Murray Enkin has influenced the development of maternity care in Canada. An obstetrician since the 1950s, he introduced childbirth practices that have since become the standard of care, including teaching prenatal preparation courses and bringing fathers into the delivery room. A long-time professor at McMaster University, he has also been a champion of the field of midwifery, contributing to the formal recognition of the profession, as well as supporting the creation of the first midwifery degree program in Canada.