Estela DiFranco Field, BSN, MSN, CNM, has been appointed Associate Medical Director for the Duke University Hospital Birthing Center. She will work in partnership with newly appointed Medical Director Jennifer Gilner, MD, PhD, who began in her new position at DUH on October 1, 2020.
Estela’s career has been dedicated to caring for women in the labor and delivery area throughout her multi-faceted career. She trained at the University of Pennsylvania to become a midwife, earning both her bachelor of science and master of science in nursing.
She worked as a nurse in the Intensive Care Nursery at Pennsylvania Hospital and went on to start her midwifery career at the same institution, located in the heart of Philadelphia. There she served a diverse clientele of women throughout their lifespan as part of a 24/7 well-established midwifery practice. She attended births in the hospital as well as in the nearby affiliated birth center. She worked with a team in a South Philadelphia clinic to initiate a Centering Pregnancy program in English and Spanish. She joined the Duke Midwifery Service in 2011 after moving to North Carolina to be closer to family.
At Duke, Estela has helped guide numerous students (nursing, medical, CNM, NP) and residents (OB, family practice) in the care of women in pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum period. In addition to Centering Pregnancy, her professional interests include family planning and working with Spanish-speaking immigrant populations.
Estela is committed to outreach and educational endeavors with the Latinx community, and most recently worked with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Duke Hospital Communications to produce a series of educational videos for COVID-19+ pregnant patients, including what to expect during their hospital stay. As a first-generation Italian-American, and native Spanish speaker, she has specialized in the care of underserved and marginalized patients.
Estela will begin her new leadership role on January 1, 2021.