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World Class Speakers
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Tools to Advocate for Change
Every year, BMHC brings Black birthers and their families, birthworkers, health experts, researchers, students, community members, and change agents to learn about the current work to improve the Black maternal health crisis in the United States. There is an urgency to disrupt the status quo in maternal health. We seek to raise awareness, inspire activism, and encourage community building. Participants leave educated, inspired, and equipped to continue the fight for Black maternal health equity.
Sundé Daniels
Managing Director - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha
Founder & Executive Director - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
Day 1 begins by naming the realities shaping women’s health today. In this opening keynote, Dr. Gail Christopher, Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity, explores how systemic inequities, underfunded conditions, and persistent clinical disparities impact women’s health outcomes. Centering lived experience alongside structural analysis, this session highlights what is missing from current care systems and sets the foundation for a day focused on understanding inequity and elevating real-world experiences.
Dr. Gail Christopher
Executive Director
National Collaborative for Health Equity
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the U.S. and Black women are disproportionately impacted. This session brings together experts from cardiology, primary care, and cardio-obstetrics to explore the root causes of heart-related maternal outcomes, from structural racism to clinical blind spots. Panelists will discuss prevention, early detection, and the urgent need for interdisciplinary, culturally attuned models of care that center Black women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy.
Dr. Amy Sarma
Co-Director, Mass General Brigham Women’s Heart Health Program
Massachusetts General Hospital
Dr. Heather Olden
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
Dr. Joyce Njoroge
Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine - Cardiovascular Medicine
Stanford Medicine
Often dismissed or misdiagnosed, conditions like fibroids and PCOS silently disrupt the reproductive health and quality of life for countless Black women. This session explores the medical, emotional, and systemic challenges surrounding these conditions, how bias, delayed diagnoses, and lack of research fuel disparities in care and fertility outcomes. Panelists will examine the intersection of pain, stigma, and access, and offer pathways toward more equitable, affirming reproductive health solutions.
Dr. Kim Thornton
Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Boston IVF
Maya Goldman
Axios
Linda Goler Blount
President
Community Catalyst
Dr. Nyia Noel
Obstetrician-Gynecologist; Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Medicine
The Fibroid Center
Official launch of the maternal health manual called: For Us, By Us: The Black Momma’s Pregnancy Guide to Asking the Right Questions.
Dr. Farida Yada
MOTHER Lab
Dr. Vickie Dugat
MOTHER Lab
Kene Orakwue
MOTHER Lab
Brian Kwarteng
MOTHER Lab
This conversation centers men in the fertility dialogue, challenging long-standing stigmas that often silence men’s experiences and delay care. Led by leading urologists and fertility specialists, this panel will explore the biological, cultural, and emotional dimensions of male fertility, including how masculinity norms shape help-seeking behaviors, diagnosis, treatment decisions, and partner dynamics.
Dr. Michael Eisenberg
Urologist
Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr. Derek Griffith
Director of the Program for Men's Health Equity
University of Pennsylvania Nursing
Dr. Collin Smikle
Founder and Medical Director
Laurel Fertility Care
Dr. Alex Pastuszak
Co-Founder; Urologist
Paterna Biosciences
Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha
Founder & Executive Director - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
Sundé Daniels
Managing Director - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
This session explores what it will take to build a more equitable future for Black women’s health. Dr. Jamila Taylor, President and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, draws on her leadership experience across health equity, nutrition policy, and economic justice to examine the structural conditions shaping Black women’s health outcomes. Grounded in policy, systems change, and lived experience, this session highlights opportunities to move beyond crisis response toward sustainable, equity-centered solutions for Black women and their families.
Dr. Jamila Taylor
President and CEO
Institute for Women's Policy Research
Achieving equity in women’s health requires more than intention, it demands sustained investment, innovative care models, and accountability across systems. This dynamic panel brings together leaders who are actively reshaping how women’s health is financed, delivered, and scaled. Panelists will explore innovative investment strategies, community-rooted solutions, and cross-sector partnerships that are transforming outcomes for women and birthing people, especially those historically marginalized.
Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell
MD and Founder
Beyond Clinical Walls
Rachel Braun Scherl
Forbes
Arianne Kidder
Seae Ventures
Dr. Adaze Enekwechi
CEO
Cayaba Care
Maternal health does not exist in silos and neither do the solutions. This session brings together clinical leaders and health equity advocates to explore how maternal health outcomes are shaped across the lifespan, from fertility and pregnancy to postpartum and midlife wellness. Panelists will examine how age, systems of care, institutional leadership, and policy intersect to influence Black women’s health outcomes, and what it takes to drive meaningful change at both the clinical and systems level. This conversation will move beyond trends and statistics to center accountability, leadership, and whole-person care.
Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell
Professor and System Medical Director of Health Outcomes
Dr. Marjorie Janvier
Chief Medical Officer
Upham's Community Care
Dr. Kiarra King
Obstetrician Gynecologist
Family Christian Health Center
Alexa Mikhail
Flowspace Media
This closing keynote session reflects on the evolution of women’s health research and charts a bold path forward. Drawing from decades of leadership and advocacy, Dr. Vivian Pinn, a pioneering force in advancing equity in biomedical research, will highlight critical lessons from the past and outline strategic priorities needed to transform women’s health outcomes for future generations. This session will leave attendees inspired, grounded in history, and energized to lead the next era of innovation and justice in women’s health.
Dr. Vivian Pinn
Former Director
Pioneer in Women's Health Research
Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha
Founder & Executive Director - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
Listen to Me is a powerful documentary that centers the lived experiences of Black women and birthing people to illuminate the persistent crisis in Black maternal health in the United States and beyond. Through first-person storytelling, the film follows the pregnancy and birth journeys of several Black women, revealing how racial disparities, systemic bias, and inequities in care contribute to disproportionately high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, outcomes that persist regardless of socioeconomic status or education. More than a portrait of struggle, the film is a call to action, honoring resilience while demanding that healthcare systems listen, learn, and transform to ensure safe, respectful, and equitable care for all.
This documentary will be screened both virtually and in-person. To come to the in-person screening, please purchase a separate ticket.
In-person location: The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, MA 02111
Sponsored by the Wagner Foundation
Ms. Wanda Irving
Co-Founder
Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project
Dr. Vivian Pinn
Former Director
Pioneer in Women's Health Research
Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha
Founder & Executive Director - Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice
Dr. Kanika Harris
National Association to Advance Black Birth
Dr. Nilda Moreno-Ruiz
Obstetrician Gynecologist
Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center
| Dr. Thornton is the Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. She is a Board Certified reproductive endocrinologist at Boston IVF, one of the most experienced fertility centers in the United States since 1998. Dr. Thornton is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and has served on numerous committees within the society. She has served as a Director- at-Large on the Executive board of ASRM from (2021-2024) where she served as a member of the Publication committee and the Research Integrity Committee. As a member of the ASRM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task force in 2020 she was actively engaged in the process of developing the recommendations put forth by the taskforce to the answer the first charge of the document: enhancing opportunities to increase and support diversity and equity, and the inclusion of underrepresented minority populations, in the profession and leadership of reproductive medicine. She was then the subcommittee chair addressing the issue of recruitment and retention of URIM in the field of reproductive medicine from 2022 to 2025. She is an active member of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists (SREI and currently serves on the SREI Strategic Plan Task Force: REI Expertise. Dr. Thornton is an active member of the American College of OBGYN , the National Medical Association, the New England Fertility Society and the Obstetrical Society of Boston Dr. Thornton’s clinical interests include infertility, assisted reproductive technologies, preimplantation genetic testing, PCOS, recurrent pregnancy loss and hysteroscopic surgery. She is passionate about undergraduate and graduate medical education. She has written numerous chapters, articles, and abstracts, served as an ad hoc reviewer for Fertility and Sterility and is actively engaged in clinical research. |
| Michael L. Eisenberg is a Professor of Urology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He is the director of Men’s Health at Stanford. He earned his bachelor degree from Rice University and his medical doctorate from Yale. He completed his residency in urology at the University of California, San Francisco and a Men’s Health fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. He is board certified in urology. He joined Stanford University in 2011 to start the Men’s Health program. Dr. Eisenberg serves as an editorial editor of Fertility and Sterility and as an ad hoc referee for dozens of leading medical journals and has himself authored numerous peer-reviewed articles. His NIH-funded laboratory seeks to understand the association between a man’s reproductive, sexual, and overall health. As an entrepreneur, he leads a team which has developed several devices to improve men’s health as well as advising multiple healthcare companies. |
Derek M. Griffith, PhD is the Risa Lavizzo-Mourey Population Health and Health Equity University Professor in the School of Nursing and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, he is also a Fellow and Senior Advisor on Health Equity and Anti-Racism for The Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. Outside of Penn, he serves as the Chair of Global Action on Men’s Health – a global men’s health advocacy organization – and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Men’s Social and Community Health. Recently, he led the first report on the state of men’s health in the United States: the Movember Real Face of Men’s Health 2025 United States report. Trained in psychology and public health, Dr. Griffith’s research focuses on achieving racial, ethnic, and gender equity in health through community-based program and policy interventions. He specializes in promoting Black men's health and well-being, and he is an editor of four books, including Racism: Science and Tools for the Public Health Professional, 2nd Edition. He has been the principal investigator of research grants from the American Cancer Society, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and several institutes within the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Griffith has received several noteworthy honors, including (a) a citation from the president of the American Psychological Association “For his extraordinary leadership in addressing the impacts of racism on the health and well-being of the nation and specifically for African American and Latino men;” (b) the “Lifetime Disruptor Award” from the Society for the Study of African American Public Health Issues for exhibiting “…a lifelong commitment to dismantling structural racism and other intersecting systems of oppression through science and policy…”; and (c) the Inaugural Jimmy Boyd Memorial Award for Leadership in Men's and Boys' Health from the American Public Health Association Men's Health Caucus.
Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha is the Julia A. Okoro Professor of Black Maternal Health in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Amutah-Onukagha is the Founder and Director of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice (CBMHRJ), and of the Maternal Outcomes of Translational Health Equity Research (MOTHER) Lab. In addition, she is the founder of the largest conference on Black maternal health in the United States held annually in April. In its 8th year, the conference has recently attracted participants from over 46 states and 10 countries. An active scholar, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha’s research investigates maternal health disparities, infant mortality, reproductive health and social justice, and HIV/AIDS as experienced by Black women. She also serves as the inaugural Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the university’s Public Health and Professional Degree Programs. She also holds federal and international appointments and was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the Advisory Council on Infant and Maternal Mortality for a 4-year term. In 2024, she was appointed to serve as the Inaugural Health Equity Think Tank Director for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, an international organization with over 125,000 members. Dr. Amutah-Onukagha received her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services before completing her Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Maryland.
| Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, is a highly sought-after national health equity leader and seasoned health policy researcher. Throughout her 20+ year career, Dr. Taylor has championed the health and rights of women both in the US and around the world, promoting policies that ensure access to vital health care, including building support for abortion, ensuring safe and compassionate reproductive and maternal health care, and dismantling structural racism within the US health care system. She has testified before Congress and published and presented extensively on various public policy issues. She has been featured in the press, including outlets such as C-SPAN, Fox News, Politico, and BBC News. Dr. Taylor has held leadership positions in national organizations, such as the Center for American Progress, the Century Foundation, and the National WIC Association. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Howard University. |
| Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD, MS, known as Dr. Bayo, is a board-certified family medicine physician and nationally recognized health advocate transforming how people navigate healthcare. As medical director of urgent care clinics at Saint Mary's Health Network and the Sexual Assault Response Team in Reno, Nevada, she combines clinical excellence with fierce patient advocacy. Dr. Bayo's TEDx talk "Do No Harm" has garnered over 2 million views, sparking vital conversations about the maternal health crisis and systemic inequities in medicine. Her work champions patients who have been dismissed or unheard by the healthcare system. As founder of CliniciansWhoCare.com, she created a revolutionary platform connecting patients with healthcare providers known for listening and believing them. She also hosts the Beyond Clinical Walls Podcast, delivering practical advocacy strategies and translating complex medical information into actionable guidance. A powerhouse media contributor and content creator, Dr. Bayo has been featured on NBC, ABC, SheKnows, and Katie Couric Media, bringing clarity to critical health topics. Her social media platforms reach thousands seeking trustworthy medical information. She's moderated high-profile sessions with Elaine Welteroth, Chelsea Clinton, and Dr. Uche Blackstock. Through her clinical work, media presence, public speaking, and digital platforms, Dr. Bayo continues to challenge the healthcare status quo and empower people to get the quality care they deserve. |
| Rachel Braun Scherl is a marketing strategist, business builder, serial founder, author, speaker, podcast co-host, and Vagipreneur, focused on building businesses in women's health – defined as conditions that affect women only, primarily, and differently. As President and co-founder of Semprae Laboratories, Rachel and her team built a company that developed and marketed sexual health and wellness products for women - creating a new category and transforming women’s health. Semprae attracted significant media attention and industry interest and was sold to Innovus Pharmaceuticals in 2013. Rachel works with companies large and small, effectively driving topline growth. As an advisor and partner, she serves as the connective tissue between ecosystem players, creating strategic partnerships for funding, distribution, and marketing. She has