Michele Burtner, M.S.

I learned the capability of a woman’s body to carry a baby from an encyclopedia back when I was a teenager, and I knew then that I would pursue women’s health as a career! Women's bodies are amazing…I attended Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) for my midwifery degree, after working as a labor and delivery nurse at Dartmouth. Once I obtained my midwifery degree, I worked with underserved women in the inner city of Indianapolis as a National Health Service Scholar because I believe all women deserve a midwife. We then moved back to Oregon where I continued to work with both low and high risk women, and started to teach midwife students in the clinical setting.

After the birth of our first child, we decided we wanted to be closer to family and moved back to WNY, settling in Rochester. My husband grew up in Brighton, and is a cardiac nurse at Strong Hospital. Together we are raising three fabulous school-age and teen children who were all birthed into the hands of midwives. In our free time we love to ski, go boating, hike, listen to music, and spend time with our dog Piper, our friends, and our family.

It is my passion to care for women and ALL families, and to promote the midwifery philosophy of care. Most recently, my career has taken me into the breastfeeding and lactation sub-specialty in which I am able to provide care to those families who struggle with lactation, need more education, and desire or need support in their efforts to provide human milk for their infants.

Professional Background

Michele Burtner, CNM, MS began her career as first as a labor and delivery nurse while on the pathway to becoming a midwife. Her undergraduate Bachelor of Nursing degree was completed at the University at Buffalo. After finishing the midwifery program at OHSU, she worked for a large inner city community practice in Indianapolis, proving both inpatient and outpatient midwifery care to both low and high risk women. After moving back to the Pacific Northwest, she continued working as a full scope midwife, including waterbirth, and teaching midwifery students. She moved back to Western New York in 2007 where she joined the URMC Midwifery Group at the University of Rochester. She served as Midwifery Division Director from 2013-2018. In 2021, Michele completed a Fellowship in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine as well as a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Rochester. She is assuming the role of Associate Medical Director of Breastfeeding and Lactation Services at URMC.