Her Story
About Bridget
Bridget A. O’Callahan, MSN, RN, CCM-R, is the Executive Director of Womankind, Inc. in Greater Cleveland. She began her healthcare career in 1985 as a registered nurse and has since advanced through a wide range of clinical and leadership roles spanning bedside nursing, clinic management, nursing education, and healthcare operations within both provider systems and insurance organizations. In March 2025, she assumed the role of Executive Director, building on a long-standing professional and personal connection to the organization and its mission.
Her relationship with Womankind spans more than four decades, beginning as a volunteer and supporter over 42 years ago. Her family has also been deeply involved, including her husband’s service on the board, reflecting a lifelong commitment to the organization’s work. Womankind was founded by two women, including a nurse who recognized that providing free prenatal care significantly improved outcomes for both mothers and babies. Today, Bridget leads the organization in delivering its mission through three core pillars: free, no-boundary prenatal care for any uninsured pregnant mother; comprehensive social services that address needs such as food, housing, transportation, and insurance enrollment; and a baby essentials program providing diapers, formula, clothing, wipes, and equipment for families with children under age two. All clinical providers and physicians volunteer their services, hospital partners donate laboratory support, and the organization operates entirely on private donations with no government funding.
Under her leadership, demand for services has tripled in the past quarter, reflecting growing community need in a region where Cleveland consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for infant mortality and postpartum maternal mortality rates. Bridget is deeply committed to expanding Womankind’s impact through private fundraising efforts and strategic community partnerships to sustain and grow its services. She emphasizes not only direct material support but also the importance of community-building among clients, where families often share resources, return gently used items for others, and form supportive relationships with one another. She frequently describes moments of unexpected generosity and coordination what she calls “small miracles” as evidence of the organization’s strong community network and shared purpose.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Bridget
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to returning daily to our guiding principle - that we're here to love the people we serve. Whatever that principle is, if you return to that and keep that as your focus through it, it pays off for those who you want to serve, and it brings you joy. There's that old cliche that if you work someplace where you love, it's not a job. I think most people that enter into this world of nonprofit, whether it's in the beginning of their career or at the tail end, have a reason why they want to do it, and they should really fuel that reason and stick with it. My big advice is hang in there - it's worth it. It takes a lot of work, but if you return to your guiding principle, like I return daily to 'we're here to love the people we serve,' it truly makes all the difference. And don't be afraid to ask for help.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Bridget shared that her inspiration has largely come through the mission and legacy of Womankind Incorporated itself, along with the women, volunteers, and community supporters who have remained committed to helping mothers and families throughout the organization’s 51-year history.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My big advice is hang in there - you know, it's worth it. It takes a lot of work, but if you return to your guiding principle, like I return daily to 'we're here to love the people we serve,' and keep that as your focus through it, it pays off for those who you want to serve, and it brings you joy. You know, it truly is that old cliche - if you work someplace where you love, it's not a job. I think most people that enter into this world of nonprofit, whether it's in the beginning of their career or at the tail end, have a reason why they want to do it, and they should really fuel that reason and stick with it. And ask for help - don't be afraid to ask for help.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge right now is the dramatic increase in demand for our services - our demand has nearly tripled this quarter compared to last year's quarter. Cleveland ranks at or near the top for infant mortality rate, which means a baby dies before their first birthday, and we're also high on the list of postpartum maternal death. These are horrific stats, and ground zero for those stats is probably less than 10 miles from us. But I see tremendous opportunities in what we're doing. I truly believe we make a positive impact in both infant mortality and maternal death rates, and I'm really working hard to increase that positive impact even more. I really want to get a satellite office down there closer to ground zero, so we go to where the need truly is in case we're missing people. I'm also taking it upon myself to build partnerships with other organizations to widen and strengthen that safety net, because we all do good work, but we can't do everything. If we partner, we can help each other and help more people. The other challenge is that we receive no government funding, which means I have to work really hard to raise private funds to support our mission, but the plus side is we maintain our autonomy and control how we run things.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is love - our guiding principle is that we're here to love everyone who walks through the door. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, and we're here to support people with compassion and care. I believe in treating every client with dignity and handling them with care. I also value community building - I'm proud that along with the help we provide, we're building community between our clients, because having a support system is essential. Faith is important to me too - my husband and I are involved with our church and with the Jesuit Retreat Center. And I value perseverance and commitment to mission - I tell people to hang in there, fuel that reason why they want to do this work, and stick with it. If you return to your guiding principle and keep that as your focus, it pays off for those you want to serve and brings you joy.
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