Michaela Barnes

The Phoenix Doula is a community-based practice providing trauma-informed birth, postpartum, and end-of-life doula care grounded in evidence-based education, dignity, and continuity of care. Founded by a public health graduate student and frontline healthcare worker, The Phoenix Doula addresses gaps in maternal, infant, and end-of-life support—particularly in rural and underserved communities across Eastern North Carolina. The practice integrates life-course and violence-informed approaches to reduce preventable trauma, support informed decision-making, and strengthen family and community health outcomes. Services include birth and postpartum support, perinatal education, and end-of-life and legacy care for individuals and families navigating serious illness, dying, and caregiving. This integrated model recognizes birth and death as critical health transitions that benefit from skilled, non-judgmental, and relational support. The Phoenix Doula prioritizes ethical, sliding-scale service models and collaborates with healthcare systems, community organizations, and public health partners to improve access, continuity, and quality of care.

Serving as an account manager/client success for 50+ sponsors, including Fortune 500 companies, managing deliverables by executing contracts for foot races across the Eastern US and Bay Area. Provides excellent customer success, manages onboarding calls, and serves as main point of communication for sponsorships.

Account Manager/Customer Success Manager for 50+ accounts from onboarding to campaign completion meeting digital marketing goals on online tech site. Worked with account sponsors to meet digital marketing goals with components including display, e-mail, demand generation and content marketing.

Recruiter for biotech firm; interviewed and assessed a working portfolio of over 500 job seekers for positions within Fortune 500 company. Placed highest number of candidates within first quarter of any Phase I TME. Secured passive placement within two months of employment as a Phase I TME – a company record

Led youth programs for ages 2-12 across the school year and summer. Recruited, hired, and trained counselors for afterschool, tutoring and summer camp positions. Balanced and maintained budget for all programs.

MSPH candidate studying rural health systems, maternal/child health, and community-based care models. Passionate about bringing evidence-based solutions back home to Eastern NC and building a career that blends public health research, clinical training, and advocacy for families in underserved communities.