Brooke Freeman graduated from Auburn in 2017 with a degree in Exercise Science and a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2020.

After her graduation from UAB, Freeman worked as a nurse, got married and became a mother. “When my son came into the picture, my husband and I decided to move back “home” to Auburn. I knew that this was the place I wanted to settle down and raise a family. This is where I feel most at home and loved. You cannot beat the family environment and beautiful scenery everywhere,” Freeman said.

She started work at AUCON as a clinical associate and was hired as a faculty member in April 2023. “I cannot wait to invest into Auburn students all that Auburn has invested in me.”

Freeman will teach childbearing family and reproductive health course in the undergraduate program and take part in the lab and simulations for clinical skills, with a focus on maternity and newborn. She will also participate in outreach into the community for women and children. Her research interests include postpartum hemorrhage and providing prenatal and postpartum care in rural and underserved areas.

“I worked as a Women’s Health nurse and also at an underserved rural hospital before I started in academia. I worked in labor and delivery, postpartum, newborn care, and with Women’s surgical patients. I am passionate about taking our students to these settings and giving them the best experience,” she added.

Having experienced postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) after the birth of her son, Freeman is committed to research in PPH. Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in childbirth and occurs in approximately 1% to 6% of all deliveries. Correct and timely intervention can vastly improve patient outcomes.

“Research in the area is important because we can implement our findings into our practice — it can change and save lives. Many nurses feel apprehensive about missing critical signs in PPH. I would like to change that narrative and make nurses recognize the cues early and react early to know and control the situation.”

In addition to PPH, she is also interested in issues regarding access to prenatal and postpartum care for patients in rural areas. “I would like to see accessibility improve and want to help that initiative we have in the college.”

We welcome Brooke Freeman to the AUCON family!