Dr. Azuka Okafo, CNM, PMHNP-BC, DNP
I am double boarded as a nurse midwife and a psychiatric nurse practitioner. I have been a practicing nurse midwife for over two decades and decided to add formal psychiatric training to support my passion for holistic women’s healthcare. I have worked in diverse settings including a private practice in suburban Connecticut, urban health in Baltimore, Maryland, and most recently at a tribal hospital in rural Arizona. My training and interests extend beyond reproductive psychiatry and include SMI and pediatric mental health.
I grew up in Africa and have a deep appreciation for cultural influences on health. I am also acutely aware of the impact of mental health on overall well-being. My work on the reservation highlighted the need for a bridge between reproductive and mental health care.
I earned Postpartum Support International’s Perinatal Mental Health Certification in 2024 while enrolled in my PMNHP training program.
My prescribing philosophy is that medications are one of many options available to support clients. Every person’s needs are unique, and I firmly believe in collaborating with clients to create holistic treatment plans.
Being a full-scope nurse midwife did not provide me with much free time, but I enjoy catching up with good friends over tea or a meal, taking walks, reading, working out, watching sparring hummingbirds, and meeting neighborhood dogs.
I’d say my vibe is energetic, curious, humorous, compassionate, and collaborative — with a dash of sarcasm and low tolerance for nonsense. I take my work seriously but never myself.
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Q&A
What is your favorite music? I don’t have a favorite type per se, because I grew up in a family where we listened to various genres (classical, jazz, folk, reggae, rock, zouk, R&B, Latin, soul, and funk, etc.) I do have a deep appreciation for classical/Spanish guitar music.
Favorite superhero? Batman. He became a superhero as a response to his childhood trauma; I appreciate the complexity of his character.
If you could have a superpower, what superpower would you pick? I think that it would be cool to control the weather. I’m looking at you, Storm.
Tell me about your pets. I lost my beloved German Shepard/Chihuahua mix in 2024. That dog was the quirkiest animal that I didn’t know I needed in my life. I considered myself to be her therapy human, as frequent walks, pets, dietary changes, and love helped her blossom from an anxious dog into a social pup. I became her medication manager in her twilight years when she required two different medications to ease her escalating anxiety.
Fun fact about you: I once caught a baby in my soccer uniform—without the cleats.
What are some experiences that make you unique? I have been a midwife on both ends of life; at 14 I held my father’s hand as he left this world.
What are ways beyond medication that can improve your mental health? Medication is simply a piece of the whole puzzle and often work better when combined with therapy. I am a firm believer that social support, diet, exercise, and sleep are critical to maintaining one’s mental health. I have been sleep deprived for decades…the need for sleep is real!
Are medications lifelong? Does a patient who sees you HAVE to be on medication? No, someone who sees me does not have to be on medication. There are some instances, however, where a person may need to be on medication long term because of that individual’s unique circumstances.
If a patient is nervous about an evaluation, especially when talking about tough things like trauma or sexual abuse, what would you want them to know? I would want them to know that their safety is my main concern and the evaluation an information-gathering session so that I can understand their story. We will only talk about the hard things if they are comfortable doing so.
Do you have any personal mental health experiences you can share with us? I worked at a hospital on a reservation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were isolated and scared; the sound of multiple helicopters used to transport critically ill patients was deeply disturbing. I still brought love and levity to patients birthing amidst the chaos while concealing my own anxiety. We were isolated from our friends and families by fear and local curfews. My self-care suffered and led to a devastating injury and burnout. But I’m also a Black woman so…
