Dr. Deborah Gleisner
Naturopathic doctor
licensed midwife
A Seattle native, Dr. Deborah Gleisner 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. She trained under a number of respected doctors in the area, including Dr. Molly Linton, ND, Dr. Joseph Wessels, ND, and Dr. Kimberly Kelley, ND.
Dr. Gleisner’s clinical rotations at Bastyr Center for Natural Health included working under Dr. Jane Guiltinan, ND, the dean of Naturopathic Medicine, and Dr. Sheila Kingsbury, the chair of Botanical 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.
Dr. Gleisner has served three terms on the Board of Directors for the California Naturopathic Doctors’ Association. She is also a member of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the Midwives’ Association of Washington State, and the Midwives Alliance of North America.
Dr. Gleisner’s background in the health insurance industry stimulated her interest in naturopathic medicine, which empowers patients to participate in their own personal health and well-being through dialogue and education. She views the care of a patient’s health as a long-term, collaborative partnership between doctor and patient. She feels privileged to guide each patient on their individual path to wellness.
Maya Johnson
licensed midwife
Maya did not know what to expect when starting midwifery school in São Paulo in 2008 but she’s been in evidence-based care ever since. As a student, doula, prenatal yoga and Shantala baby massage instructor she has learned as much about empowerment from her clients as she has learned about midwifery and maternal care from her instructors.
Maya’s education and practice in Brazil exposed her to the endemic flaws of her native healthcare system and cemented her passion for women’s advocacy and empowerment. She emigrated to the United States in 2012 for a Master’s degree in Maternal-Child Health at Bastyr University, where she conducted a workshop on microaggressions and racial disparities in midwifery care and spearheaded a gap analysis on international midwifery curricula. Her advocacy landed her a position as teaching assistant at Bastyr and a faculty position at the Birth Equity Leadership Academy.
Prior to American licensure Maya attended over 200 births and created Puget Sound Birth Assistants, a collective focused on providing high quality birth assistant care to midwives in the greater Seattle area. She spends her spare time with her friends, her husband and her rescue mutt Buddy.
Maya oferece serviços de Obstetrícia na área metropolitana de Seattle e Snohomish County e é especializada em famílias brasileiras e outras comunidades Latinas.
Camila Hellmeister
licensed midwife
Camila 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.
Dr. alexandria st. Claire
Naturopathic doctor
Alexandria St. Claire wanted to be a pediatric neurologist until she discovered Naturopathic Medicine. She took her Bachelor’s in Neuroscience to Bastyr University and earned a Doctorate.
Dr. St. Claire has spent the past several years 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, digestion, 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 and counseling, well-child visits, newborn screening and acute care. 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.
Dr. St. Claire enjoys spending time with her two children and husband, practicing yoga, reading nearly anything and sweating with Kayla. She also loves to bake, creating allergy friendly recipes for her and her loved ones.
Dr. sasha mastroianni
Naturopathic doctor
Sasha was drawn to naturopathic medicine by the holistic approach to care. Time spent as a medical scribe in an emergency room strengthened her desire to learn methods and tools beyond conventional medicine. She’d be honored to hear your story and work together for a plan that fits your goals.
Dr. Mastroianni received her ND from Bastyr University and completed a residency at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Fremont. She enjoys primary care in family medicine, particularly supporting people through healthcare challenges and life transitions. She has additional training in mind-body medicine, bodywork, pediatrics, and doula care. Her specialties include reproductive healthcare, mental health, diabetes, digestive concerns, and healing relationships with food and body.
Sasha spends her free time with her family, getting outdoors and learning more about medicine and healing. She looks forward to supporting you with your healthcare and wellness needs.
saoirse Douthat
medical receptionist
Saoirse (She/her pronouns) was born and raised in Southern California, where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. It was here she found her lifelong passion for the midwifery model of care, health administration, and LGBTQ+ health in communities of color.
Saoirse has a wide variety of healthcare experience, including research, direct patient care, and health education. Her favorites so far are where she gets to work with children and pregnant/parenting individuals.
Saoirse is very involved in her community as a volunteer for the blood bank. She also serves as a community advisory board member for HIV research and works part-time as a math teacher. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, painting, and unsuccessfully attempting to swaddle her feline companion, Lacey.
At Sprout Birth Center, you’ll find Saoirse working the front desk as well as maintaining social media accounts, watering the plants, and planning events.
Ella Karpenko, LM, CPM
Licensed midwife
Ella’s path to midwifery began after attending a dear friend’s home birth as her doula. Witnessing her power as she triumphantly pushed out her baby after 28 long hours of labor, and being part of welcoming new life inspired her to apply to Bastyr University with the dream of getting a Masters in Midwifery.
It was a seven-year journey through the medical industry to arrive at that Masters in Midwifery. It started with volunteering at Providence Hospital, then interning as an electrocardiography technician at Overlake Hospital, a lab technician at Virginia Mason, and a nursing assistant at a rehab center. While pursuing her undergrad degree Ella spent more than four years as a phlebotomist at Evergreen Hospital in various departments. It was this exposure that brought her to realize her passion for women’s healthcare. She has had the privilege of supporting over 1,000 families through prenatal and postpartum care and have caught over 250 healthy babies.
Ella’s experience in midwifery has shaped the values she upholds today in her own practice. She believes in compassionate, client-centered, and evidence-based care. She believes in providing parents with options in their care and helping families make educated choices. She grew up in a predominately Slavic and Russian-speaking community and and hopes to increase access to midwifery care for this group and other culturally diverse communities. Ella currently lives in the countryside with her husband and son Levi where she enjoys reading, the outdoors and spending time with her family.
Jessie Schuh
Medical receptionist
Jessie 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.