authored many articles and a best-selling book, Orgasmic Leadership: Profiting from the Coming Surge in Women’s Sexual Health and Wellness. As the co-host of the podcast Business of the V, Rachel drives the conversation about the intersection of unmet needs and unanswered questions in women’s health, with businesses created to address them. Rachel is a frequent public speaker at universities, companies and industry conferences, including Duke, Stanford, CES, SXSW, Harvard Business School, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and the Minnesota Vikings, among others. She has completed hundreds of strategic growth projects for leading companies, including J&J, Pfizer, Merck, Bayer, Church & Dwight, and Allergan, as well as venture-backed start-ups. Rachel co-teaches a mini-MBA in Women’s Health, providing an overview of the fundamentals, vocabulary, and complex issues that are essential to navigating the system. To date, nearly 300 participants have completed the program. Rachel is a co-founder of 51&, a Public Benefit Corp, and the first organization to fund work across every lever that impacts women’s health, with the ambition to change the status quo so women receive better care, resulting in a healthier society. |
| Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell is a nationally recognized obstetrician-gynecologist, women’s health expert, and public health leader whose work focuses on improving health outcomes for women across the lifespan by transforming clinical care, health systems, and policy. With deep experience at the intersection of patient care, quality improvement, and health equity, her mission is to eliminate disparities and make women’s healthcare safer, more effective, and more responsive to the communities it serves. She serves as System Medical Director of Health Outcomes and Medical Director of Quality for Women’s Services across Ochsner Health, where she leads system-wide strategies to improve clinical quality, safety, and outcomes in women’s healthcare. She also directs the Minimally Invasive Center for the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids and is a Professor at Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine. Clinically, Dr. Gillispie-Bell is known nationally for her expertise in managing heavy menstrual bleeding due to fibroids and performing advanced laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries. In addition to her clinical leadership, Dr. Gillispie-Bell is a nationally respected authority in public health and quality improvement. As Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review for the Louisiana Department of Health, she has led statewide initiatives across more than 40 hospitals that have improved care processes, strengthened systems of accountability, and reduced severe maternal morbidity. Her work has helped shape both state and national approaches to improving women’s health outcomes through data-driven, equity-centered solutions. Her expertise has informed federal and state policy, and she has testified before Congress, and was an invited speaker at the inaugural White House Maternal Health Day of Action. Dr. Gillispie-Bell serves on several national committees, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines – Obstetrics, where she serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee, and the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives Executive Committee. Her leadership has been recognized with honors including the American Heart Association Women in STEM Award, Delta Omega Honor Society in Public Health, and Top Women Leaders of Louisiana. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine and the Board of Trustees at St. George’s Episcopal School. A trusted national voice on women’s health, healthcare quality, and health equity, Dr. Gillispie-Bell has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, and CNBC; appeared in The 1619 Project docuseries; written opinion pieces for The New York Times and USA Today and been quoted in many other national media. |
Dr. Marjorie Janvier is a community health physician and the Chief Medical Officer at Upham’s Community Care (UCC). In this role, she provides clinical leadership and strategic oversight to advance high-quality, equitable care for underserved communities. With a deep commitment to community-centered medicine, Dr. Janvier brings extensive experience in primary care, health systems leadership, and patient advocacy. Her work focuses on improving access, strengthening care delivery, and addressing health disparities through culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches. As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janvier partners with interdisciplinary teams to support clinical excellence, workforce development, and innovative care models that meet the evolving needs of patients and families.
