Redesigning Maternal Health: Integrating Doulas into Care Teams
Doulas play a vital role in supporting pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people by providing a wide range of services that improve health outcomes and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates for every parent. Despite their significance and proven impact – especially in BIPOC communities that experience these adverse health outcomes at disproportionate rates – doulas continue to face systemic barriers that limit access to their care.
Fostering Meaningful Collaboration
To address these challenges, panelists will share innovative strategies for fostering meaningful collaboration between doulas and healthcare organizations, highlighting lessons learned and best practices for overcoming barriers to equitable access. Attendees will gain:
- Deeper understanding of the integral role and impact doulas have on maternal health equity and the challenges faced by this critical workforce;
- Lessons from success stories in New York, Massachusetts, and Louisiana about increasing doula access by intentionally and thoughtfully integrating them into healthcare settings; and
- Best practices from maternal health teams about how to elevate and pursue effective doula partnerships.
Event Details and Participation
Join us on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 12:00pm ET | 9:00am PT as we elevate bright spots from three states about how they’ve successfully navigated doula integration into the maternal health workforce.
Panelists and Speakers
The following experts will lead the discussion on redesigning maternal health systems:
| Name | Organization & Role |
|---|---|
| Elysia Larson | Assistant Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School |
| Jeannette Myrick | Doula & Perinatal Health Researcher, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |
| Stephanie Kennedy | Senior Project Manager, Louisiana Public Health Institute |
| Alison Whitney | Assistant Director, Clinical & Community Partnerships, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
| Linda Hudson (Moderator) | Asst. Prof, Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, Tufts School of Medicine |
Our forward-focused team works with communities to build innovative solutions and drive meaningful change to achieve racial health equity.