On Friday, 23.01.2026, the first Midwifery Science Symposium took place at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society. The central topic of the symposium, led by Professor Dr. Michaela Michel-Schuldt, was the innovative care concept "Midwifery Center". Under the conference title "Midwifery centers - shaping care, closing gaps", around 60 participants discussed the "midwifery center" in all its facets: as a central point of contact for expectant and new parents, as a mediation point, source of information and also as a coordination point for substitutions, further training and exchange between midwives and other professionals.
Following the welcome address by Professor Dr. Michaela Michel Schuldt and University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller, Juliane Müller and Health Minister Clemens Hoch delivered greetings from the Rhineland-Palatinate Midwives Association and the Rhineland-Palatinate state government respectively. "The existing midwifery centers are a cornerstone of healthcare in Rhineland-Palatinate. They close gaps in care and take a holistic approach to obstetrics," explained the 1st Chairwoman of the Midwives' Association. But they are no substitute for closing delivery rooms. This is why the Midwives' Association is calling on politicians to focus on the staffing situation in obstetrics, ensure nationwide coverage and provide a better data basis for optimized care planning, according to Juliane Müller.
"Midwives provide families with support and guidance precisely when they are most urgently needed - with professional expertise and a human touch. For us as a state, this means shaping the framework conditions in such a way that women and families can find reliable support close to where they live - both in the clinic and in outpatient care around pregnancy and the postpartum period. Midwifery centers make an important contribution here: they are established where care is needed. Rhineland-Palatinate supports midwifery centers out of conviction and will continue this support in the future in order to further strengthen families, relieve midwives and ensure obstetric care in Rhineland-Palatinate," emphasized Minister Clemens Hoch.
Afterwards, Master's graduate Gila Heusermann, Master's student Annika Schröder and Professor Dr. Michaela Michel-Schuldt gave a deeper insight into the current scientific status of midwifery centers and presented accompanying teaching research projects: All of the work provides evidence that midwifery hubs have a demonstrable effect - empirically, practically and experientially - in that they do not completely eliminate existing supply bottlenecks in midwifery care, but effectively mitigate their consequences through better distribution, more equitable use and a more humane organization. Their particular strength is not only reflected in placement figures, but above all in the gain in safety, relationship and structural orientation for all those involved; at the same time, there is a need for further research, especially with regard to health economic evaluations and the systematic analysis of benefits and needs for improvement for midwives, women and families, especially from marginalized population groups, in order to further develop quality, effectiveness and continuity based on evidence.
Best practice examples from Bavaria were then presented by Melanie Marwitz, HebaVaria e.V. Munich, and Thomas Oppel from the Bavarian State Coordination Office: Melanie Marwitz showed how coordinated structures, targeted referrals, supplementary services and digital support can improve access to midwifery care, reduce inequalities and actively enable care even when resources are limited. In his presentation, Thomas Oppel explained how nationwide coordination, clear guidelines for action and municipal support can be used to establish sustainable structures for midwifery centers and consolidate them in the long term. In the afternoon workshop, the participants then had a lively discussion about the quality characteristics of midwifery centers.
"With the first symposium, we wanted to create a space for exchange, discussion and networking - between students, graduates, practice partners, colleagues from science and research, representatives of healthcare and politics," explained Professor Michel-Schuldt, adding: "Midwifery centers measurably improve access to midwifery care, relieve the burden on midwives and other care structures, reduce uncertainty among families and have their greatest impact when they are structurally secure, clearly defined in terms of quality and systematically networked." In her view, the 1st Symposium on Midwifery Science answered the question of how midwifery centers can secure care, what quality means in this context and how science, practice and politics can assume joint responsibility - and informed, encouraged and motivated the participants to actively help shape care, the conference director concluded with satisfaction.
Background:
Midwifery centers make a key contribution to improving the care provided by midwives to pregnant women, women who have recently given birth and young parents. They help to ensure tailored care and avoid supply bottlenecks. Rhineland-Palatinate and neighboring federal states support the establishment and further development of midwifery centers as an important element in securing care.
Midwifery science at the HWG LU: The HWG LU has been successfully involved in the academic training of midwives for over ten years - among other things, the dual Bachelor's degree course in midwifery science under the direction of Prof. Dr. Nina Knape was the first midwifery degree course in Rhineland-Palatinate as part of the academization of midwifery training that has been in force since 2020. A Master's program and cooperative doctorates for midwifery scientists round off the offer accordingly. Active research is also carried out here in the field of healthcare.
Midwifery science at the HWG LU is thus taking a pioneering position nationwide in the establishment of this young discipline. In the tradition of application-oriented science, midwifery science at the HWG LU sees itself as interdisciplinary, research-based and at the same time closely linked to obstetric practice.
Contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society
Department of Social and Health Care
Professor Dr. Michaela Michel-Schuldt
Professorship of Midwifery Science
Tel. 0621/5203-547
michaela.michel-schuldt@hwg-lu.de
