Alison Palmer, MS, WHNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Program Director
Alison Palmer, APRN, WHNP-BC, PMHNP-BC combines almost 30 years of nursing experience as a bedside labor and delivery nurse, perinatal clinical nurse specialist, and dual-certified nurse practitioner in OBGYN and reproductive mental health.
She led initiatives to develop a Perinatal Emotional Support Program within Elliot Health System and received grant funding from the Endowment for Health to develop and implement standards of care for screening and treatment of perinatal mood disorders within a hospital-based health system over 18 years ago. She is on the board for the NH Chapter of Postpartum Support International, a member of AWHONN, NNEPQIN, NHPQC, and the NH Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
As a strong advocate of women’s mental health, Alison completed the Patient-Family Partnership certification through “Momma’s Voices”, to articulate the lived experiences of mothers facing high risk perinatal complications. The poignant personal and clinical journeys that she has witnessed further illustrate the need to promote patient safety initiatives aimed at reducing maternal mortality, including deaths by intimate partner violence, overdose, and suicide. Her roles in advocacy include work with the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, Mom Congress, and Postpartum Support International.
Alison is the owner of Palmer Perinatal and Women’s Wellness, PLLC where she channels her passion for innovative program development and evidence-based clinical training of healthcare providers to support the mental health of growing families. She is honored to be a member of the integrated clinical team at Hope on Haven Hill where she provides psychiatric care for pregnant and parenting patients seeking treatment and in recovery for substance use disorders.
Last year, Alison and Heather Martin proposed addressing gaps in mental health care during pregnancy and postpartum to Governor Chris Sununu. In November 2024, funds were approved to NH DHHS for a grant agreement with Hope on Haven Hill to create a centralized resource for perinatal individuals and clinicians. Alison is grateful to NH DHHS and Hope on Haven Hill to have the opportunity to incorporate her expertise to develop the NH Mom Hub, where she serves as the program director.
Heather Martin, RMA, PMH-C
Lead Perinatal Navigator
Heather Martin is the maternal mental health navigator at Dartmouth Health Children’s in Manchester and lead perinatal navigator for the NH Mom Hub. She serves on the board for New Futures, and is also a state coordinator for Postpartum Support International – NH, and NAMI NH speaker/volunteer. She tragically lost her sister 16 years ago to maternal suicide just three short weeks after the birth of her first child. Since then she has made it her life passion to advocate and educate herself and others about perinatal mental health.
Heather created a successful and recognized maternal mental health screening, follow up and connection program at a primary care pediatric practice for Dartmouth Health Children’s in Manchester/Bedford. She went on to become certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) and is also certified in an evidence-based program called Mothers and Babies with Northwestern University. She has been awarded 2020 Mom Ambassador of the Year, Medical Assistant of the Year at Dartmouth Health, and one of WZIDs 20 Outstanding Women. She continues to successfully advocate with many organizations like Mom Congress both nationally and here in our state for perinatal mental health because it is the number one issue affecting our mothers and families.