04/12/2024
Penny Simkin, you will be gravely missed. Thank you for everything you did for the doula Profession.
We want to take a moment to join the birth world in remembering Penny Simkin who passed away this week at the ripe old age of 86 after a short battle with cancer. Penny’s loss is being mourned around the world today, but we also hope that her life’s accomplishments are being celebrated for the legacy she leaves us.
A couple of years ago I was asked to reflect on the idea of ‘legacy’. So much of my own life’s work has been about my contribution to the birth world and the impact I hope my life has made there. I’ve had amazing mentors and people to look up to in this work, but no one more than Penny Simkin. Penny Simkin was so instrumental in the evolution of birth support and empowerment and autonomy of birthers. When I think about the birth worker I have become I can thank Penny for encouraging me to become the most compassionate and caring birth worker I could be. It’s easy to get jaded when doing this work over many decades but everyone who knows Penny can attest that she made it look easy to remain calm, compassionate, respectful and yet steadfast in her determination to support women and families. So many of her sayings form the foundation of our birth worker beliefs. Beliefs that form the basis our professions stands on and represents. I am fortunate enough to have been in the field long enough to have spent time with Penny at conferences and board meetings. And oh the day I ended up sharing a taxi ride to the airport with Penny in my early doula years had me so star struck. I couldn’t believe my luck. That day and so many more to follow would continue to inspire me to be a better version of my doula self. To know Penny was to become a better doula and a better version of oneself.
Here at Doula School we send our love and condolences to Penny’s family. To the doula community let’s raise a glass to the best doula mentor out there. May she continue to inspire us to be the best doula version of ourselves. May our legacies be even a fraction of hers and this world will be a better place for birthing people. Cheers to you Penny wherever this journey brings you next.
