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Coventry University academic to co-lead landmark midwifery textbook into a new era
Dr Sally Pezaro will be the lead editor of the next edition of Mayes’ Midwifery.
University news / Research news / Health and Community Wellbeing
Tuesday 08 September 2026
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A Coventry University researcher has been chosen to help shape how midwives learn as Co-Editor of a world leading textbook.
Dr Sally Pezaro, from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Healthcare and Community Transformation, will be the lead editor of the next edition of Mayes’ Midwifery. First published in the 20th century, the globally recognised textbook has shaped generations of midwives and remains one of the most influential resources in midwifery education.
Available in multiple languages, including Chinese and Greek, it continues to inform teaching, learning and critical practice around the world. Dr Pezaro, along with Dr Liz Newnham from Flinders University in Australia, will take on leadership of the 17th edition, due for publication in 2029, following the retirement of the current editors.
It’s an honour to be approached and trusted with such a historic and influential textbook. Mayes’ Midwifery has been central to midwifery education for decades and as editor there is a real opportunity to influence how future midwives learn and how the profession continues to evolve.
Dr Sally Pezaro
The new edition will mark a significant step forward in ensuring the text reflects the realities of modern healthcare and Dr Pezaro plans to bring a more inclusive and globally representative perspective to the book, aligning with her research interests in reproductive justice, wellbeing and compassionate care.
The opportunity with this textbook is to be forward-thinking. That means being inclusive and ensuring the content reflects diverse communities. It’s also about widening authorship and bringing in contributors from different backgrounds and from across the world to enable midwives to learn from different perspectives.
Dr Sally Pezaro
Regularly updated to reflect the latest research and clinical practice, each edition of Mayes’ Midwifery evolves alongside the profession. Dr Pezaro says the upcoming edition will build on this tradition by addressing key contemporary issues, including globalisation, migration and access to care.
We’ve been working on areas such as refugee health and the changing needs of populations. Midwifery doesn’t exist in a vacuum, practice is shaped by social, cultural and political contexts. This edition will reflect that complexity and prepare midwives to work in an increasingly interconnected world.
Dr Sally Pezaro
In her new role, Dr Pezaro will oversee contributions from leading global specialists, further strengthening Coventry University’s global research and collaborative networks.
This is about more than a textbook, it’s about contributing to the future of the profession, supporting each new generation of midwives to provide the best possible care.
Dr Sally Pezaro
Dr Pezaro’s appointment highlights Coventry University’s growing influence in healthcare research and education and positions the university at the forefront of shaping midwifery education and practice for years to come.
Find out more about Coventry University’s Research Centre for Healthcare and Community Transformation.
