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Our Board Members
Carole Sheehan MA, RN
Carole is the founder of the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition (2005) and the current secratary. Now retired from nursing, Carole worked in the fields of maternal-child health and mental health for over 30 years. She lives near Grand Canyon Village in northern AZ with her husband Mike, and is the proud mother of 4 and grandmother of 7.
Teresa Wilson, MS, RN
For 40 years I have worked as a perinatal and maternal-child nurse. My overarching professional goal has always been to care for mothers and their families where ever I may encounter them, and have been privileged to work in the roles of expert practitioner, advisor, manager/supervisor, consultant and educator in the following areas:
Hospitals & clinics
Community health nursing
Professional & community-based organizations
Colleges & universities
International health
Medical-legal expert
Years ago, as a childbirth educator, I was aware of what we called “Postpartum Baby Blues.” It was mostly spoken of or taught to expectant parents and postpartum patients as an afterthought, described as being a common but transient period of emotions that occurred within the first week or two postpartum. Among obstetric health care providers there was little
knowledge or understanding about how common postpartum mood and anxiety disorders were and how they affect mothers and their families.
In 2004, I became aware that my nursing colleague, Carole Sheehan, was embarking on a project at St. Joseph’s Hospital to bring postpartum depression into greater focus by screening postpartum patients for symptoms of depression. Her work enlightened and inspired me to begin teaching nurses about Postpartum Depression in the perinatal orientation courses I taught for nurses who were new to the care of pregnant and postpartum mothers and their infants. Over time I became more aware of and engaged in the care of women with mood and anxiety disorders in my work as a Nurse Home Visitor in the Nurse-Family Partnership at Casa de los Niños, where I could see very clearly effects of perinatal mood disorders on clients and their families. Wanting to learn more and to do more to improve maternal mental health, I joined the Board of Directors for the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition (TPDC). I am pleased to advocate through the Coalition to improve the recognition of anxiety and depression and find solutions for mothers affected by mood and anxiety disorders.
Hospitals & clinics
Community health nursing
Professional & community-based organizations
Colleges & universities
International health
Medical-legal expert
Years ago, as a childbirth educator, I was aware of what we called “Postpartum Baby Blues.” It was mostly spoken of or taught to expectant parents and postpartum patients as an afterthought, described as being a common but transient period of emotions that occurred within the first week or two postpartum. Among obstetric health care providers there was little
knowledge or understanding about how common postpartum mood and anxiety disorders were and how they affect mothers and their families.
In 2004, I became aware that my nursing colleague, Carole Sheehan, was embarking on a project at St. Joseph’s Hospital to bring postpartum depression into greater focus by screening postpartum patients for symptoms of depression. Her work enlightened and inspired me to begin teaching nurses about Postpartum Depression in the perinatal orientation courses I taught for nurses who were new to the care of pregnant and postpartum mothers and their infants. Over time I became more aware of and engaged in the care of women with mood and anxiety disorders in my work as a Nurse Home Visitor in the Nurse-Family Partnership at Casa de los Niños, where I could see very clearly effects of perinatal mood disorders on clients and their families. Wanting to learn more and to do more to improve maternal mental health, I joined the Board of Directors for the Tucson Postpartum Depression Coalition (TPDC). I am pleased to advocate through the Coalition to improve the recognition of anxiety and depression and find solutions for mothers affected by mood and anxiety disorders.
Patricia Young, Treasurer
Patricia is a development consultant and grant writer. She has been serving on the Tucson Postpartum Coalition board as the treasurer for six years. She is the owner of Desert Oasis Bed and Breakfast and is a Director of Development for Tucson Jazz Society, Compass healthcare foundation, Tucson Boys Chorus, Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Up with people, Inc.
Sherry Dyson, M.A. LPC-S, LMFT-S, PMH-C
Sherry Duson is a Texas and an Arizona Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice, and the Founder and Director of The Center for Postpartum Family Health in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. Since 1999 she has focused her practice on helping new mothers and the needs of young families. In 2014, she opened the Center for Postpartum Family Health, using therapists training under her supervision, to provide services on a sliding scale to the community. The center is a counseling center specializing in perinatal mental health, addressing all mental, emotional and relational issues related to reproduction. Sherry's primary career focus is now clinical supervision and training new therapists in the specialty of perinatal mental health.
Sherry was a long-time Advisory Board member of The Yates Children Memorial Fund in Houston, and served as the board chair for four years. She was a Texas Co-Ordinator for Postpartum Support International, and was the Co-Chair of the PSI Conference in 2008. Sherry is a graduate of the University of Houston-Clear Lake Family Therapy, and is certified in the perinatal mental health specialty. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, returning to her hometown after 35 years in Texas.
