At a glance
Hear expert perspectives on the impact health care professionals can have in improving maternal health and preventing pregnancy-related deaths.
Supporting pregnant and postpartum patients
Dr. Laura Riley, an OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist, shares: "Many Black women will say to me 'I know when I go into the hospital that I'm going to have to speak up more because people don't listen to Black people.' And you've got to acknowledge it. It's true, and it happens all the time across the country."
Dr. Riley describes the importance of being intentional, listening, and validating pregnant and postpartum patients' concerns.
Listening to pregnant and postpartum patients
Dr. Deborah Taylor, an OB/GYN who trains residents, discusses how implicit bias training helped her better communicate with her pregnant and postpartum patients.
"The changes that you make don't have to be big and broad, they can just be the little ones every day. Taking that minute before you walk into the office to really take the opportunity to remember, "Okay, it's a new day. I have every chance to make a difference for the patients that I care for and the doctors that I train."
Addressing disparities in pregnancy-related complications
Dr. Wanda Barfield discusses racial disparities that exist among pregnancy-related deaths and how health care professionals can provide respectful and quality care to every patient.
Addressing unconscious biases
Drs. Wanda Barfield and Jenna White provide their perspective on addressing unconscious biases as health care professionals.
The role of emergency medicine specialists
Dr. Jenna White discusses the important role that any person—who provides patient care in emergency care settings—plays in identifying obstetric emergencies.