Meet Our Staff

If you have experience in any healing modalities with children and parents, and would love to support new families, submit your application at the end of this page.

Administrative Staff

  • Kacee Must

    Kacee is the founder and owner of Citizen Yoga, a mission-driven yoga studio with 3 locations in Metro Detroit. Her passion is building and sustaining impactful in person community, because she knows that is a way to change health on all levels. Kacee is a former TEDx Talk speaker, graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program, member of Crain’s Detroit 40 Under 40 Class of 2018. Kacee is also a certified Postpartum Doula through ProDoula.

  • Melissa Scodellaro

    Melissa is co-owner of Bombshell Salon in Birmingham, MI, is a passionate and visionary entrepreneur driven by a profound commitment to women's wellness. Inspired by her own transformative experiences during pregnancy and the heartfelt stories shared by her clients, Melissa embarked on a mission to provide a haven for new mothers seeking proper rest, community, and healing – a vision that gave birth to Fourth Tri Sanctuary.

    With creativity that knows no bounds, Melissa has channeled her entrepreneurial spirit into creating a space where women can feel not only comfortable but also discover their best selves during the delicate period of postpartum recovery. As a loving mother of two herself, she intimately understands the unique challenges and joys that come with motherhood. Melissa's relentless pursuit of creating a supportive community for new moms is not just a business venture; it's a heartfelt mission to empower and uplift women during a transformative phase of their lives.

  • Paige Pukajlo BSN, RNC-NIC

    Paige earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2015 and has been a neonatal intensive care registered nurse in the Metro Detroit area ever since. She currently practices at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and West Bloomfield. She is specialized in care of extremely low birthweight infants and discharge planning. While her primary role here at Fourth Tri is to serve as an expert resource person for infant care and concerns, working in the NICU has shown her how no two pregnancies, births, or babies are the same. She loves connecting with families and allowing every parent to be heard and tell their own unique story. She is passionate about inclusivity and holding space for every parent, no matter their birth experience. Every parent wants the best for their child, and in a world of conflicting and confusing information this can be harder than ever to decipher. She’ll be here to help you understand the most up-to-date evidence based practice and how to implement and cater it to your journey and infant. Fostering a sense of community for a new or first-time parent is vital, and she looks forward to being a supportive part of the Fourth Tri village!

Postpartum Director of Care

  • Laura Smuts, CNM

    Laura Smuts is a Certified Nurse Midwife. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Michigan and Masters in Midwifery from New York University. She has over 13 years of inpatient nursing experience. She currently practices full scope midwifery at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. Her professional interests include prenatal care, lactation support and perinatal mental health. She is perinatal mental health certified through Postpartum Support International (PSI). Laura is passionate about supporting women throughout their pregnancies, the fourth trimester, and beyond, and is excited to be a part of the 4th tri community.

  • SEMONNA MATZ, R.N, B.S.N., CPD and NCS

    Semonna earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Oakland University and worked at the University of Michigan as a Labor and Delivery Nurse for nearly a decade. While working there, Semonna realized that her true passion was helping both moms and babies postpartum, which led her to pursue creating her business, Strong Like a Mother Inc., through which she supports families through a variety of postpartum needs. As a Registered Nurse (RN) and a trained Doula, Semonna specializes in postpartum and infant care as well as lactation support. Semonna currently lives in Metro Detroit with her husband Jared, sons Isaac and Benjamin, and golden retriever, Millie. After the birth of her own children and also through her work in the hospital, Semonna recognized the need to help mothers and babies in their fourth trimester both in and out of the home, and she looks forward to providing this care and support through Fourth Tri.

  • Karianne Laurila
    Karianne Laurila joins our team after spending her own fourth trimester as a member at Fourth Tri Sanctuary. She is a mom of two - Sloane (3.5) and Jack (5 months). Both of Karianne’s babies were born premature at 29 and 32 weeks respectively. She is passionate about postpartum care for all moms and holds a special place in her heart for NICU moms. Karianne spent the first few months of 2024 cultivating new friendships with other moms going through the same phase of life at the same time at Fourth Tri. She had such a life-changing experience that she wanted to join the team to help change how postpartum care is treated in this country. She is a firm believer that all moms deserve the type of care she was so lucky to receive at Fourth Tri! 

