Meet Our Staff

Amy Hill

APRN/CNM – Director of Midwifery

Amy is an experienced healthcare professional with a background in pediatric and neonatal care, having worked at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois in medical/surgical pediatrics and the neonatal step-down unit. Her career began in L&D nursing at The Baby Place in Pekin in 2009, where her passion for maternal and child health developed. Amy earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kaplan University (2013) and a Master of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University (2016), becoming a certified nurse midwife in 2016. She is an advocate for VBAC, physiologic birth, and improving birth outcomes by integrating midwives across various settings, including birth centers, hospitals, and home births.

Beyond direct patient care, Amy collaborates with local EMTs, fire departments, and hospitals to ensure safe care transfers and support the growth of birth centers in the community. She is passionate about health, nutrition, and mental health throughout pregnancy and beyond, as well as improving access to care for women of all ages. Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her three children and supporting their activities, from wrestling meets to cheer competitions, while helping her oldest daughter pursue a nursing career and run her own aesthetics business.

Ashley Jones

APRN/CNM

Ashley is a Certified Nurse Midwife with over 13 years of experience in women's health, including 8 years as a Labor and Delivery RN and 5 years as a CNM. She earned her Registered Nurse credentials from Illinois Central College in 2011, followed by her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015, and her Master of Science in Nursing from Frontier Nursing University in 2019. She became AMCB-certified in 2019.

Passionate about empowering women, Ashley focuses on education and informed decision-making, helping women take charge of their bodies and pregnancies. Outside of work, she enjoys life with her husband, Brock, and their bustling household of four kids, including twin toddlers, and their Chocolate Lab, Scout. When she finds free time, Ashley loves to read, listen to podcasts, bake sourdough bread, stay active, and fuel her busy days with coffee!

Justine Sims

APRN/CNM

Justine's journey to becoming a midwife began with 10 years of experience in Cardiac Rehab and Wellness, where she developed a deep passion for supporting individuals on their health journeys. After transitioning to Labor and Delivery at BroMenn Medical Center, she became a registered nurse and obtained a breastfeeding certification to better serve her patients.

As Justine gained experience in labor and delivery, she realized that birth is not just about welcoming a new life, but also about empowering and transformative experiences for women. This led her to pursue an advanced degree in midwifery, where she found her calling to play a more active role in the decision-making partnership with women during pregnancy and birth.

Driven by her passion for physiologic, evidence-based care, Justine sought a birth environment that supports families in a deeper, more meaningful way. When she found the Birth Center, she knew she had found her home—an environment where she could provide intimate, empowering care that honors each woman’s autonomy, safety, and respect.

Justine feels privileged to work alongside the Birth Center staff, who share her values of supporting women and families through education, empowerment, and compassionate care. She is humbled to be part of the partnership between women and their providers, supporting them through all phases of life.

Trish Wierenga

FNP-BC, IBCLC, RLC, PMH-C

 Trish Wierenga has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in central Illinois since 2011 and recently graduated with a master’s degree in nursing and is now a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner.  She is one of only a few practitioners in Central Illinois that is certified in Perinatal Mental Health.

Trish is a member and the current Chairperson of the International Affiliation of Tongue Tie Professionals (IATP), a member and the Vice-Chairperson of the Central Illinois Breastfeeding Task Force (CIBTF), a member of the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA), a member of the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA), and is a member of Postpartum Support International (PSI). She has spoken at conferences locally and internationally on the role of the IBCLC and in the assessment and management of tongue and lip tie issues in relation to breastfeeding challenges, airway, and other facets of wellness.  She lives in central Illinois with her husband, Brian and four children.

Stephanie Harper

BSN, RN – Administrator

Stephanie brings over 20 years of experience as a registered nurse (BSN, RN) to her role as Office Administrator at The Birth Center. With a deep passion for supporting families and ensuring a high standard of care, Stephanie skillfully manages day-to-day operations while fostering a welcoming environment for patients and staff alike. 

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending quality time with her husband and two children. When she’s not at the Birth Center, you can find her enjoying coffee, farming and building her homestead.

Buffy Fleming

Buffy has been working in the medical billing field for over 20 years. In 2017 she landed at The Birth Center and knew this was where she was meant to be. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends being outdoors, shopping, and spoiling her pup.

