Mary Pirkle, CNM

Meet Mary Pirkle, CNM

Mary Rachel Pirkle is a board-certified nurse-midwife with CHRISTUS St. Vincent Medical Group in Santa Fe. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse-Midwifery from the University of New Mexico and is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. A New Mexico native, Pirkle combines clinical expertise with a compassionate, patient-centered approach. She partners with local obstetricians and hospitals to guide women through healthy pregnancies, childbirth and the postpartum period, bringing personalized midwifery care to her community.

Career at a Glance

• Education: MSN in Nurse-Midwifery, University of New Mexico 
• Certification: Board-certified CNM (American Midwifery Certification Board) 
• Licensure: Advanced Practice Midwife licensed in New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho 
• Experience: 7+ years as a Certified Nurse-Midwife

Clinical Role and Leadership

Mary Rachel Pirkle serves as a Midwifery Specialist on the Women's Care team at CHRISTUS St. Vincent. In this role, she collaborates with obstetricians and pediatricians to support safe, family-centered maternity care. She provides specialized care for needs such as:

• Prenatal care for healthy (low-risk) pregnancies
• Labor and birth support
• Postpartum recovery and follow-up care
• Family planning counseling related to pregnancy and postpartum care
• Breastfeeding education and newborn support
• Care coordination with physicians and specialists when additional services are needed

What You Can Expect from Care with Rachel Pirkle

Patients describe Pirkle as warm, attentive, and highly communicative. She takes time to listen carefully to each woman’s concerns and questions, and provides clear, thorough explanations of tests and procedures. You can expect:

• Attentive listening and unhurried appointments
• Personalized care that respects your preferences and values
• Clear, patient-friendly education about pregnancy and health
• Compassionate support during labor, delivery, and the postpartum period
• Coordination of care among your healthcare team for seamless service

Advanced Care Coordination

While midwifery emphasizes natural, low-intervention births when safe, Pirkle is experienced in managing hospital-based technology when needed. She regularly first-assists in Cesarean deliveries and works in fully equipped operating rooms. Her practice utilizes up-to-date fetal monitoring, ultrasound, and obstetric protocols to ensure maternal and newborn safety. In this way, she blends the midwifery model with the resources of modern medical facilities.

Research, Clinical Insight, and Thought Leadership

Pirkle’s contributions are focused on patient care and education rather than academic publications. Although she has not authored peer-reviewed research, she stays current with evidence-based midwifery practice through continuing education. She shares her expertise by mentoring new midwives on the CHRISTUS team and contributing to hospital in-service training on maternal care.

Commitment to Public Health and Health Equity

From the start of her career, Pirkle has shown a dedication to serving diverse and underserved populations. Early on she worked with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, illustrating her commitment to Native and rural community health. Today in New Mexico, she advocates for inclusive women’s care: for example, she has pursued training in herbal and holistic therapies so she can offer wider health options to her patients. This holistic perspective helps her address cultural and social needs of New Mexico families, supporting health equity across her practice.