On-Site Experts

  • Batya Sherizen, Infant and Parent Sleep Consultant

    After my first baby was born, I learned firsthand how sleep deprivation can take a toll on a mother’s life. He was a very poor sleeper at eight months of age, waking every twenty minutes to eat and screaming night and day.

    We were both exhausted and miserable – my home was a mess, my work was suffering, my husband and I were stressed out, and, most importantly, I was missing once-in-a-lifetime precious moments of motherhood while lost in a haze of numb exhaustion.

    I didn’t want to try a cry-it-out method, so I let things continue, naively hoping they would magically improve. But when he reached ten months and things were getting worse, I realized something had to be done. I made a decision to learn everything I could about babies and sleep, and find a compassionate and effective solution for sleepless nights.

    Through research and experimentation, I found a way to help my son learn to sleep through the night, and my life changed dramatically for the better. I started helping neighbors and friends with similar problems, and soon word spread of my successful techniques.

    Today I help mothers and babies all over the world to get what they need most – a good night’s sleep.

    Anyway, that's enough about me.......So if you, or someone you know is having challenges with their child's sleep, know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

  • Danielle S. Gordon LPC, SCL, NCC, PMH-C

    Danielle is a Licensed Clinical Therapist & Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist coming to us from Your Village Counseling. She specializes in ADHD, motherhood stress and anxiety, and pregnancy/postpartum.

  • Ashley Inclima is the owner of Tides of Life Doula & Perinatal Bereavement Services LLC. After losing her son Adrian to a fatal disorder in 2011 and experiencing an early miscarriage, she found resilience through community support and later welcomed healthy identical twin daughters. With extensive experience as a medical assistant in OBGYN offices, OB technician, perinatal loss coordinator, and board member of the nonprofit Angel Kisses, Ashley is knowledgeable and passionate about women’s health.These personal experiences, combined with her professional background, revealed a lack of support for those facing pregnancy loss, inspiring her to found her company to provide compassionate care and guidance.

    Ashley’s greatest joy is being a mom to her daughters. They enjoy movies, games, walking their dog Max, and swimming. In her free time, Ashley loves playing volleyball, traveling, reading, and spending time with loved ones.

  • Arielle Laws, MSHS is a functional nutritionist and integrative medicine practitioner specializing in women’s health, fertility, perinatal, and postpartum nutrition.

    My name is Arielle my most valued identities are those of a mom and a nutritionist. Each of these distinctions compel me to meet folks precisely where they’re at, to listen to their stories, understand their background, and to recognize their reproductive dreams into sustainable goals.

    I believe in bridging the gap between evidence-based research and intuitive clinical practice that centers you as the primary decision maker. The work we’ll do together will be crafted specifically for you: sometimes lighthearted, other times deep-seated, but always growth oriented.

    My primary goal is to build a strong, open relationship with you to be able to heal your body and invite optimal fertility conditions. If you’re in a pre-conception space, undergoing fertility treatments, pregnant, postpartum, or navigating women’s health concerns, I’d love to support you. Nutrition is the missing link.

    Preventive care is my passion, and if you’re here, I’m pretty sure it’s yours too. If you’ve known fertility struggles, pregnancy or postpartum complications, experience recurrent miscarriage, or just feel stuck in a painful menstrual cycle, I want to work alongside you.

    The road through pregnancy can be challenging, but being nourished doesn’t have to be.

  • So Hum. I am that. That I am. My name is Dayle. I am a lover. a mother. a laugher. a singer. a mover. a hula-hooper. a hand-stander. I’m silly. sarcastic. fun. funny. loud. artistic. sensitive. adventurous. playful. kind. open-minded. expressive. bold. inquisitive. nurturing. helpful. thoughtful. a team player. an oldest child. independent. energetic. reflective. intuitive. a good hugger. a good listener. a Sagittarius. a wife. a cat lady. a sister. a friend. a problem solver. a storyteller. a healer. a teacher. a seeker. I am different today than I was yesterday and will undoubtedly be different tomorrow. But I love the process, the journey, the path… I am me. Who are you? What are your talents? your gifts? your flaws? your perfect imperfections? Let’s find out with Yoga- I’d love to guide you!

    https://www.dayleextrell.com

  • Tishera L. Page is a 7 year Licensed Master Esthetician, Spa Owner, Educator, Doula & Community Organizer. 

