Faculty
Sarah Davidson MSM, LM (retired)
Program Coordinator/Manager
Smooth Transitions Program, Foundation for Health Care Quality
Sarah earned her undergraduate degree and Master of Science in Midwifery from Bastyr University in 2013. She subsequently became licensed as a midwife in Washington state as well as earning the credential of Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Sarah worked as a licensed community midwife until 2020, attending home deliveries as well as those at freestanding birth centers. During her years in practice, she served as a preceptor for Bastyr University’s Department of Midwifery students and as an evaluator for students’ practical exams. In 2023, Sarah became the Program Manager for the Smooth Transitions Quality Improvement program at the Foundation for Health Care Quality.
Melissa Denmark MA, LM (retired)
Co-Chair
Smooth Transitions Program, Foundation for Health Care Quality
Melissa has a BA in Biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in Medical Anthropology from the University of Florida. Her master’s thesis documented the historical development of direct-entry midwifery in Florida and was published in Robbie Davis-Floyd’s book, “Mainstreaming Midwives: The Politics of Change” (2006). After graduate school, Melissa attended the Seattle Midwifery School and was licensed as a midwife in Washington state in 2004. From 2006 to 2021 Melissa worked as a community midwife in a home birth-based private practice. In 2016, she became the Program Coordinator for the Smooth Transitions Quality Improvement program and works to build bridges between community midwives and the hospitals with which they interact.
Kiristen Sitcov
Executive Director
Foundation for Health Care Quality
Kristin Sitcov is Executive Director of Clinical Programs at the Foundation for Health Care Quality (FHCQ), a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving as a trusted, independent, third-party resource to all participants in the health care community—including patients, providers, payors, employers, government agencies, and public health professionals. Kristin is responsible for overseeing and providing coordination among the various quality improvement programs that operate under the auspices of FHCQ as well as direct implementation of the Obstetrical Care Outcomes Assessment Program, which focuses on variability in quality and outcomes for labor and delivery services.
Prior to joining FHCQ 18 years ago, Kristin worked for several years at the American Heart Association as the Senior Director of State Health Alliances and Community Health. Her earlier career was spent as a registered dietitian in both clinical and behavioral health after receiving her degree in Human Nutrition from Washington State University.
Katelyn Yoder, MD, MSc
Co-Chair
Smooth Transitions Program, Foundation for Health Care Quality
Dr. Yoder received her medical degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She completed her Ob/Gyn residency training at the University of New Mexico, followed by Ob/Gyn Hospitalist fellowship at University of California San Francisco. She currently works for the University of Washington as an Ob/Gyn Hospitalist and has a professional interest in community to hospital birth transfers. She has worked with Smooth Transitions since 2022 and took on the role of co-chair in January of 2025.
Jay Bringman, MD, MBA
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
Vice Chair of Women’s Health
Geisinger
Jay Bringman, MD, MBA, is the vice chair of Women’s Health for the Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute. He is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Dr. Bringman received his medical degree from the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Barnabas Medical Center and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Tennessee. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in maternal-fetal medicine.
Elissa Concini MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS
Operations Manager
Geisinger
Elissa graduated from Bloomsburg University in 2010 and immediately began her career in Women’s Health as an obstetrics inpatient nurse. Since 2010, in addition to working at the bedside, Elissa has held several roles within the women’s health service line at Geisinger including staff development, perinatal education, quality and safety specialist, and sexual assault nurse examiner. Elissa is passionate about improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes and currently works as the Operations Manager for subspeciality practices in the women’s and children service line.