Meet the Staff

Office | Midwife | Birth Asst | Med Asst | Specialty

OUR MIDWIVES

Susan Melnikow, CNM, MSN, Clinical Director
I have been a practicing Certified Nurse-Midwife for almost thirty years. I feel so blessed to have found my true “calling” and passion in midwifery. It is an honor to be able to share in the special experience of each unique birth. I am grateful to have started my career with home birth, which afforded me the opportunity to really learn and come to understand the birth process. This provided a strong foundation to then be able to practice in three other birth centers over the years, as well as at Scripps Hospital in Encinitas for sixteen years. 

I am especially committed to strengthening out-of-hospital choices for women, having birthed my own daughter at home. I am also a Birthing From Within mentor and love facilitating “self-discovery” in preparation for birth and parenting. Although I am a native Californian, I completed my RN at the University of Portland in Oregon in 1975, my Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery at the University of Mississippi in 1982, and my Masters of Science in 2002 at Charles Drew University of Science and Medicine in Los Angeles. When not spending time with birth, I enjoy time in my garden or at the beach with my dogs, Luc and Che.

Ashley Guntkowski, CNM, MSN
Born and raised in Florida, I obtained my Bachelors and Masters in Nursing from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). After graduation, I moved to Los Angeles where I worked as a Labor and Delivery Nurse and a Clinician at a WomenÂ’s Health Clinic. I fell in love with out-of-hospital birth while working as a partner to a respected LA midwife performing prenatal visits and delivering babies at home. The opportunity at Best Start Birth Center brought me to San Diego and I am so excited to be a part of this community. When not working, I enjoy riding my bicycle, yoga, reading, music, and hanging out with my cat Diablo. I look forward to meeting you and your family!

Sarah Khorram, M.S., CNM
I moved to San Diego from Michigan in 2004 because I wanted to work in a birth center. Coming from a high risk hospital setting, I was looking for an environment where birth is seen as a natural process, and woman are empowered to give birth the way they want and encouraged to be an active participant in their birth. I feel so fortunate to be a part of Best Start Birth Center, (since 2004). I am reminded every day of the strength that every woman possesses and feel honored that I can share the birth experience with so many families. Right now, because I have a small child; Zyanya Alarcon Khorram, born August 26, 2007, I work at the birth center part-time: Friday clinic, and one weekend a month. I also help out as a birth attendant when I can. I look forward to meeting you, and wish you well in your pregnancy and delivery. 

Brook Ray, M.S., CNM
I’ve been a Certified Nurse-Midwife since 1999, attending over 1000 births in and out of the hospital. I graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in Midwifery from UCSF and I’m certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives. I’m a mother of three children; the first one born in the hospital, and the second and third born at home with midwives. I’m from Santa Barbara, California, where I first started studying midwifery as an apprentice to the Santa Barbara Midwives. I have several years of experience working as a full-time Certified Nurse-Midwife at the UCSD Birth Center. I speak Spanish fluently. I currently work “per diem” for Best Start Birth Center and attend homebirths. I also love dancing and teaching Birth Dancing classes for expectant mothers.

Janna Lal, CNM, MSN
I absolutely love birth and find each experience with the Best Start families to be a blessing and a joy. It feels great to practice in an environment that believes in womenÂ’s bodies and their natural ability to birth. 
I have a Masters of Science from Yale University and am certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. I speak Spanish and when I’m not “midwife-ing”, I love to salsa dance. For families searching for a birth experience with a personal touch, Best Start is ideal. I look forward to helping your family grow! :)

Ruth Goldberg, CNM
Ruth Goldberg, CNM has many years experience as a labor and delivery nurse both in the hospital and at Best Start. She has recently completed her midwifery education with Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing and is now a full-time midwife with Best Start. 
"I feel proud and privileged to work as a midwife for Best Start. It is my goal to provide each family with the best birth experience possible."

Office | Midwife | Birth Asst | Med Asst | Specialty

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