Penny Simkin

26 years ago a DONA training changed my labour and delivery nursing practice. I was drawn to the doula role in being able to offer continuity of care. Penny Simkin has had a deep impact on my professional life and one that I have tried to emulate as I became a DONA certified doula and later had the honour to train with Penny Simkin and Kathy McGrath and further share the Doula Spirit with all those I've worked with and had the honour to train for over a decade. Penny Simkin's impact on the perinatal world will remain and live on in all of us forever. DONA NOBIS PACEM

I am deeply honored to have met Penny more than once (from Bastyr to Spinning Babies). Each time, you imparted enlightening "food for thought" that I hold near and dear in my heart because it applies to many facets of my life. Thank you for all the contributions and impacts you make to the birthing community!


photo circa 2016
SB Confluence, Minnesota

I first met Penny at the 2016 Summit in Seattle. I was struck by how open, generous, humble, and sharp she was! She asked the speakers insightful questions in every session. She met so many people, and then remembered our names the next day! Penny's heart for doulas and new and growing families was evident in every interaction. It was a gift to see her again at the 2023 Summit in Minneapolis.

Penny's teachings remind me to always stay focused on my client and how they will remember this. Every time I'm not sure, I ask my client what they want, what they need, what they think. Doula work is not about the doula, it's about the families that we serve. Thank you Penny.

I don’t have enough words to express what Penny Simkin means to me and to all of us at DONA. Her wisdom, unwavering guidance, and love have shaped the heart of the doula movement, inspiring countless trainers and doulas around the world.

Penny’s teachings form the very foundation of DONA and are woven into how I teach, how I listen, and how I hold space for families and doulas alike. Her gentle words and profound insights have illuminated our paths in ways that will forever stay with us. She has shown us the depth of compassion, advocacy, and unwavering support in birth work. Penny taught us how to listen deeply, to trust the power of birthing people, and to honor the role of the doula as a bridge to comfort and connection.

Penny’s wisdom will always be in my heart, guiding me and every doula workshop I lead. Her legacy of love, respect, and dedication to the birthing community lives on in all of us whose lives she touched. Thank you, Penny, for everything you have given us and for the lasting impact you continue to make in the world.

Penny trained me as a trainer over a quarter of a century ago and I still quote her at every training I teach because her words are wise, kind and evidence based. Despite her fame and standing in the birth world, Penny was the most approachable and humble person and made everyone regardless of their professional status, feel heard and appreciated. Your legacy will continue to grow and touch thousands Penny.

Penny was so so special to me, to all of us. She WILL Live on in the trainer's lives and in the doulas who do the work she was so passionate about.

A true honor to have met Penny last year for the first time, at the Dona Conference in Minnesota!

I had shared with Penny how I have been working hard to provide doula services to undocumented moms and she was ecstatic! She told me: "Do it until you feel you cannot do it anymore, and then you do it some more!".

We love you, Penny! Thank you for being so selfless and sharing yourself with the world!

#PennySimkinForever

It is an honor to be in the space reflecting on Penny and her legacy. So grateful for all of the pathways she blazed for us all. Such a beautiful soul. <3

In Loving Memory of Penny Simkin, DONA International Co-Founder

As president of DONA International, I reflect with both sorrow and gratitude on the passing of our co-founder, mentor, and friend, Penny Simkin. Since training under her in 1994, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact of her compassion, wisdom, and dedication to childbirth support.

Penny’s quiet strength and empathy were an inspiration, touching countless lives and shaping our approach to doula work. Her legacy extends beyond techniques or knowledge; it’s in the movement she built and the lives she changed, creating a more compassionate, informed, and supportive childbirth experience for families worldwide.

We honor Penny’s work and spirit, which will forever guide DONA International and the field at large. Her wisdom will continue to inspire us, and her legacy lives on in each doula, family, and community she touched.

With deepest respect and gratitude.