Hilltown Families 
New Midwifery Medical Director at Cooley Dick
Tucker Kueny, MD Accepts Offer of Midwifery Medical Director Post
Cooley’s midwifery practice to progress at quicker pace; certified nurse midwife recruitment continues with a practice opening planned for June 2008.
Following a nationwide search to locate the medical director of Cooley Dickinson’s new midwifery program, the physician who accepted the post resides in Northampton, MA and was recommended by area women at one of the hospital’s community focus groups.
Tucker Kueny, MD, F.A.C.O.G has accepted the position of medical director of Cooley Dickinson’s new midwifery practice. Dr. Kueny will begin at CDH in June 2008, but will be involved immediately in the plans to further develop the midwifery program. He joins CD Practice Associates, Cooley Dickinson’s affiliated physician group, and will provide physician coverage to the midwifery practice in conjunction with Northampton Obstetrics & Gynecology, NOGA, an affiliated Cooley Dickinson medical practice.
“I am thrilled to share this news with our community,” says Carol M. Smith, RN, Acting CEO, Cooley Dickinson Hospital. “It is critical to offer our community this additional birthing option. We are very excited to move ahead with our plans to restore certified nurse midwife-assisted births at Cooley Dickinson’s Childbirth Center.”
Dr. Kueny comes to Cooley Dickinson Hospital from Pioneer Women’s Health, a Franklin County- based collaborative OB/GYN practice that focuses on midwifery care. There, Dr. Kueny was the practice medical director where he worked with a team of four midwives and three physicians, office staff and other providers.
“I am very excited to be joining Cooley Dickinson,” says Dr. Kueny. “I strongly believe in midwifery care, and my experience over the last eight years has prepared me to lead this program which I see as vital to the community. As a resident of Northampton for the past 11 years, I look forward to working in the community in which I live,” he adds.
Dr. Kueny earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
While hiring Dr. Kueny is one step in the process of opening the new midwifery practice, CDH continues to recruit certified nurse midwives. Once the team is in place, interior construction of the medical practice will be completed. Acting CEO Smith says she expects the midwifery medical practice to open in June 2008. The practice will employ two full-time midwives, two part-time midwives and an assistant.
“Dr. Kueny is a man of vision who demonstrates a genuine understanding of the midwifery model of care,” says Judie Brock, a certified nurse midwife who joined Cooley Dickinson as a midwifery consultant in July 2007 and who was the first midwife to deliver babies at CDH more than 25 years ago. “It long time to find the perfect medical director for Cooley’s midwifery practice, but now that we have found him, I look forward to moving ahead to create a midwifery practice that listens to and responds to the needs and wishes of the women of our community.”
Continues Brock, “I could not be happier that Dr. Kueny has agreed to join us.”
Says Smith, “Dr. Kueny’s name surfaced in several of the hospital-sponsored community focus groups that took place during the summer and fall of 2007. He was considered along with more than 10 applicants for the position. After a thorough, nationwide search as well as input from local certified nurse midwives, Dr. Kueny was selected as the best fit for this Cooley Dickinson program.”
Smith thanks local community members for their patience during this process. “This has not been easy for some women. Having to change birth plans mid-pregnancy or for those who had expected to deliver at CDH with a midwife had to make other plans. It has been frustrating for them.”
Cooley Dickinson Hospital announced its commitment to providing midwifery services in May 2007. Midwife-assisted births ended at CDH in June 2007.
CDH continues to accept applications for certified nurse midwives. For consideration, apply online at www.cooley-dickinson.org or call Josh Maybar, recruiter, at (413) 582-2720.
I can’t tell you how sad I am to learn that Tucker has left PWH. Your practice is very lucky to have him on board! The only thing I’m thankful for is that I am really not that far from Northampton and if needed I could drive there to see him.