| Dr. Kiarra King, M.D. is a Chicago based obstetrician gynecologist. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) and her medical degree from the University of Illinois (Chicago). She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. King is board certified, in obstetrics and gynecology, through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has passionately cared for women throughout their lives and believes that education is empowerment. She is a sought after media expert in the women’s health and wellness space, speaker and digital content creator in the fashion, wellness and lifestyle spaces. Through her social media platforms, Dr. King actively works to ensure her community is informed through relatable content. Dr. King's mission is to live a life that inspires those around her to embrace their given beauty, optimize their health and walk in their purpose. |
| Alexa Mikhail is the senior health and longevity writer for Flow Space at SHE Media, where she covers the latest innovations serving women’s whole health and health spans. She previously served as the senior health and wellness writer at Fortune Magazine, focusing on workplace wellness, aging, and longevity. Alexa has moderated panels at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women and Brainstorm Health conferences, as well as at HLTH Europe and the Longevity Investors Conference. She was recently selected as a fellow for both the Columbia Age Boom Academy and the National Association of Gerontology’s Reporting on Aging Fellowship. |
| Vivian Winona Pinn, MD, was the inaugural full-time director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1991 and Associate Director of NIH for Women’s Health Research from 1994 until her retirement in 2011. Under her leadership, this new office led the implementation of NIH research inclusion policies for women and minorities in clinical research, developed the first, and several later, national strategic plans for women’s health research and established many new research funding initiatives and career development programs, including interdisciplinary initiatives, in collaboration with NIH Institutes and Centers. During that time, she also established and co-chaired the NIH Committee on Women in Biomedical Careers with the NIH Director and began the working group on Women of Color. She has presented her perceptions of women’s health and sex/gender research, health disparities, as well as challenges in biomedical careers to national and international audiences and has served as a mentor to hundreds of young women and men of all origins. At the time of her retirement, The Association of American Medical Colleges awarded her a Special Recognition Award for exceptional leadership over a then forty-year career. She came to the NIH from Howard University College of Medicine, where she had been Professor and Chair of the Department of Pathology, the 3rd woman in the USA to hold such a position in academic pathology. She also previously held teaching appointments in Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University where she was also Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. She now also holds the position of Professor, Institute for Advanced Discovery & Innovation at the University of South Florida. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (IOM) in 1995. She has received 17 Honorary Degrees of Law and Science. A graduate and former Trustee of Wellesley College, she earned her M.D. in 1967 from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the only woman and only minority in her class. She completed her post-graduate training in Pathology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards. The University of Virginia Medical School has named one of its four advisory colleges as the “Pinn College.” One of her greatest honors has been the announcement by the University of Virginia in the fall of 2016 that the medical research and education building was renamed for her as “Pinn Hall.” |
| Wanda Irving, MPA is forever the mother of Dr. Shalon Irving and Co-Founder of Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project (DSMAP), Inc. DSMAP is a community driven, non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating Black maternal health disparities. The organization was established to honor Wanda’s daughter, Dr. Shalon, who passed away from preventable pregnancy complications in January 2017, three weeks after giving birth to her only child. Dr. Shalon was a brilliant researcher and fierce health equity champion. In an effort to continue Dr. Shalon’s legacy, Wanda co-founded DSMAP, where she is President of the Board and Acting President of the organization. Prior to establishing DSMAP, Wanda worked in various leadership roles in federal agencies and city organizations and provided consultative services and technical assistance to nonprofits across the country. Wanda possesses years of experience in organizational development and community outreach and has led numerous strategic initiatives and programs. Wanda is now fully dedicated to the mission of DSMAP and is a highly sought-after health equity advocate appearing on national and influential media outlets such as NPR, MSNBC, GMA, Newsy, REVOLT, and Health Affairs, a peer-reviewed healthcare journal to name a few. To date, Wanda has appeared before Congress and numerous organizations reaching tens of thousands, with the goal of ending preventable Black maternal deaths in the United States. The work of DSMAP is based on the life mantra of Dr. Shalon Irving: “I see inequity wherever it exists. I am not afraid to call it by name and work hard to eliminate it. I vow to create a better earth.” At DSMAP we honor Dr. Shalon’s vow by working to remove barriers, biases, and disparate practices that impede access to equitable, quality and respectful care for Black women and birthing people. |