    Touched By Tishh is an Esthetics brand catered to the everyday woman (or man, we don't discriminate) who wants to indulge in luxury services without breaking the bank and those who are discovering more holistic and less mundane ways to take care of and enjoy their bodies!

  • Brandy Walters, BBA, IBCLC, RLC

    I have been an IBCLC for over 15 years and have recertified three times. I began my breastfeeding journey with my first son 23 years ago through La Leche League in Virginia. I went to a meeting every month and my goal each month was to nurse long enough to get to the next meeting the next month. La Leche League (LLL) taught me how to mother through breastfeeding. I became a volunteer with LLL through accreditation as a Leader. I continued on my path with my next two sons and enjoyed giving mothers the support I desperately needed with each of my sons.

    I began In Home Lactation Specialists in Fredericksburg, Virginia and found the need for home care was dire in Southeast Metro Detroit when we moved (back home for me!) in 2010. I value the team of IBCLCs I work alongside. We all have hours of continuing education and counseling experience. The team offers superb support for all families and their lifestyles. We have worked with challenging cases and supported our clients through all paths of their breastfeeding journeys.

  • Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine

    Alex earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at Michigan State University and a Doctorate Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Pacific College of Health and Sciences. Licensed in the state of Michigan (LAc), Alex is board certified by NCCAOM in acupuncture as well as Chinese herbology (Dipl. OM). Alex has over a decade of patient care and clinical experience, and sees over 45 patients per week out of Citizen Yoga in Metro Detroit..

  • Hi! I'm Shawni, a mom of one who's all about fitness, motherhood, and everything pregnancy-related. I'm super passionate about maternal health and currently training to be a birth doula.

Support Doulas

  • We so often are in search of magic, without realizing we have it right inside of ourselves. For me, becoming a mother has proven that to be true. I was introduced to birth work during my first pregnancy. As I researched and spoke to others about their birth journeys, I noticed a repeating narrative of birthing people who felt unheard, unsupported, and unprotected during their reproductive experiences. It was then that I felt the calling to become a doula. Since becoming a certified Full Spectrum Doula, I have expanded my knowledge with individual certifications & trainings in fertility, natural family planning, birth, loss, postpartum, PMAD (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders), herbal support, nutrition, and infant CPR. I also have 2 B.A. degrees in Psychology and Communication which come into play with every client I have, helping me to better understand and support them. It is my greatest honor to support you throughout every stage of your childbearing journey, and help you to discover the magic that has always been inside of you.

  • Heather began her doula journey in 2014 by providing labor and postpartum support to new parents through her business, The Stork’s Doula. Having had worked as a private nanny for 10 years, she knew providing support during such an intimate and vulnerable phase was a passion of hers. Heather went on to complete Lactation Educator training through CAPPA as well. Heather is now an Elite Certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula through ProDoula.

    Heather defines herself as hard-working, fast learner and attentive. Understanding the transitional changes for both primary parent and partner is such a crucial part for support.

    In 2020, Heather had her son and in 2022, a daughter who came 10 weeks early. That experience has provided Heather a unique view of NICU life and medically fragile children.

    Heather’s goal as your doula is to provide a space where parents can grow, ask questions and learn their new roles within their family and home. The need for a community or village is so incredibly important now more than ever, for families.

  • My name is June! Pronouns she/they. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Family Studies, and spent 6 years as a Lead Preschool Teacher along with 2 years as a Lead Infant/Toddler teacher. I am now a 200 hour registered Yoga Teacher, and a Certified Postpartum Doula. One of my biggest life's passions is supporting families and young children in any way I can. When I’m not working with families, you'll find me anywhere out in nature, crocheting, or embroidering.

  • I am 32 years old, married to a wonderful husband, and I have an eight month old baby boy. For the past ten years I worked with children who had autism. My job was very fulfilling until I had my son. After having my son I felt like I needed to do something different in my life. Going through postpartum took me through a whirlwind of different emotions. I feel that I had amazing support with my family, friends, and doctors but I still felt alone. This is when I began looking into postpartum doulas and what they provide mothers, and it just clicked with me. I knew this is what I wanted in life! Fourth tri is bringing together this great community of strong mothers and knowing this brings so much comfort to me and I hope I can bring that comfort to other mothers as well.

