Doers and Dreamers – Liz Pickett
It’s been interesting to observe how the healthcare industry has been evolving and embracing methods that used to be thought of as primitive. Many practices were considered to be ‘alternative healthcare’ because they didn’t seem to be as technologically sophisticated, and therefore not as effective, as mainstream medicine had become. Old is new again and this week’s Doer and Dreamer, Liz Pickett, is bringing her midwife practice here to Kingston after years as a perinatal instructor in the area.
Your name: Liz Pickett
Business or organization: Hudson Valley Office of Capital Region Midwifery
Occupation: Midwife
What is your approach to your business or occupation that makes you unique?
As a midwife, I believe that birth can occur with little intervention. As a professional midwife, I have worked with a high risk practice where intervention is the norm and with normal and healthy women who require little intervention. I am able to recognize when to medically intervene and have a full range of medical backup in case of obstetric emergency at the Kingston Hospital. Our group is the only midwife owned and operated group that specializes in normal birth in a hospital setting.
Where are you from originally?
New Jersey
What brought you to the Kingston area and keeps you in this area?
I love Kingston! Everything about it. I love uptown, the Rondout, historic Kingston and the Old Dutch Church, everything. I have lived in Ulster County for 13 years. My husband , Les Castellanos is a painter so we love the culture and arts, and especially the great restaurants. I worked as a perinatal health educator for Maternal-Infant Services Network for 7 years before working as a full time midwife and I have gotten to know all of the amazing not for profit organizations in Kingston. The collective consciousness of Kingston abounds and this is why I am so excited to bring women’s healthcare services for our women and families.
What is your favorite hangout in this area and why?
If I had to name one, it would have to be the Rondout. I love sitting by the water and watching the boats. My kids feed the ducks, I can enjoy the great restaurants. After eating, we can go to the galleries and look at all the great art work. I also LOVE the Latino Festival in the summer down there. My husband is from Peru so we always make a point of attending. It is amazing, the food, the dancing, the music. An all around great experience.
When you’re not in Kingston, what’s your idea of a wonderful city to visit, and why?
I absolutely love Key West. I love the relaxed feeling down there. The chickens kind of roam around unsupervised, there is plenty of art and culture. I also love fresh papaya and there is no shortage of it down there. I love to visit the Hemingway house, mostly because of all the cats.
Tell us something that we never would have guessed about you.
I am not a hippie. People think because I’m a midwife, I like yoga, and I am a vegetarian I must be a hippie. I don’t think of myself as one, although I think we overlap in some areas. My friend Steph tells me I’m more edgy than that. Thanks Steph.
