RANDOLPH, VT— Gifford Medical Center is pleased to welcome certified nurse-midwife Mary Lou Kopas to its midwifery team. Kopas brings a wealth of clinical expertise and teaching experience to the role, strengthening Gifford’s commitment to patient-centered, compassionate care.
In addition to her new role at Gifford, Kopas continues to see patients at Copley Hospital in Morrisville, Vermont.
Originally from Massachusetts, Kopas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Science from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She went on to receive both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Nursing degrees from the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle.
Kopas has shared her knowledge and passion for midwifery in academic settings as well. She has served as a clinical preceptor at Seattle University School of Nursing, the University of Washington School of Nursing, and the University of Vermont School of Nursing. She was also a teaching associate at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Before relocating to Vermont, Kopas practiced midwifery at the University of Washington Medicine Valley Medical Center in Renton and was the Chief of Midwifery at the University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest in Seattle.
Now enjoying Vermont’s abundant outdoor opportunities, Kopas is also a proud mother of two adult children.
Kopas emphasizes the deeply personal and cultural nature of birth. “There are many standard clinical elements—ultrasounds, lab work—but beyond that, midwifery is about building relationships, trust, and a sense of safety. It’s about making sure patients feel heard and cared for during one of the most important times in their lives.”
Her approach is rooted in the foundational values of midwifery: shared decision-making, patient education, and holistic care across all stages of life. She is excited to be part of Gifford’s collaborative group practice, where providers share not only patients but also a commitment to respectful, inclusive, and empowering care.
Kopas will be seeing patients at Gifford Medical Center, 44 South Main St., Randolph. The Ob/Gyn and Midwifery department can be reached at 802-728-2401.
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Gifford is a community hospital in Randolph, Vt., with family health centers in Berlin, Bethel, Chelsea, Randolph, and Rochester; and specialty services throughout central Vermont. A Federally Qualified Health Center and a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the country, Gifford is a full-service hospital with a 24-hour emergency department and inpatient unit; many surgical services; daycare; an adult day programs; and a 30-bed nursing home. The Birthing Center, established in 1977, was the first in Vermont to offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based deliveries and continues to be a leader in midwifery and family-centered care. As a community health center and medical home, Gifford’s mission is to improve and manage the health of the people we serve by providing and assuring access to affordable, high-quality health care, and by promoting the health and well-being of everyone in our service area.
