Dr. Michelle El Khoury PhD, CD/PCD(DONA), HBCE, RPYT, CNMI, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Dr. Michelle H. El Khoury is a perinatal educator and mindfulness advocate with over 20 years in corporate healthcare offering a unique blend of clinical and executive leadership experience. She’s the founder of Yogamazia®, a maternal and parenting wellness education hub providing strategic preparation and holistic support for women, families and organizations. In this capacity, she has supported 700+ families integrating her background as a DONA-certified birth & postpartum doula, HypnoBirthing childbirth educator, lactation counselor, and yoga instructor. Dr. El Khoury also serves as an independent doula provider on global telehealth platforms, delivering virtual and in-person perinatal support to diverse populations. A published author and speaker, Dr. El Khoury developed The S.M.A.R.T. Journey to Parenting™, bridging her research background with holistic wellness practices and leadership, drawing from her PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology), Master’s in Health Sciences, and BSc in Pharmacy. Her work has been recognized through community awards and featured in local, regional, and national media, including 6ABC Philadelphia and the New York Post. She currently serves as an Ambassador on DONA International’s Membership Committee and contributes to maternal health equity through healthcare advisory boards, maternal health advocacy roles, and doula integration initiatives.

Session

Positioning Your Doula Practice for Employer-Sponsored Benefits

The perinatal coaching services market is experiencing significant growth, expanding from $22.3 billion in 2023 to a projected $36.29 billion by 2030, driven by corporate wellness integration and rising demand for evidence-based maternal care. Within this evolution, a significant opportunity has emerged: platforms providing employer-sponsored benefits focused on women’s health from fertility to menopause.

While many doulas work in community-based or traditional private practice settings, femtech companies are building networks of doulas to deliver virtual and/or in-person perinatal support as an employee benefit worldwide.

This session equips participants with the knowledge to access these opportunities; understanding how platform-based work differs from traditional settings, what is required to work in this environment, and the practical realities of virtual doula work. Whether supplementing your existing practice or exploring remote work and other flexible options, participants will leave with actionable strategies for entering this growing market.