| Dr. YADA is a health services researcher whose work centers on maternal health, reproductive justice, and health equity. She coined the term Detailed Maternal Nativity, an analytic approach that prioritizes data disaggregation to move beyond over-aggregated immigrant/nonimmigrant classifications and examine heterogeneity in maternal health outcomes by specific region and country of origin. Her scholarship uses mixed-methods and community-engaged approaches to investigate the structural, social, and policy drivers of maternal health, with particular attention to nativity, migration, and access to high-quality, culturally responsive care, particularly among populations historically excluded from equitable care. |
| Vickie Dugat, Ph.D., MPH, is the Program Director for the Connecting Kids to Coverage Initiative and a Research Associate with the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies at the University of South Florida College of Public Health. She earned her Ph.D. in Health Education with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Toledo, a Master of Public Health from Morehouse School of Medicine, and a Bachelor of Science in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences from the University of Florida. Dr. Dugat’s research focuses on exclusive breastfeeding behaviors, racial and ethnic health disparities, and the impact of stressful life events during pregnancy. She has also contributed to academia as an instructor of graduate public health courses for the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida. In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Dugat is actively engaged in community outreach. She is the co-founder of the Florida Black Maternal Health Initiative, where she works to raise awareness, provide education, and support mothers through community-driven programming. She also leads the annual 5K Fun Run for Black Maternal Health Week in Tampa Bay, uniting community partners and participants to elevate Black maternal health issues and celebrate resilience. As a first-generation Haitian American and college graduate, Dr. Dugat is dedicated to advancing maternal health equity, reducing breastfeeding disparities among underrepresented populations, and strengthening connections between research, policy, and community action. |
| Kene Orakwue [she/they] is a health equity researcher and evaluator grounded in Black feminist theory, and other critical frameworks. They are fascinated by the ways in which our social structures and policies deny or grant access to, and quality of, health for certain populations. Guided by Reproductive Justice as their north star, their scholarship challenges and expands the traditional notions of healthcare quality and access in order to ascertain the lived realities of Black people of reproductive age and capacity for pregnancy. They accomplish this by investigating racial formations, the usage in oppressive systems and the results in maternal health and reproductive health outcomes. They do this all whilst dreaming of a Reproductive Justice future. Kene is currently a fourth year PhD candidate in the Health Services Research, Policy & Administration program at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Their current work and scholarship focuses on racism, maternal mortality and doula access. Their dissertation aims to investigate the social construction of doulas as a solution to the maternal mortality crisis in order to engage in a more critical conversation around doula access initiatives. |
Dr. Kanika Harris is the Executive Director of the National Association to Advance Black Birth (NAABB), where she leads national efforts to advance Black maternal health, birth equity, and reproductive justice. A passionate advocate and systems-level thinker, Dr. Harris works to dismantle structural barriers impacting Black birthing people and to uplift community-led solutions. Her leadership centers Black families, midwives, doulas, and birth workers as essential drivers of maternal health outcomes. Through policy advocacy, education, and movement building, Dr. Harris champions holistic, culturally grounded approaches to care that honor autonomy, dignity, and wellness across the reproductive lifespan. Dr. Harris is widely respected for her ability to bridge community wisdom with national advocacy and systems change.
Sundé Watson Daniels brings more than a decade of executive-level leadership experience to the Center for Black Maternal Health & Reproductive Justice, where she oversees strategy, operations, partnerships, and resource stewardship. Known for her clarity, momentum, and steady leadership style, Sundé plays a central role in translating the Center’s mission into sustained impact. With a track record spanning academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and public health, Sundé has advised senior leadership, optimized complex budgets, expanded cross-sector partnerships, and strengthened organizational infrastructure. Colleagues often note her forward-thinking mindset, operational discipline, and ability to identify challenges early and move decisively toward solutions— bringing both precision and optimism to the work. Her professional experience includes work with leading institutions and organizations such as Pfizer, Boston University and Boston Medical Center, and Harvard University. This cross-industry background informs her approach to building effective systems, cultivating strong organizational culture, and advancing research-driven public health initiatives. Sundé holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Eastern University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Pharmaceutical Business from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. She has also pursued legal studies and holds certifications as a Life Coach, Notary Public, and NFL Contract Negotiator.
