Gerri Ryan

Gerri Ryan began her process of midwifery in the late nineties. She successfully completed the Seattle Midwifery School Challenge Process and is licensed as a midwife by the Medical Board of California. She is a Certified Professional Midwife with the North American Registry of Midwives. She began practicing midwifery in 2003 independently and currently practices at San Diego County Midwives. Gerri started attending births with family and friends in 1976 and in 1995 took on the role of professional doula. She is a lactation educator and Lamaze certified childbirth educator. She is the founder of San Diego Birth Network as well as a nationally recognized DONA approved doula trainer. She is presently the Chief Operating Officer and a lead instructor for the Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery. Gerri believes that the ability to birth is deep in every woman. When women have confidence in their own abilities, the encouragement and freedom to tap into their innate wisdom, and have the loving support of family, friends and professionals who believe this too, they will truly have a satisfying birth.

Anna Forsberg

After experiencing the birth of my first son and struggling through the postpartum period, I became very passionate about postpartum care. When I started my journey towards towards becoming a postpartum doula, I found SDBN and felt it drawn to it's history and community of wise providers who trust in the normalcy of birth.

I joined the Board in 2015, first as the Historian and in 2016 became the Vice President. I humbly accepted the President role for the 2020-2023 term, and am honored to work beside my fellow directors whom I admire and deeply respect. I thank all the individuals who have served on this board in the past and to all our providers who continue to support our efforts in the pursuit of equitable care for all.

I am dedicated to bring more awareness to the impact of PMADs (Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders) on families, disparties in care and outcomes for BIPOC and other marginalized groups, and find more ways for our providers to come together to connect, nourish one another so that we can continue to do the work we are called to.

I am a native San Diegan, a happy wife and mother of three children, a postpartum doula, the owner of Whole Heart Postpartum and Co-Founder of Kindred Rite.

Email Anna at annawhpp@gmail.com

Ashley Madden

I am so excited to be a part of the SD Birth Network as the Vice President. I grew up in a very holistic and alternative household with my father being a Chiropractor and my mother having had two natural births (that followed HER strict birth plan!). I'd always assumed that people were aware of the wide variety of options when it came to their prenatal and postpartum care. Once I became a Chiropractor in 2011, I quickly learned how little people knew!

Specializing in prenatal and pediatric care I do my best to educate my patients but I am so thankful for organizations like the SD Birth Network, who are constantly working to educate the public. Through my roles with the Birth Network I have been able to connect with so many incredible and knowledgeable providers in our birth community. My hope is that the more our birth providers can share with others about how they can help, the more that we can empower individuals and families to have the birth or raise the family that they desire!

Email Ashley at drashley@maddenfamilychiropractic.com

Dr. Jumana (JJ) Jarah

As a SDBN member since 2016, I am honored to continue to serve as our board's Treasurer. I was born and raised in beautiful Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, however after obtaining my doctorate from Palmer West Chiropractic College I moved to San Diego and fell in love with the city. I am the owner and Chiropractor at Radiant Family Chiropractic in North Park. With over 16 years of experience providing chiropractic care to children, adults and seniors, I am passionate about chiropractic health and wellness. With a focus on prenatal health and pediatrics, I hope to inspire and educate my community to strive for better health.
In my spare time I can be found enjoying San Diego and traveling with my beautiful family.

Gina Janc

Gina Janc, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has a passion for supporting women and their families. She is a long time member of the San Diego Birth Network and attended many of their social events as a new mama. She is now proud to give back to the community which gave her so much support and connection.

Gina is the founder of, "Bring Back the Village", a place for women and their families to receive nurturing and therapeutic support they deserve. Gina provides individual and family counseling as well as women's circles and workshops for expectant couples. She works with her clients to help them cultivate more calm, confidence and connection in their lives. Her approach is both nurturing and practical addressing ways to reduce stress, heal traumas, and develop tools to help clients feel empowered. Gina is holistic minded and values the importance of a mind-body-spirit approach to wellness. Outside of work she enjoys practicing yoga, spending time with her husband and daughter traveling, and exploring new places in the world.