Cassi Fife

Certified Nurse Midwife

Cassi has always had a passion for helping others, especially when it comes to supporting and advocating for families during one of life’s most significant moments—childbirth. Serving as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), her favorite part of the job is educating and building meaningful relationships with patients as they transition into parenthood, whether for the first time or once again. "I have always been interested in birth," Cassi shares. "When I was little, I dreamed of becoming either a nurse or an obstetrician. With midwifery, I feel like I got the best of both!"

Cassi’s professional journey began with six years as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), caring for developmentally disabled adults. She went on to become a Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse (RN), a role she thrived in for 10 years before achieving her dream of becoming a CNM, a role she has held for 2.5 years. Cassi earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Methodist College of Nursing (2012) and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of the Cincinnati (2022), becoming a certified nurse midwife in 2022. Dedicated to sharing her knowledge, she has been teaching childbirth education for over 11 years.

Cassi has been a part of the birth center team for over eight years. Beyond her impactful work at the birth center, she has contributed her skills to two medical mission trips to Honduras and Guatemala. She also actively volunteers with Foster Village in Peoria, supporting families and children in need and is an Evidence Based Birth (EBB) Childbirth Educator.

Outside of her professional life, Cassi treasures time with her family, which includes her husband Miles, and their two children who are 9 and 7, their dog Charlie, and a tortoise named Turbo. She’s an avid reader, hiker, and traveler who enjoys creating new memories with friends and family.

Jenni Collins

APRN, CNM

Jenni has known she wanted to work in healthcare for as long as she can remember and has been drawn to birth since attending the birth of her niece when Jenni was just 15 years old. She received her nursing prerequisites at Judson University before returning to central IL to finish her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from OSF St. Francis College of Nursing in 2007. After working more than a decade as a labor and delivery nurse and homebirth assistant and having her own birth experiences, she developed a passion for listening to women, giving them exceptional care, and providing them with options for the healthcare they deserve. She saw a great need for more healthcare providers in this area, especially ones offering respectful, supportive care of women and families. In 2018, Jenni received her masters degree in certified nurse midwifery at Frontier Nursing University. She has dedicated her time since then as an out of hospital midwife serving women and families all throughout central Illinois.

She enjoys spending time with her husband and their six active kids. They live on a few acres in the country just outside of Bloomington. She has a great support system that allows her to fully commit herself to birth work. Caring for others is a huge part of who she is and her passion in life. She also loves to read and learn new ways to improve herself as a wife, mother, and midwife!

Jenni truly believes in the importance of building relationships, listening to your desires and concerns, and working with you to give you a safe and supported experience! She looks forward to meeting your family and working together as a team!

Jamie

BSN, RN

Jamie is a dedicated nurse and birth assistant with a wealth of experience spanning nearly two decades. After earning her BSN from Bradley University, Jamie began her career with 1 year in Med Surg in Biloxi, MS, followed by an impressive 16 years in surgery. Her passion for maternal and child healthcare led her to work for 3 years in L&D at The Baby Place in Pekin and has been with the Birth Center since 2022.

Outside of her professional life, Jamie enjoys reading, working out, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, and relaxing on beach vacations. She treasures time spent with her family—her husband of 21 years, Josh, and their two sons who are 16 and 19. Her favorite things to do include watching her boys play sports, cuddling with their dog Cash, or tending to their many chickens. 

Amanda

RN

With 19 years of experience in labor and delivery, Amanda has dedicated her career to supporting moms during one of the most significant moments of their lives. Her passion for nurturing families began when she landed her first role in L&D by chance, bypassing a surgical floor interview for an opportunity in obstetrics—a decision that has shaped her professional life.

Amanda holds an Associates Degree and is an IBCLC-certified lactation consultant. She is also CPR, ACLS, and NRP certified, ensuring her skills are always up-to-date. Amanda has worked in small and large hospital settings, including 14 years at Pekin Hospital, followed by roles at Methodist Hospital and began at the Birth Center in 2022.

For Amanda, the most rewarding aspect of her work is being part of such an important time in families' lives and having the honor of supporting her own friends and family when they welcome their little ones. 

At home, Amanda is a proud mom to four kids aged 17, 15, 12, and 10. She enjoys reading, attending musical theater performances, and spending quality time with her friends.

Athena

CMA, CNA

With over 8 years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and 7 years as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Athena brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Her professional background spans Primary Care, Pain Management, Long Term Nursing Facilities, Surgical care, and OB/GYN, showcasing her adaptability and dedication to providing exceptional patient care.

Athena's favorite part of her role is building trusting bonds with her patients and getting to know them on a deeper, personal level. Outside of work, Athena enjoys reading, traveling, and cherishing quality time with her three children.