| Maya Goldman is a national health care reporter at Axios and co-author of the daily Vitals newsletter. Maya previously covered health policy at Modern Healthcare and Inside Health Policy. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in anthropology, and is now based in New York. |
| Arianne Kidder is a Partner at Seae Ventures, where she focuses on investing in early-stage companies that advance health equity and improve access to care. She brings a strong background in healthcare innovation, strategy, and operations, with experience spanning both startups and large organizations. Prior to joining Seae Ventures, Arianne held roles in venture capital and healthcare consulting, helping to scale impactful solutions across diverse populations. Her work reflects a deep commitment to supporting founders who are reshaping the future of healthcare. |
| Brian J. Kwarteng, is an MD candidate at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and a recent MPH graduate from Boston University. I am deeply committed to addressing maternal health disparities, especially within BIPOC communities, and my work at Tufts Medical School’s Center for Black Maternal Health & Reproductive Justice (MOTHER Lab) has been a defining part of that journey. At MOTHER Lab, I work as a Clinical Research Assistant and Co-Chair for Research & Grants. I help organize and analyze patient information, develop birthing manuals, coordinate research projects, and translate findings in a way that is useful to community partners. Being part of this work has shown me, in very real ways, how history, policy, access to care, and everyday lived experiences all shape maternal health outcomes. What motivates me most is seeing how research can move beyond papers and into people’s lives. I care deeply about creating work that actually helps families feel safer, more informed, and more supported during pregnancy and birth. I am especially drawn to projects that center patient voices, strengthen trust between providers and communities, and challenge systems that make quality care harder to reach. Outside of research, I value mentorship, education, and advocacy because I believe change happens through both knowledge and relationships. My long-term goal is to keep building and supporting programs that make pregnancy and childbirth safer, more dignified, and more equitable—so that every family, no matter their background, has the chance to thrive. |
| Dr. Amy Sarma is the co-director of the Mass General Brigham Women’s Heart Health Program, and Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, as well as the Cathy E. Minehan Endowed Chair in Cardiology. She is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sarma earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from Yale University. She trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital prior to Massachusetts General Hospital for her fellowships in cardiovascular disease and advanced echocardiography. Her clinical and research interests are in sex differences in cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular disease in pregnancy, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Her ongoing funded research studies focuses on the use of digital health strategies for postpartum hypertension and cardiovascular care. Nationally, she has previously served on the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Women In Cardiology Leadership Council and currently serves on the ACC Cardiovascular Disease in Women Leadership Council. She has been recognized as a semi-finalist for the international Women As One Escalator Award, as a finalist for the Elizabeth Barrett-Connor Research Award for Early Career Investigators by the American Heart Association (AHA), received the Women In Cardiology Trainee Award for Excellence by the AHA, and is a recipient of the MGH Department of Medicine Innovation Award. |
| Dr. Collin Smikle is a highly accomplished reproductive endocrinologist and the founder and Medical Director of Laurel Fertility Care, with primary offices in San Francisco and Oakland, California. With over 35 years of medical experience, Dr. Smikle has established himself as a leading authority in reproductive medicine, combining advanced surgical techniques with a patient-centered approach to fertility treatment. Dr. Smikle’s distinguished career began at Yale University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree in 1985. He then completed a rigorous residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. Following his residency, he pursued subspecialty training through a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). During his fellowship, he conducted extensive research into polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and oocyte development, areas that remain central to his clinical practice today. Double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Dr. Smikle specializes in a broad range of complex fertility treatments. His clinical interests include In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and advanced assisted reproductive technologies, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery for conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids, Fertility Preservation (egg and embryo freezing), and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and hormonal management. Dr. Smikle is also a respected researcher and educator, having authored more than 25 medical publications and book chapters. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Known for his "patient-first" philosophy, he has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for over 15 years, reflecting his reputation for clinical excellence and compassionate care within the medical community. |
Dr. Heather Olden’s scholarship examines the intersection of public health policy, maternal health equity, and community-engaged research, grounded in the voice of the lived experience, with a focus on translating qualitative findings into actionable policies that reduce disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality. Building on a strong foundation in quantitative research gained through her Master of Public Health, her work now integrates qualitative and mixed-method approaches to generate a more comprehensive understanding of how systems, policies, and lived experiences shape maternal health outcomes. Drawing on over a decade of experience, her work involves researching how policies, clinical practices, and community-based interventions can be aligned to improve outcomes for birthing people, particularly in historically marginalized communities. Her research portfolio includes multi-site qualitative studies, policy gap analyses, and evaluations of maternal health initiatives that inform state and federal policy priorities. She has also collaborated with government agencies, health systems, and community organizations to co-create interventions that address systemic barriers to care, integrating perspectives from doulas, birthing people, and healthcare providers. Committed to bridging research and clinical practice, her work advances the evidence base for maternal health policy by centering community voices, promoting equity-driven program design, and fostering cross-sector collaboration to ensure that policies are responsive to and sustainable for the communities they serve.
