives by the quote “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”. This led her and her husband to also become foster parents. In Jennifer’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, taking their dogs for walks, cooking and gardening.
Maya Johnson
licensed midwife
Maya (she/her) is a dedicated midwife and maternal-child health consultant with over fourteen years of international experience. Born and raised in Brazil, Maya’s journey into midwifery began in 2008 at the University of Sao Paulo, home to Brazil’s only direct-entry midwifery program. After coming to the US, she pursued a Master of Arts in Maternal-Child Health Systems at Bastyr University.
She has been attending births with Sprout since 2018, facilitated simulation training internationally with PRONTO International, and is currently increasing her lactation knowledge and skill by pursing an IBCLC designation. Maya is currently offering home visit services for postpartum and lactating families at Sprout.
Maya’s dedication to the well-being of families extends beyond her professional roles. Her commitment to education, empowerment, and advocacy shapes her every endeavor. She envisions a world where every individual receives respectful and individualized care during the transformative journey of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.
In her free time, Maya enjoys sharing her Brazilian culture, spending time with loved ones, and nurturing connections within her community.
Selena petschek
Certified nurse midwife
Selina (she/her) was born at home, caught by a midwife, and raised just down the road from Sprout in Kenmore. She has lived all over the world including Vermont, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Northern Ireland where she worked at a peace & reconciliation center for two years. She graduated in 2015 from Bennington College with her Bachelors in Conflict Resolution and Dance.
Selina took several years to pivot professionally into midwifery and reproductive healthcare, and truly cannot imagine pursuing a different career. Before starting her formal training, she worked as a birth and postpartum doula, community-based doula with Open Arms Perinatal Services, and had a short stint running the back office at Sprout!
She completed dual certifications as a Certified Nurse Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner through Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, rotating through small community hospitals, rural clinics, federally qualified healthcare centers, and large academic medical centers. She is thrilled to be back home, midwifing in her community of origin. In her free time, she enjoys baking pies with her grandfather, tending to her garden, and swimming in the Salish Sea.
Dr. alexandria st. Claire
Naturopathic doctor
Dr. Alexandria St. Claire, ND (she/her) initially was on track to be a pediatric neurologist until she discovered Naturopathic Medicine. She earned a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience/Pre-Med at Bucknell University and a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University.
Dr. St. Claire has spent over a decade as a primary care provider, treating patients of all ages and backgrounds with issues as diverse as women’s health, pediatrics, chronic illness, mental health, gastrointestinal disorders, dermatology, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune conditions.
Pediatrics care is Dr. St. Claire’s focus at Sprout. See her for your child’s vaccine administration/counseling, well-child visits and any chronic/acute pediatric conditions. She is a professional member of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians and is a COE provider through the Center of Excellence Autism training program.
When not working, Dr. St. Claire enjoys spending time with her husband, their two children, their pet dog and bunny. She also enjoys reading, practicing yoga, HIIT workouts and creating allergy friendly recipes for her and her loved ones.
Dr. audrey Lowry
Naturopathic doctor
Audrey Lowry, ND (she/her) enjoys working with people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds on their health journeys. A primary care provider and naturopathic doctor, Dr. Lowry can help with many of your health concerns, but has a special focus on gender affirming care, reproductive and hormonal health, mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, bipolar and high stress, as well as chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Dr. Lowry graduated from Bastyr University and completed three years of residency with Bastyr Center for Natural Health. After residency, she has continued teaching classes there in addition to private practice. In addition to providing healthcare and teaching, she also enjoys hiking, camping and backpacking, growing and preserving food and herbs, reading, playing the violin, and spending time with loved ones.
Dr. kris Somol
Naturopathic doctor
Dr. Kris Somol (she/her/they/them) is adjunct faculty at Bastyr University, Kenmore, and a primary care physician in Mountlake Terrace. Graduating from Bastyr in 2005, she completed a two-year residency at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health (BCNH). Dr. Somol’s practice focuses on preventative care, diverse complaints, and health collaboration with adolescents and with patients with a uterus.
Dr. Somol instructs in gynecology and advanced gynecology classes. She brought the Washington Breast and Cervical Health (WBCHP) program to BCNH. Dr. Somol leads the naturopathic profession through advanced lectures, support of student research, and practicums including IUD placement, pelvic myofascial release, and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Dr. Somol also teaches in the field of mental health.
Outside of clinical practice and teaching, Dr. Somol can be found coaching her daughter’s soccer, volunteering at Lockwood Elementary School and Kenmore Middle School, and strolling through nature. She loves being a mama!
Dr. chih-yun hsiung
Naturopathic doctor
Thanks to her maternal grandmother, Chih-Yun (she/her) grew up with a holistic approach through delicious, nutrient dense food and herbal concoctions. This instilled a desire to find a similar model towards health and lead her to naturopathic medicine, where Dr. Chih-Yun Hsiung graduated from Bastyr University with a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine (ND).
Dr. Hsiung has pediatric clinical experience from her time at the Kids Clinic and has completed a Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) residency at Bastyr Center for Natural Health. Chih-Yun also has a certificate in professional cooking and experience working in a high-end restaurant in New York. This stems from her passion for good food and diet as well as her maternal grandmother’s influence. She also has additional training with bodywork and women’s health, taking both advanced gynecological focused courses and clinical rotations. Her clinical interests are pediatrics, general primary care, women’s health, and digestive health.
Chih-Yun believes strongly in patient centered care and in the naturopathic principle of “docere” – not only doctor as a teacher but also patient as a teacher. Her focus is to act as a guide for one’s healing journey to optimal health while utilizing the naturopathic therapeutic order. When not seeing patients, she enjoys creating culinary delights, hiking, singing, and learning about different cultures.
Ayla Rodriguez
student midwife
Growing up as the daughter of a labor doula I have been entranced by birth and taught the severe and beautiful importance it holds in our lives from a young age. I was born at home back in California, guided by midwife hands and have continued to be guided by my mother, my midwife, and my gut to join this profession. I’m from the San Francisco Bay area and am also passionate about art. My pronouns are she/they.
Rebecca Croft
student midwife
I have spent my whole life learning as much about pregnancy and birth as possible and I am very excited to finally be taking this step. When not in school I enjoy crafting, hiking, reading, and spending time with my family. I’ve lived in Everett Washington my whole life and I absolutely love it. When I can I like to travel, attend concerts, and musicals. My pronouns are she/her.
Jessie Schuh
Medical receptionist
Jessie (she/her) was born and raised here in Washington State and graduated from Meadowdale High School over in Lynnwood, WA. She graduated with an Associates of Arts from Edmonds Community College and is currently working on getting her teaching degree.
Jessie has had a passion for helping people since she was young and has always worked in positions where she can help as many people as possible.
At Sprout Birth Center you will find Jessie working hard on the phones and answering emails and giving a warm smile when you walk in the door.
Outside of work, Jessie likes spending time with her fiancé and walking around Greenlake or a local park with her roommate’s crazy dog if the weather is nice. Or staying inside and playing board games with friends if its particularly gloomy.
