As a Certified Nurse Midwife, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Tara Cardinal, CNM, ARNP, BC-ADM, CDCES has extensive experience caring for individuals experiencing the entire spectrum of diabetes and high blood sugar throughout the perinatal period. She practiced for two years with University of Washington Maternal Fetal Medicine at Valley Medical Center where she predominantly focused on integrating comprehensive diabetes care and support for those she served. Prior to that, she practiced for 7 years in the community health setting providing prenatal, postpartum and gynecologic care for individuals with the highest risks and most complex conditions. During these 7 years, the majority of those she cared for also had some form of diabetes during pregnancy. Her foundation before this time was grounded in providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, including full scope maternity care, and as a consultant and trainer with Training, Education and Advocacy in Miscarriage Management (TEAMM). She has served as a preceptor and mentor to medical residents, nurse practitioner residents, nursing, physician assistant and medical students.

Since earning her Master in Nursing degree from the Nurse Midwifery Education Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington in 2012, she has returned to The Evergreen State College in pursuit of a Master in Public Administration (expected June 2026). Additional certifications she has completed include the University of Washington Certificate in Patient Safety and Quality, Certification in Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring, ARDMS Midwifery Sonography Certificate and her DEA X waiver. She most recently has had her skills and expertise validated through Board Certification in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM) and attaining her Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) certification.

Tara has served with the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Panel for the last 3 years. With the MMRP she has been able to contribute her professional, academic and lived experience.

Her journey as a doula formally began in 2003 and concluded after serving 2 years as the coordinator for the University of Washington Medical Center Doula Care Program. Also during this time, and prior to her degree in advanced practice nursing, she earned Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Washington and a dual degree, a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts, from The Evergreen State College. She has studied maternal, sexual and reproductive health in Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, the Netherlands and here in the United States.

She is a member of the following organizations:

Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine

American College of Nurse Midwives

Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health

Society for Family Planning