Ob Hospitalist Group (OBHG) honors the incredible work of our clinicians in advancing maternal health and transforming care. Each month, we’re spotlighting stories that showcase our clinicians’ expertise and impact, highlighting how they set the standard, drive innovation and redefine care.
At OBHG, we believe midwives deserve not only meaningful clinical work but also the space, time, and support to thrive outside the hospital walls. Few people embody that balance more than Amanda Shafton, a midwife hospitalist in Austin, Texas, and OBHG’s National Director of Midwifery. Her journey reflects why so many midwives are choosing the hospitalist lifestyle and finding a renewed sense of personal and professional fulfillment.
Redefining Midwifery through balance
Midwives enter the profession because they love caring for patients. But traditional models of private practice with the constant juggle of clinic, births, charting, and being perpetually “on”, can leave little time for anything else.
Amanda recognizes this deeply:
“One of the reasons midwives choose the hospitalist lifestyle is because they want the work–life balance that comes when they’re no longer on call all the time. With a hospitalist schedule, you know your shifts, you work your shifts, and when you’re done… you’re done.”
Full-time midwife hospitalists at OBHG typically work five 24-hour shifts (or hourly equivalent) per 28-day period, averaging about 36 clinical hours per week. For those coming from a world of endless call, this is transformational.
Midwives suddenly find time again to rest, explore, grow, and rediscover who they are beyond their scrubs. Amanda uses her time off to explore new coffee shops and read several books at once. Some of her colleagues spend more time with young children or pursue side clinical interests. Amanda says the whole point is choice—something many midwives haven’t felt in years.
A collaborative environment where midwives are valued
Work–life balance is only part of OBHG’s appeal. For Amanda, the collaborative culture is equally life-changing.
“I’ve never had a job with such excellent communication and partnership with physician colleagues. We sit together, run plans by each other, and adapt as patients’ stories evolve. It’s fulfilling in a way I never expected.”
In a field where midwifery recognition can sometimes be a battle, OBHG stands out by:
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Valuing midwifery at the leadership level, including national roles like Amanda’s
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Creating care teams where physicians and midwives work as true partners
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Encouraging growth into higher-acuity care with strong support and mentorship
This collaboration not only strengthens patient outcomes, it helps midwives expand their clinical confidence, especially in busy hospitals like Amanda’s which is on track for 12,000 deliveries this year.
Leadership that lifts midwives up
Many clinicians stumble into leadership without training; OBHG believes they should be supported, mentored, and elevated.
Amanda’s journey reflects that philosophy:
“OBHG gave me the chance to lead locally in Austin, and eventually nationally. Now I get to mentor emerging leaders—midwives and physicians—who want to shape the future of obstetrics.”
Across the organization, midwife hospitalists interested in leadership have pathways to grow. OBHG’s clinician-led model is its “superpower,” as Amanda calls it, which ensures decisions are made by people who understand patient care firsthand.
Every patient deserves a midwife
Amanda began her career in an accredited birth center providing low-risk care. Today, she handles high-acuity patients in fast-paced OBED settings thanks to the support and collaboration surrounding her.
“There is no patient too high risk for midwifery care when midwives work collaboratively with physicians. Every patient deserves a midwife.”
The hospitalist model allows midwives not only to practice to their full scope, but to grow it safely, confidently, and with the full backing of a supportive team. For Amanda and countless midwives across OBHG programs, the hospitalist lifestyle represents more than a job change, it’s a life change.
“Being able to go in, do meaningful clinical work, and then truly be off has been life-changing for me and for many midwives I know.”
Whether midwives want time for family, hobbies, leadership, academia, athletics, or simply rest, OBHG gives them the structure and support to build a balanced, fulfilling life.
OBHG offers midwives:
- Predictable, manageable schedules
- True work–life balance
- A collaborative practice model
- Respect, recognition, and leadership opportunities
- Support to grow into higher-acuity care
- A community of clinicians who value midwifery
Ready to expand your career with OBHG?
Our recruiters want to help you find the job location that’s the best fit for you and your family. Explore our clinical careers or sign up to meet on-one-on with an OBHG clinician.
OBHG is setting a new standard in maternal healthcare by fostering a culture of safety, education, and collaboration. Clinicians like Amanda exemplify how clinicians can improve outcomes for mothers and babies while finding professional and personal fulfillment through meaningful work.
Want to hear more?
Be sure to check out other stories on how our clinicians, freed from on-call duties and business concerns, are now able to pursue their unique passions. Give them a listen.