Ray Rachlin (she/they) is a midwife, author, queer fertility expert and educator based in Philadelphia who has provided inclusive care through their practice at Refuge since 2017. Through podcasts, talks, writing, and continuing education courses, Ray makes Queer & Trans family-building more visible, supported, and informed.

They are a Certified Professional Midwife and Licensed Midwife in New Jersey, a Certified Lactation Counselor, and a member of the Queer and Transgender Midwife Association. They earned their Bachelor of Science in Midwifery at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon and also holds a Bachelor of Science in political science, urban studies, and labor studies from Queens College.

Ray’s work as an educator led to becoming an author, and in 2023 her how-to family building guide Baby Making For Everybody: Family Building and Fertility for LBGTQ+ and Solo Parents, co-authored with midwife Marea Goodman, was published by Hachette. Ray has also written for Motherly, and her work has been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Evidenced Based Birth, The Today Show, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Mombian.

Since 2016, Ray has been immersed in teaching affirming reproductive care for Transgender patients to health care providers and birth workers throughout the United States. After co-authoring Baby Making for Everybody, Ray was met with an undeniable need for expanded access to affirming fertility care across communities. In response to that need, Ray’s sights have set on creating change within the fertility industry for Queer & Trans people.

Ray educates health professionals through online courses and in person at institutions including UC Davis, Mainline Health, Vanderbilt, and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They have presented at Gold Learning Conference, PRO-LC, Birth Justice Philly, Take Root Reproductive Justice Conference, Philly Trans Wellness Conference, Reproductive Futurism, and Philadelphia Family Pride. Ray has also taught for Maternity Care Coalition, Manhattan Birth, Ancient Song Doula Services, and Birth Advocacy Doula Training.

In midwifery, Ray seeks to create a home for families not served by our current healthcare system. As a non-binary parent, provider, author and educator, Ray bridges the personal and professional to improve access and care for Queer & Trans hopeful parents, pregnant people, and postpartum families everywhere. Ray is the Baba to their very busy, talkative toddler, and lives with her family in Philadelphia.