Remarkable Women of the Upper Peninsula Finalist: Christiann Rosemurgy

HOUGHTON, Mich. (WJMN) – The second finalist in the Remarkable Women of the Upper Peninsula contest is Christiann Rosemurgy, who has dedicated her life to women’s health and midwifery.

Rosemurgy works at Aspirus Heath locations in the Copper Country as a women’s health nurse practitioner and a certified nurse midwife. From seeing patients at the Aspirus Houghton Clinic to catching babies at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, she helps women in all stages of their lives.

“The word midwife means with woman, and that was the focus in my program anyway of our base level of care,” said Rosemurgy. “No matter what you were taking care of a woman for, you are with her. You are with her through this journey, good and bad, mundane, because sometimes we do a lot of regular stuff that’s not exciting, but that is okay too.”

Knowing the challenges that many women face throughout their lives, Rosemurgy uses thoughtfulness and understanding when caring for her patients.

“Sometimes as women, as human beings, we measure ourselves against other people and what they can do and what they can’t do and what we can do and can’t do and have and don’t have. And so, we’re really hard on ourselves as humans,” Rosemurgy expressed. “And I think having a type of provider who says, ‘Hey, come as you are, and let’s work together to get you where you want to be and that what you’re doing is okay.’ And I think that is something that’s really important in any community to lift people up and to bring people together and make them feel like they’re waking up every day and doing their best.”

Rosemurgy received her degree from Georgetown University and has been named one of the university’s 25 Hoya Change Makers. This was in recognition of becoming the first certified nurse midwife in the Keweenaw area in 2014, bringing midwifery to Aspirus Health and the Upper Peninsula.

“The year I started, there were 30 births that year and now we average around close to 200 a year. So I feel like in ten years that’s a huge accomplishment. We’ve been able to provide a service for women where they feel comfortable, where they can be themselves, and that we can collaborate and make choices together. And I think that’s really important,” noted Rosemurgy. “As our OB department grew with all of us that were working together, we were able to add a second midwife. And that was to me, felt like a really big accomplishment. I had built this business for us that needed to include another midwife, and now there’s a third midwife in the area, and I think that is pretty amazing.”

Jenn Jenich-Laplander, the communications and engagement coordinator for Aspirus’s Upper Peninsula region, nominated Rosemurgy for the Remarkable Women of the Upper Peninsula contest on behalf of Aspirus Health. Jenich-Laplander says Rosemurgy’s ability to lead, collaborate, and drive positive change has left a mark on the community and thousands of women.

“Personally, I’ve been lucky to have Christiann catch all four of my babies. So, knowing her professionally and then personally, we have a really strong relationship. there’s a lot of things that I’ve gone through with my pregnancies that I don’t think I would have gotten through without her,” said Jenich-Laplander.

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Outside of her career, Rosemurgy is a dedicated wife and mother. Her husband Tom Rosemurgy says Christiann was shocked and humbled when they found out she was a finalist in the Remarkable Women contest.

“You know, she immediately questioned, you know, well,’ I don’t know what makes me I’m doing my job’ or ‘I’m doing what I love to do with the people that I love to work with and the patients that I love to be around’,” commented Tom. “And I think that’s what makes her so special, is that connection that she has with her patients and with her coworkers and her friends and everybody around her. She’s truly remarkable.”

To her friends, family, and community, Christiann Rosemurgy is the embodiment of a remarkable woman. And through kindness and compassion, Christiann prides herself on providing the best care possible for her patients.

“I am proud of myself, but I feel like I am so supported by amazing women every day. And, you know, I was raised by parents who made you feel like you could do whatever you wanted. My mom spent her life taking care of her family, and my dad valued education, and he also made it home that it was important to have good relationships. And if you were whatever you were going to do in life, just be the best at it. And so I’m really proud that I brought this to our community.

“I am so blessed to have this job and the people that I work with and the people that I take care of, they are my family. Even when I’m not with my family a lot because I work a lot. But that is okay. My life is full and it’s because of everybody that I take care of and who has helped me take care of people. So, I think that’s a really, really big blessing in my life,” Rosemurgy expressed.

For more information on Aspirus Health’s Women’s Health and Midwifery services, please visit www.aspirus.org/womens-health.

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