Bastyr University Receives $3.25 Million Grant for Midwifery Scholarships

KENMORE, Wash., Oct. 29, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Bastyr University's Department of Midwifery has received a significant boost in its efforts to train more community midwives. The university has been awarded a five-year, $3.25 million federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This funding will support scholarships for eligible students pursuing a Master of Science in Midwifery, thereby reducing financial barriers to midwifery education.

The grant, part of HRSA's Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program, aims to support healthcare higher education for students who meet specific eligibility requirements. Dr. Paula Pelletier-Butler, Chair of the Midwifery Department at Bastyr University, expressed the importance of this funding.

The scholarship funding will support students throughout their Master of Science in Midwifery program, which focuses on preparing community midwives to care for families during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Most students in the program are eligible for HRSA grant-funded scholarships, and program leaders anticipate larger cohorts now that the grant is in place. This funding will enable Bastyr University to continue educating midwives who support healthy pregnancies, healthy families, and healthier communities.

Dr. Pelletier-Butler highlighted the broader impact of the grant.

Bastyr University, a nonprofit, private university, offers doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate degrees with a multidisciplinary curriculum in science-based natural health and medicine. Recognized nationally for its rigorous curriculum and research, the university has campuses in Kenmore, Washington, and San Diego. Bastyr faculty educate future leaders in the natural health arts and sciences, emphasizing the integration of mind, body, spirit, and nature.

The grant will help Bastyr University continue to train midwives who are committed to providing essential healthcare services in communities that may otherwise lack access to such care. With this funding, the university aims to expand its reach and support more students in their journey to become skilled midwives, ultimately contributing to improved maternal and infant health outcomes.