Michele Kulhanek, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS
Director
System Perinatal Safety Officer
Peace Health
As the System Perinatal Safety Officer, Ms. Kulhanek is responsible for promoting safe, evidence-based, and highly reliable care for birthing people and their newborns within the PeaceHealth system of Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Ms. Kulhanek oversees the coordination and administration of perinatal safety programs in the Women’s and Children’s Service Line in collaboration with PeaceHealth’s Legal and Risk Management System Departments.
Before joining PeaceHealth in May 2021, Michele served as the Director of Safety and Quality for Maternal Infant Health at Washington State Hospital Association. In this role, she was responsible for creating, leading, implementing, and achieving results to improve maternal and infant outcomes for all of Washington State’s birthing hospitals.
Ms. Kulhanek has extensive experience in the perinatal arena over her career, working at the bedside and in nursing leadership in a variety of settings, from a community hospital to a high-risk obstetrical academic medical center. She maintains certification in Obstetric Nurse Quality and Safety, as well as In-patient Obstetrics and Electronic Fetal Monitoring through the National Certification Corporation (NCC). Michele is highly involved in her professional nursing association, the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), serving as the elected Chair for AWHONN Washington, a mentor for the Emerging Leaders Program, and on national committees. She is a frequent speaker nationally on topics related to perinatal loss, trauma-informed care, perinatal safety, and recognizing and responding to human trafficking.
Ms. Kulhanek holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing, both from Western Governors University. Other significant accomplishments include past board president of an anti-human trafficking non-profit in Washington state, current Speaker and Education Advisor for Family-to-Family Support Network, and a current member of the Science Advisory Board for Ceres Chill.