  • Hi, I’m Mardi! As a certified Postpartum and Infant Care Doula, my background is in education, teaching Dance for over ten years to students of all ages and levels in various communities. As a professional Dancer and performing Artist, I value the importance of movement and prioritizing the health and care of both our mental state and our physical body. I like the idea of staying curious and discovering creative ways to express my voice. I encourage and support others to do the same.

    As an Educator, I’m a continuous knowledge seeker and recognize there are many different ways to approach situations we face and various methods to learn, to grow, and to teach! I have always been very intuitive and empathetic. Passionate about connecting with people, I enjoy listening to individuals and getting to know what makes each person unique, while finding common ground and connection. More specifically, I am inspired when I can be a witness and active participant in serving and empowering women and children, helping them identify their inner power and strength that is innately within.

    I am a first-generation Filipino-American woman from Detroit, Michigan, inspired and influenced by my own mother who I look up to each day as my role model for unwavering strength, guidance, and love. I currently teach yoga as a 200-hr Certified Instructor and am excited to continue my education in yoga and my certification as a Postpartum Doula in January 2024.

  • Tara is a mother to four grown children and soon to be mother-in-law to two more! She has a Bachelors Degree in Child Development and Education with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. After spending years in Elementary education and administration, Tara decided to turn her passion for working with families into a second career as a post partum doula and parenting consultant. She has the experience, training, skills, and knowledge to serve parents with warmth and understanding. Tara has a calming and reassuring demeanor that puts her clients at ease as they embark upon their parenting journey.

    When Tara is not working with her clients, she enjoys spending time with her husband, traveling, playing golf and tennis.

  • LaTonya is a granny, activist, and postpartum & birth doula. In 2019, LaTonya made a mid-life path change after the birth of her second grandchild. That baby was born in Atlanta, far from her mother's extended family in Michigan. This granny commuted from Detroit to Atlanta for seven months to support her daughter and her newborn. While birth is transformative, it is a beginning. What about after the baby is here? Who supports the person who ushered in this little human earthside? As a woman who has always supported women and girls in a variety of roles, postpartum work just made sense. It felt both natural and necessary especially in light of the Black maternal health crisis. LaTonya is fierce and fearless in her pursuit of birth justice and equity. She wants to help all birthing folk realize their power, beauty and capacity to bring their children into this world on their terms.

  • Lydia has a background in business Marketing and Management, with over 15 years of experience creating actionable insights for corporations as a leading market research professional.

    In 2023, Lydia knew deep down she needed to make a change in her professional career. Having relied on the care, encouragement and expertise of a doula with the birth of both her sons, she decided her mission is to help those during their postpartum period with Fourth Tri.

    Lydia brings a passion for motherhood, mental health and wellness to her role as a doula. She resides in Farmington Hills with her husband Chad and two sons- Lucas and Logan.

  • Hi! My name is Brandy Brantley. I was born, raised and currently living in Detroit, MI. Whatupdoe! I am a proud mother of 5 beautiful humans and 2 fur babies. I am currently working as a Licensed Massage Therapist and Birth Doula for my own company, My Fairy God Doula, LLC. I am also an Assistant Instructor for the Hands-On Class at Irene’s Myomassology Institute. I am a graduate of Irene’s Myomassology Institute (2010) and I completed my birth doula training through Lifespan Doulas (2020). I am passionate about holding a safe space for individuals to learn, grow and heal. Whether its in their own physical and/or energetic bodies, or on their journey as a massage therapist.

  • My name is Chanell James. I specialize in postpartum care, prenatal care, and birth. My goal at Fourth Tri is to allow moms to breathe and release after having their bundle of joy and to enjoy the peace and sanity with or without baby in a wholesome environment. As a support doula it brings joy to me in all aspects of my life. Being caring, resilient, and passionate while in Fourth Tri allows me to be the same when enjoying every moment with my children. Every mom deserves the best undivided attention and understanding after giving birth and I am committed to making sure it is received at Fourth Tri.

 

Work with us

We’re looking for part-time nurses, postpartum doulas, birth doulas interested in postpartum care, individuals that have worked with children and parents, as well as other healing experts. Submit the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.