Our Providers
Dr. Michele Berkeley, MD, FACOG
I was born in Toronto, Canada, where my parents of Caribbean descent had migrated. At the age of seven, after living in Philadelphia and New York, I moved to St. Thomas for a year and then to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. At the age of nine, I began my tennis career. I went through rigorous training, which refined my skills, eventually ranking number one in Virgin Islands Junior Tennis League. I found this experience to be more than just a physical activity. It allowed me to explore different cultures through my travels and to develop a sense of independence at a very early age.
Upon completing high school at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal School, I moved to the District of Columbia where I completed my undergraduate studies at Howard University. To further my education and pursue my quest to become a doctor, I attended Georgetown University School of Medicine. I developed an interest in Obstetrics and Gynecology during my clinical years there.
Immediately after completing my residency training, I accepted a position at the District of Columbia General Hospital where I gained a vast amount of experience in High-Risk Obstetrics and Obstetrical Trauma. Equally, I gained enormous experience in Gynecologic surgery and now have refined that experience in Minimally Invasive surgical procedures including Laparoscopic and Vaginal Hysterectomy, Uterine Ablation, and Operative Hysteroscopy I also have an interest in the evaluation of Infertility.
I practiced Ob/Gyn in the DC area until 2001, when I moved back to the Virgin Islands, where my family still resides. I made the decision to move there, in part, because of the need for clinicians in the Territory. I maintained a very busy private practice for 8 years there and was the Physician Representative on the Board of Directors of the Health and Hospitals Corporation of the Virgin Islands until 2008.
I eventually returned to DC, where I worked at the Washington Hospital Center as the Medical Director of a large OB/GYN practice and at Kaiser Permanente. During that time, I was introduced to Medical Simulation, a technology geared towards improving the clinical experience and thus improving medical outcomes. I had previous experience with the new wave of Medical Technology when I implemented an Electronic Medical Record in my practice and served on a think tank committee to improve the design of Digichart, an OB/GYN-specific EHR. I decided to take this interest one step further and I am presently enrolled in Drexel University’s Healthcare Informatics program where I am pursuing a Master’s degree.
During my recent time in DC, I enjoyed the unique experience of being a member of the White House Medical Unit and took care of staff members in the Obama administration. In September 2012 I returned to the Virgin Islands and reestablished my private practice and hope to establish, along with my colleges, a minimally invasive surgical service at the Juan F Luis Hospital and Medical Center.
I am devoted to providing quality care and strongly believe in forming a strong patient-physician relationship. I reinforce with my patients that self-awareness, along with patient education and open communication, is the key to staying healthy.
Credentials
Medical Education
Georgetown University School of Medicine,
Washington, DC
Residency
Union Memorial Hospital,
Baltimore, MD
Board certification
Ob/Gyn, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Awards
- Humanitarian Award, Women of Worth, Virgin Islands Democratic Party, 2006
- Fellowship, Training in Laboratory Technology and Research, National Institutes of Health, 1987-1990
Professional Affiliations
- Diplomat, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Member, The Society for Simulation in Healthcare
Dr. Brittany Dawson, APRN, CNM, DNP
Brittany Dawson is a native of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and a graduate of the St. Croix Educational Complex. Brittany began her journey to midwifery and women’s health after obtaining her Bachelor of Science Degree and becoming a Registered Nurse in South Florida. Through her undergraduate studies, she discovered her passion for women’s health while attending her first birth as a student. That day she was honored to bear witness to a beautiful baby brought into the world. This moment moved her to tears. While working on labor and delivery, the gross difference in treatment laboring patients of color received compared to others was evident.
The continued experiences with the effects of racial inequities in reproductive health and wellness pushed her to become engaged in community service and activism. Brittany’s career and life took her to New York, where she hosted a series of free childbirth courses to women in underserved communities in the hope of combating the disparities they faced through education. It also pushed her to pursue her Master's in Midwifery. Brittany’s focus is on providing resources and full-spectrum services to women of color, marginalized communities, and LGBTQ by empowering each person to be engaged in their treatment and care.
Brittany is an advocate and activist and firmly believes in patient-centered, woman-centered, honest care. She also is an advocate for expanding patients' access to care. She has worked with both her employers and politicians to help develop policies that support his. She promotes and practices shared decision-making. She works tirelessly to support and educate women, those in and out of her care while offering all the information necessary to build a trustworthy relationship and continuity of care for her client's safety.
Brittany is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and American Association of Nurse Practitioners, a public speaker, lobbyist, and a mentor to future BIPOC going into midwifery. She has spearheaded initiatives for diversity and inclusiveness in her community, employers and along with sitting on the diversity and inclusive board for her university.
A quote she lives by; “People may not always remember your name, but they will remember how you made them feel.” – Maya A.
Credentials
Medical Education
Frontier Nursing University, Master's of Science in Nurse-Midwifery
Hyden, KY
Frontier Nursing University, Doctorate of Nursing Practice
Residency
Elmhurst Hospital & Outpatient Clinic,
Queens, NY
Board certification
American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
Awards
- 30 Under 30 People to Watch, US Virgin Islands
- Florence Nightingale Award 2013
Professional Affiliations
- American College of Nurse Midwives
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Sascha James-Conterelli, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, FNYAM
Dr. James-Conterelli received her bachelor’s in nursing from Howard University and her master’s in midwifery and doctorate from NYU. She has been a practicing midwife since 2002. Dr. James-Conterelli has practiced in both the public and private sectors. As a national leader in maternal mortality and racial disparities, she is a political advocate and policy leader who opens doors to many exciting opportunities for midwives to be recognized as invaluable stakeholders in perinatal care. She is also a strong advocate for equity and access to healthcare for women and birthing people, in particular, Black and Brown people.
Dr. James-Conterelli has received several awards and honors. She is a past president of ACNM’s New York State affiliate: New York Midwives. She is honored to continue to have opportunities to provide knowledge and expertise to many national and local policies such as the development of perinatal regionalization for New York State, serving as co-chair on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Maternal Mortality and Racial Disparities Task Force as well as a member of New York State’s Maternal Mortality Steering Committee and New York State Maternal Mortality Review Board. Dr. James-Conterelli also served as a member of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 Maternity Task Force. Dr. James-Conterelli is the Chair of the Fellows Board of Governors for the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) and the secretary of the Foundation for the ACNM. She understands the importance of global outreach and has dedicated efforts towards assisting the midwives and the perinatal community in her home of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
Dr. Carmine Hendricks
Coming Soon