Assistant Professor
Division of Advanced Nursing Practice
robyn.schafer@rutgers.edu
Newark Health Sciences
SSB 1119C
(732) 507-8028
Specialty: Midwifery, perinatal care, obstetrics, lactation
- Data Science for Nursing and Health Care
- Maternal, Child, and Family Health
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences
Robyn Schafer, PhD, CNM, FACNM, is a nurse-midwife, educator, and scholar committed to advancing evidence-based, person-centered care and preparing a diverse, skilled workforce to deliver safe, respectful, and ethical perinatal services. She is an Assistant Professor at Rutgers University, holding dual appointments in the School of Nursing’s Division of Advanced Practice and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Schafer educates students in the nurse-midwifery and women’s health programs, trains obstetric residents, and provides perinatal care through Rutgers Health at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – New Brunswick. She holds advanced certifications as a Certified Nurse Educator and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and is a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Dr. Schafer earned a Master of Education from Boston University, a Master of Science in Nursing from Yale University, and a PhD in Nursing Science from Vanderbilt University. Her research focuses on clinical decision-making in perinatal and reproductive health, including risk perception, autonomy, informed choice, person-centered care, and evidence-based practice.
Education & Training
- Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science), Vanderbilt University
- Master of Science in Nursing (Nurse-Midwifery), Yale University
- Master of Education (Policy, Planning, and Administration), Boston University
- Bachelor of Arts (Cultural Studies and Journalism), Boston University
Recent Research Activities/Funded Projects
Active Grants:
* NJ Midwifery Education Project, New Jersey Department of Health, $1,000,000
* Reproductive Training and Education Initiative, New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, $5,000,000
Clinical Specialties
Midwifery, perinatal care, obstetrics, lactation
Research/Scholarly Interests
Midwifery, perinatal and reproductive health, shared decision-making, evidence-based practice, person-centered care, qualitative and mixed methods research
Recent Publications
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0938-7726
- Schafer, R., & Phillippi, J.C. (2025). Updating and advancing member-checking methods: Use of video and asynchronous technology to optimize participant engagement. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251315395
- Schafer, R., Bovbjerg, M.L., Cheyney, M., & Phillippi, J.C. (2024). Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with breech presentation in planned community (home and birth center) births in the United States: A prospective observational cohort study. PLOS ONE, 19(7), e0305587. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0305587
- Schafer, R., LoGiudice, J.A., Hargwood, P., & Wilpers, A. (2024). The role of midwives in US perinatal palliative care: A scoping review. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 69(6), 875–887. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.13664
- Schafer, R., Kennedy, H.P., Mulvaney, S., & Phillippi, J.C. (2024). Experience of decision-making for home breech birth: An interpretive description. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, 5, 100397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100397
- Basile-Ibrahim, B., Combellick, J., Mead, T.L., Sorensen, A., Batten, J., & Schafer, R. (2024). The social context of pregnancy, respectful maternity care, biomarkers of weathering, and postpartum mental health inequities: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(4), 480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040480
