Cathie Galle, Practice Manager and Director of Wellness Services
Cathie has been with Wombkeepers since the practice began in Montclair, NJ. She was instrumental in developing much of the childbirth education and doula programs that Wombkeepers is known for, in addition to providing patients with a knowledgable, consistent resource throughout their pregnancy journey. Cathie, who's education was in psychology and music, began her career in music, as a professional singer and church Worship Director, designing and leading contemporary worship programs in both Arizona and Utah. In her late thirties, as a single mother needing to support her family, she took the many skills she learned in church and transitioned to work in real-estate, in the new home sales business. For nearly twenty years, she helped families realize their dream of home ownership as a Senior Sales Manager for builders in Arizona and New Jersey. She had a long held interest in working with families and, as she welcomed grandchildren, realized how much support young families having children need. She pursued doula training, became a certified Hypnobirthing Practitioner and Certified Lactation Counselor. She joined Dr. Aristizabal in 2011, providing wellness services for her patients, and later in 2013, helping her in the founding of Wombkeepers. Today, she manages all the day to day logistics of the practice, serves as the Director of Wellness Services, as well as lead Childbirth Educator, and a backup doula and lactation support as needed. From her time in real-estate, she also brings the wonderful gift of design, and personally designed and decorated the Wombkeepers office locations in Montclair and Scottsdale.
Cathie has been with Wombkeepers since the practice began in Montclair, NJ. She was instrumental in developing much of the childbirth education and doula programs that Wombkeepers is known for, in addition to providing patients with a knowledgable, consistent resource throughout their pregnancy journey. Cathie, who's education was in psychology and music, began her career in music, as a professional singer and church Worship Director, designing and leading contemporary worship programs in both Arizona and Utah. In her late thirties, as a single mother needing to support her family, she took the many skills she learned in church and transitioned to work in real-estate, in the new home sales business. For nearly twenty years, she helped families realize their dream of home ownership as a Senior Sales Manager for builders in Arizona and New Jersey. She had a long held interest in working with families and, as she welcomed grandchildren, realized how much support young families having children need. She pursued doula training, became a certified Hypnobirthing Practitioner and Certified Lactation Counselor. She joined Dr. Aristizabal in 2011, providing wellness services for her patients, and later in 2013, helping her in the founding of Wombkeepers. Today, she manages all the day to day logistics of the practice, serves as the Director of Wellness Services, as well as lead Childbirth Educator, and a backup doula and lactation support as needed. From her time in real-estate, she also brings the wonderful gift of design, and personally designed and decorated the Wombkeepers office locations in Montclair and Scottsdale.
Jade Anderson, Medical Assistant and Staff Doula
Jade, who worked as an independent doula and founder of the Whole Mama Wellness Collective before joining Wombkeepers shortly after our relocation to Scottsdale, has been a valuable addition to our team, providing exceptional labor support for our patients, as well as support for our staff, helping to keep both our office and birthing center running smoothly. Jade is a trained phlebotomist and is currently pursing her nursing degree. She is infectiously joyful presence both within the office and the birthing room. She is also an incredible mother to four beautiful children.
Jade, who worked as an independent doula and founder of the Whole Mama Wellness Collective before joining Wombkeepers shortly after our relocation to Scottsdale, has been a valuable addition to our team, providing exceptional labor support for our patients, as well as support for our staff, helping to keep both our office and birthing center running smoothly. Jade is a trained phlebotomist and is currently pursing her nursing degree. She is infectiously joyful presence both within the office and the birthing room. She is also an incredible mother to four beautiful children.
Cara Lee Kiggins, Staff Doula
Cara has been helping people prepare for and navigate deeply trans-formative and unfamiliar experiences for nearly two decades. She had a successful career leading advocacy programs for survivors of trauma in the nonprofit sector until the birth of of her first child, when she transitioned into birth work. In the nearly ten years since then, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of pregnant people as a Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Prenatal Yoga Teacher.
Cara has been helping people prepare for and navigate deeply trans-formative and unfamiliar experiences for nearly two decades. She had a successful career leading advocacy programs for survivors of trauma in the nonprofit sector until the birth of of her first child, when she transitioned into birth work. In the nearly ten years since then, she has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of pregnant people as a Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and Prenatal Yoga Teacher.
Michele Lawson, Staff Doula
Michele began her journey as a professional birth worker, childbirth educator and doula in 2020, after spending the previous ten years raising her busy family of six children and co-creating a homeschool co-op, Growing Together AZ. Michele is incredibly passionate about birth work and supporting and empowering women in their motherhood journey. She joined the Wombkeepers team in 2022.
Michele began her journey as a professional birth worker, childbirth educator and doula in 2020, after spending the previous ten years raising her busy family of six children and co-creating a homeschool co-op, Growing Together AZ. Michele is incredibly passionate about birth work and supporting and empowering women in their motherhood journey. She joined the Wombkeepers team in 2022.
Emily Carden, Yoga Instructor
Emily began practicing Yoga nearly fifteen years ago now, a moment that changed her life. Seven years later, after a short lived career in commercial real estate and a growing disconnect with herself, she entered yoga training. Ayurvedic Yoga training followed and still later trainings in Pre/Post Natal yoga as well as Ayurvedic Medicine, Restorative Yoga and Yoga Therapies. She later pursued doula training as a way to extend her work on the Yoga mat, but it organically grew into something more. After attending her first birth, she knew she wanted to support women in a deeper way. She went on to complete trainings as a postpartum doula, infant massage educator, childbirth educator and turned her specialty in Ayurveda to postpartum care and education. In April 2019, she became a mom herself for the first time, which she describes as most incredible experience of her life. After years of witnessing births in various settings and situations, she sought out her dream team and birthed as a woman in power in her own home. Now, with two small children, her time is primarily spent as a Childbirth Educator and Yoga Teacher. She seeks to empower parents in having calm and joyful birth and parenting experiences.
Emily began practicing Yoga nearly fifteen years ago now, a moment that changed her life. Seven years later, after a short lived career in commercial real estate and a growing disconnect with herself, she entered yoga training. Ayurvedic Yoga training followed and still later trainings in Pre/Post Natal yoga as well as Ayurvedic Medicine, Restorative Yoga and Yoga Therapies. She later pursued doula training as a way to extend her work on the Yoga mat, but it organically grew into something more. After attending her first birth, she knew she wanted to support women in a deeper way. She went on to complete trainings as a postpartum doula, infant massage educator, childbirth educator and turned her specialty in Ayurveda to postpartum care and education. In April 2019, she became a mom herself for the first time, which she describes as most incredible experience of her life. After years of witnessing births in various settings and situations, she sought out her dream team and birthed as a woman in power in her own home. Now, with two small children, her time is primarily spent as a Childbirth Educator and Yoga Teacher. She seeks to empower parents in having calm and joyful birth and parenting experiences.