Gina looks forward to collaborating with birth professionals in the community to create events that are insightful, educational and fun!

Itzel Ballew

Itzel joined SDBN in 2020 as the Membership director and now proudly serves as the 2021 Social Media Director. As the Social Media Director her goal is to reach individuals and provide them with helpful and diverse resources. With the wide range of services and knowledge that our professional members hold, our San Diego community has so many choices when it comes to caring for their individual needs, her hope is to make it easier for them to be connected with passionate providers. Joining SDBN is an opportunity for her to help others transition into this season of life with ease.

She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Co-founder of Well-Mamas Counseling, a San Diego based group practice that specializes in serving individuals from preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. Well-Mamas Counseling is a dedicated group of professionals that strive to reduce the stigma of mental health and the impact of PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders).

Itzel is a native San Diegan, wife, mama and step-mama to two boys. She enjoys exploring the outdoors, traveling and spending time with her family & friends.

Contact Itzel at itzel.ballew.mft@gmail.com

Jamie Reinhardt

Jamie joined SDBN in 2018 and joined the board as Membership Director in 2021. As Membership Director, she hopes to continue to build relationships and community within the San Diego birth world. She is excited to be a part of such a wonderful group of providers.

Jamie is passionate about all things related to birth and holistic wellness. Through her practice, Sacred Mama Healing, she specializes in Ayurvedic Postpartum Care. Her mission is to provide healing to birthing people within their first 40 days after they give birth, so they can thrive for their next 40 years. Her goal to have her clients feeling rested, nourished, and healthy when their sacred window is complete.

Email her at jamie@sacredmamahealing.com or reach out through Instagram:@sacred.mama.healing

Jo Kilburn

Owner of Precious Birth - www.preciousbirth.com

Labor Doula and Childbirth Educator

I have had the honor of being involved with SDBN since 2005. I have been active on the board as the Recording Secretary from 2008 to 2010 and was elected President in 2012. In April of 2015 I moved to southern Maine to be close to my growing grandchildren. I am happy to remain as an adviser to SDBN Board through their transitions and support our Annual Red Tent event. I believe in women choosing the birth that's right for them from an empowered, educated, and centered place. Experiencing my own births at home has changed my life and perspective. I am pretty sure that if I had to name my passion, it would be women centered birth and the attendants that serve them. Peace on earth begins with birth.

Angela Diaz de Leon

On April 5th. 2020 Angela Diaz de Leon passed away due to complications from the novel COVID-19 virus. She was a board member who served this community with fierceness, creative problem solving and a passion for advocacy that was undeniable. Her legacy as a mother, doula, baby wearing educator, placenta encapsulator, co-Founder of Sacred Healing Collective and The Source,, is far reaching into our community and beyond. Angela served on the board of Nurtuerly and the local chapter of Baby Wearing International as well.

Angela's father, Jose Hernandez also left this world too early because of the virus. Her husband, Israel, was also infected and is recovering. If you are called to support the family, please donate here: https://ie.gofundme.com/f/8z8nn-sylvia-hernandez

In Fall 2020, SDBN will open a scholarship in Angela's honor. More details to come.

Jessica Tilton

My passion for birth began in 2020 when my best friend had her first child during the peak of the pandemic. Her experience stirred a question in me, “how can I help be a part of the change to make birth better for future birthing people?”. This sent me into a deep dive to learn everything I could about pregnancy, labor/birth, and postpartum. I signed up for a birth doula training seeing as that made the most sense to get started, and began volunteering with Operation Doula. My ultimate goal is to become a midwife to provide holistic patient centered care and advocate for better policies regarding pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. I hope to spread awareness of the resources currently available to families in San Diego and help others get more plugged into the birthing world.

Contact her at Doulajubilee@gmail.com or reach out through Instagram:@doulajubilee

Christina Klave

Christina has acted as the administrator and secretary of SDBN since March 2022. She holds a professional license as a marriage and family therapist as well as being certified as both a birth doula and a lactation education counselor. Her passion is empowering families to have the the most positive birth experience possible. She can be emailed at christinadoula1@gmail.com