Mary Ueland is the Executive Director of Show-Me Freedom in Healthcare and the former Legislative Chair for Friends of Missouri Midwives. Beginning in 2005, Mary transformed the muddled assortment of Missouri midwifery supporters into one of the states’ best-organized grassroots lobbying coalitions that, with very little money or resources, ultimately defeated one of the most powerful lobbies in the state and won a state Supreme Court case that decriminalized Missouri’s midwives. Mary practices as a Certified Professional Midwife in Missouri, and continues as Grassroots Coordinator for Friends of Missouri Midwives and advisor to other citizen-led healthcare reform movements.

Topics include midwifery policy, effective activism, citizen lobbying, grassroots movements, healthcare legislation, and evidenced-based practice in healthcare. e hurt by abortion.