OUR CORE PROVIDERS
KATELYN COSTLEY,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LICENSED MIDWIFE
Katelyn (she/her) LM, CPM, MSM is a WA state Licensed Midwife and nationally accredited Certified Professional Midwife with a Master of Science in Midwifery degree from Bastyr University. Katelyn is an original founder of this organization and currently acts as our Chief Executive Officer, in addition to her role as our island Midwife.
Katelyn’s personal experience of feeling empowered in pregnancy and childbirth is what propelled her into this work. She feels passionate about safeguarding other birthing folks the opportunity to experience a highly personalized, intuitive, and empowered reproductive, perinatal, and parenting experience. She has a deep interest and respect for the physiology of birth, and an appreciation of modern medicine when it is required.
Katelyn feels passionate about holistic and comprehensive sexual health and education. She is a trained herbalist, specializing in botanical medicine for the childbearing year.
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With more than half of her family being natives of this island community, Katelyn is committed to ensuring midwifery care is a reliable and accessible form of healthcare here on Vashon Island.
RACHEL SURSELY,
MIDWIFERY ASSISTANT, POSTPARTUM DOULA, & BODYWORKER
Rachel (she/her) provides warm and grounding care for our Postpartum Doula program. Trained professionally as both a birth and postpartum doula, Rachel feels a deep call and responsibility to tend to mothers and families. She is passionate about community connection and believes that a healthy community begins with the health and well-being of the mother. She brings her compassion, care, and love to create an environment of acceptance and judgmental-free support for postpartum families.
Rachel’s personal postpartum experience has informed her journey as a lifelong learner and self-healer and has fueled her self-led educational journey into women's health and wellness. She weaves together her knowledge as a folk herbalist and medicine maker, as well as her lived experience of being deeply rooted and informed by the cycles and seasons of both body and land, into her work and educational offerings.
She is a long-time Vashon community member and mother of two, with years of experience in supporting children and youth as an early childhood teacher and nature connection mentor. She has touched the lives of many as a mentor and teacher for Vashon Wilderness Program, Vashon Green School, Heart Stone Waldorf-inspired preschool, El Gato, Sisterhood, and Family Link.
Rachel also serves as one of our competent midwifery and birth assistant team members.
Our Collaborative Health Partners
Ellen Weir
Ellen Weir (she/her) PhD, FNTP is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner certified by the Nutritional Therapy Association. Prior to beginning her career in holistic nutrition, Ellen received her PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Washington, where she studied human engagement with the environment and the impact that our environment has on health and well-being.
Ellen’s passion for nutrition began as a teenager, when she learned how to manage her own chronic health issues through dietary and lifestyle changes. She believes that there is no one-size-fits all approach to nutrition and takes a bio-individual perspective, focusing on each person's unique situation, body chemistry, and nutritional needs.
Ellen grew up on Vashon and is raising her two young children on the island, and she is committed to ensuring that everyone in our community has access to nutritional guidance and support. She is especially interested in providing nutritional support for families before, during, and after pregnancy, given the impact that quality nutrition during preconception and pregnancy can have on a child’s lifelong health. Schedule here.
Colleen Carette
Colleen Carette (she/her) IBCLC, PA-C, MEd is a Physicians Assistant and Health Educator, specializing in highly-personalized lactation care here at Vashon Island Midwifery. Colleen has been an internationally board-certified lactation consultant for over 25 years and primarily provides her care out of the comfort of her client's home.
She is devoted to empowerment, knowledge, and a healthy lifestyle. Colleen has a passion for service work and volunteers in underserved populations. She employs a holistic approach to her medical care incorporating mind, body, and spirit.
While currently working as a PA and Educator in the greater Puget Sound region, she has lived and worked on Vashon for many years. Colleen was nominated the Unofficial Mayor of Vashon back in 2017-2018, and many of us know of her in that role as "Tink".
Amber Matusky
Amber Matusky (she/her) was at home into the loving hands of midwives on Vashon Island. She found her calling as a birth and postpartum doula shortly after the birth of her own daughter in 2005. In 2006 She took a DONA-approved birth doula training at the Seattle Midwifery School (now Bastyr University) and the following year Amber expanded into the postpartum realm and took a DONA-approved postpartum doula training. Upon learning of the benefits of placenta medicine for postpartum healing, she began offering a Placenta Encapsulation service as well. She continues her education with many relevant perinatal-related trainings and has been supporting families through this magnificent transition ever since.
When she is not engaged in birth work you can find her out enjoying nature, paddle boarding, getting her hands and feet dirty in the garden, cooking, preserving the harvest, and hanging out with her family. Inquiries and questions about postpartum support and placenta encapsulation can be directed to Amber here.
Are you interested in becoming a Collaborative Health Partner with Vashon Island Midwifery? We'd love to hear from you!
Our Incredible Leadership Teams
Board of Directors
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Rosi Miller
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Bethan Maher
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Nicky Wilks
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Katelyn Costley
Advisory Committee
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Gail Murphy
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Andra DeVoght
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Colleen Carette
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Jessica Wesch
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Paula Pelletier-Butler
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Leslie Butterfield
LEAD WITH US
We rely on the generous contributions of others who believe in what we do.
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We are an organization whose leadership is composed of diverse individuals with varying skills that could support our passion for equitable access to quality health and education services for Vashon’s birthing families. Read below to learn about our current opportunities, or fill out our interest form to let us know how you would like to be involved.
why join our leadership teams?
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Make your voice heard on issues important to the Vashon community around perinatal, reproductive, newborn and child health and education
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Influence the efforts and build relationships that support safe childbirth on our island
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Represent the interests of BIPOC, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented populations on Vashon
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Contribute your wisdom and skills that help us fulfill our mission
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Apply your nonprofit and/or grant writing experience
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Offer your passion for midwifery care, home birth, empowered & informed choice, evidence-based practices, reproductive justice, perinatal mental health, whole-body pregnancy/postpartum care, sexual education… and so much more!
Read more below about our current leadership opportunities.
board of directors:
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All members serve a two year term with the option to run for re-election at the conclusion of the term
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Attendance (video or in person) and active preparation/participation at the Annual General Meeting
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Attendance (video or in person) and active preparation/participation during all regular quarterly meetings
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Attendance (video or in person) and active preparation/participation at any called upon “special meetings”
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Participation in electronic communications (email)
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A financial contribution is encouraged but is not required
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Board members receive an official vote on organizational matters
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advisory committee:
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All members serve a two year term with the option for re-election at the conclusion of the term
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Attendance (video or in person) and active participation at the regular monthly Advisory Council meetings
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Attendance (video or in person) at any invited upon Board of Directors meetings
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Advisory Council members, unlike Board of Directors, do not receive an official vote for the organization, but do play an important role in speaking on behalf of the community.
Get involved with us today by completing a short (3 minute) interest form, or schedule a meeting with our Executive Director, Katelyn Costley.
We look forward to hearing from you!