Sherry was a long-time Advisory Board member of The Yates Children Memorial Fund in Houston, and served as the board chair for four years. She was a Texas Co-Ordinator for Postpartum Support International, and was the Co-Chair of the PSI Conference in 2008. Sherry is a graduate of the University of Houston-Clear Lake Family Therapy, and is certified in the perinatal mental health specialty. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, returning to her hometown after 35 years in Texas.
Yvette Montaño
Yvette Montaño became a volunteer and advocate for TPDC in 2016 and has been a board member since 2021. She began advocating and supporting TPDC after recovering from her own experience with postpartum depression. She is grateful for the TPDC support groups that assisted her through her healing journey. She currently oversees the social media and engagement committee and enjoys networking with community businesses to get the word out on TPDC Initiatives.
Eileen R. Caito
Eileen is from NJ, graduated from Indiana University and then moved to Tucson sight
unseen. That was over 40 years ago. She and Tom have raised their two children here
and now are proud grandparents as well.
She is the owner of Shooting Star Doula Services. Eileen is a postpartum doula, a lactation
counselor and a perinatal maternal health advocate.
Eileen is the facilitator for the 4th Trimester Arizona, Tucson Village which is on the 4th
Wednesday of each mother 10 am – 1130 am currently in person at Milk and Honey.
unseen. That was over 40 years ago. She and Tom have raised their two children here
and now are proud grandparents as well.
She is the owner of Shooting Star Doula Services. Eileen is a postpartum doula, a lactation
counselor and a perinatal maternal health advocate.
Eileen is the facilitator for the 4th Trimester Arizona, Tucson Village which is on the 4th
Wednesday of each mother 10 am – 1130 am currently in person at Milk and Honey.
Dr. Kristine T. Norris
Dr. Norris is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and Tucson native. She is a proud Wildcat, having completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Arizona. Dr. Norris received her Medical Degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri and was trained in Psychiatry at Wright State University in Ohio. Dr. Norris is trained extensively in multiple forms of psychotherapy in addition to medication management. She served as an Active Duty Psychiatrist in the United States Air Force from 2011 to 2019 working with Service Members and their dependents at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Dr. Norris’s goal is to provide holistic mental health care that relieves symptoms and address root causes.
Dr. Norris specializes in Perinatal Mental Health working with pregnant and post-partum mothers. She completed Perinatal Mental Health Certification in 2018. Dr. Norris has additional experience in treating disordered eating, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Dr. Norris specializes in Perinatal Mental Health working with pregnant and post-partum mothers. She completed Perinatal Mental Health Certification in 2018. Dr. Norris has additional experience in treating disordered eating, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
Lorie Michaels
I am a healer, a bodyworker, an Army veteran, a doula & childbirth educator, an avid learner, a survivor, a mother, a partner, and a vital participant in life. The experiences I’ve had – both challenging and joyous – have paved the road toward my own healing and ability to be compassionate & intuitive with others.
The women I have had the honor of supporting and witnessing in childbirth are amazing and have my utmost respect, admiration, and humble appreciation. My job is to support you in your decisions, share what I know, give you comfort, and be a supportive advocate for you and your family.
My formal university education is in psychology and chemical dependency counseling. I spent many years working with addiction, behavioral issues & domestic violence. I was driven by a strong desire to help people whose lives reflected my own history. I have been trained in many healing modalities, but have chosen to specialize in those that have been consistently effective and resonate strongly with me.
When not doing birth or bodywork, I love spending time with my wife and dogs, listening to audiobooks, reading, walking, yoga, cooking, DIY home projects, sailing, improv, and doing nice things for people.
I chose the name “Namaste Birth” because it reflects one of my core beliefs… that we are all good and sacred beings at our core. That we are partners on this journey & the more we help and honor each other, the better our world becomes.
The women I have had the honor of supporting and witnessing in childbirth are amazing and have my utmost respect, admiration, and humble appreciation. My job is to support you in your decisions, share what I know, give you comfort, and be a supportive advocate for you and your family.
My formal university education is in psychology and chemical dependency counseling. I spent many years working with addiction, behavioral issues & domestic violence. I was driven by a strong desire to help people whose lives reflected my own history. I have been trained in many healing modalities, but have chosen to specialize in those that have been consistently effective and resonate strongly with me.
When not doing birth or bodywork, I love spending time with my wife and dogs, listening to audiobooks, reading, walking, yoga, cooking, DIY home projects, sailing, improv, and doing nice things for people.
I chose the name “Namaste Birth” because it reflects one of my core beliefs… that we are all good and sacred beings at our core. That we are partners on this journey & the more we help and honor each other, the better our world becomes.
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