| Dr. Gail C. Christopher is an award-winning social change agent and author with expertise in the social determinants of health and well-being and related public policies. A prolific writer and presenter, Dr. Christopher is an author, co-author, and has contributed to 14 books, hundreds of articles, presentations, publications, and more. She is known for her pioneering work to infuse holistic health and diversity concepts into public sector programs and policy discourse. She retired from her role as Senior Advisor and Vice President at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she was the driving force behind the America Healing initiative and the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation effort. In 1996 she was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She chaired the Board of the Trust for America’s Health from 2012-2022. In 2019, Dr. Christopher became a Senior Scholar with George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and became the Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity. In 2021, she was elected by the APHA Governing Council to serve as the APHA Honorary Vice President for the United States. In 2023, the American Journal of Health Promotion honored Dr. Christopher as one of the 10 Most Influential Women Scholars in Health Promotion. |
| Dr. Njoroge is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant cardiologist at Stanford Health Care with extensive clinical experience diagnosing and treating heart failure with a specific focus on cardiovascular complications that develop during pregnancy or postpartum. Dr. Njoroge’s research efforts involve identifying inherited genetic changes and biological markers that could help improve screening and care for pregnant women in higher risk populations. This includes determining the causes of disproportionately high incidences of heart-related complications and deaths experienced by Black women during and after pregnancy. Dr. Njoroge is also currently recruiting patients for a large-scale, multicenter clinical trial evaluating a drug to treat cardiovascular complications during pregnancy. Dr. Njoroge has published her work in numerous prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including Circulation Research and the Journal of Cardiac Failure. She also co-authored a chapter on cardiovascular disease in pregnancy in the most recent edition of the book Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Cardiology. Dr. Njoroge is a member of the Association of Black Cardiologists, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the Heart Failure Society of America." |
| Linda Goler Blount, MPH, is the President and CEO of Community Catalyst, a national organization dedicated to building the power of people to create a health system rooted in race equity and health justice. A nationally recognized leader in public health, race equity, and systems change, Linda brings more than 25 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She most recently served as President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI)—the only national organization solely focused on the health and wellness of Black women and girls. During her tenure at BWHI, Linda led the organization through a period of significant growth and strategic impact. Under her leadership, BWHI advanced bold policy advocacy, launched evidence-based programs, and developed partnerships that elevated Black women’s health on the national stage—including a landmark collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That effort advanced BWHI’s mission to build the power of Black women to take control of their health and advocate for policies that support their well-being, while also shaping national standards for equitable, community-informed care. Prior to BWHI, Linda held senior leadership roles at the CDC, the American Cancer Society, and in the private sector, where she applied community-based research methodologies to address chronic disease prevention and health disparities at scale. She was a lead contributor to IndexUS, the first data set focused on the health of Black women using an asset-based approach—centered on studying healthy Black women rather than only illness or disease, and was named to Forbes’ 50 Over 50: Impact list for her leadership in public health. Throughout her career, Linda has been a steadfast advocate for solutions that center the lived experiences of those most harmed by health inequities. Her leadership is rooted in the belief that health is a right, and that people—especially those historically excluded from the health system—should be at the center of shaping the policies and practices that impact their lives. She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Operations Research from Eastern Michigan University. |
| Dr. Nyia Noel is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University and Medical Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Boston Medical Center. She joined the department in 2016 with a passion for advancing access to minimally invasive surgical care for diverse patient populations and improving women’s health across the life course. Dr. Noel earned her MD and MPH from the University of Michigan, completed residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and a two-year fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Her clinical expertise includes fibroids, endometriosis, and perioperative quality improvement in safety-net settings. She led the implementation of Same Day Discharge after minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Boston Medical Center, now a standard practice, and received a Boston University CTSI pilot grant to study barriers and facilitators of this approach. Dr. Noel has completed several selective leadership programs, including the AAMC Minority Faculty Leadership Seminar and the Midcareer Faculty Leadership Development Program. Dr. Noel’s research focuses on conditions disproportionately affecting women of color, including uterine fibroids and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. She served as principal investigator for the Prenatal Aspirin Project, a quality improvement initiative to reduce preeclampsia and related complications among high-risk patients. Most recently, she received funding from the Office on Women’s Health for the Centering Patients with Fibroids Program, a collaborative initiative with Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital. Through this program, 13 cohorts of patients with symptomatic fibroids at two safety-net hospitals participated in education and empowerment sessions, generating rich qualitative and quantitative data to inform future interventions. Dr. Noel remains committed to multidisciplinary care, surgical innovation, and addressing disparities in women’s health through research, education, and system-level improvements." |
| Dr. Nilda L. Moreno-Ruiz is an obstetrician–gynecologist and reproductive justice advocate dedicated to advancing the health, dignity, and autonomy of Black, Latina, and other historically marginalized communities. A proud Puerto Rican physician, she has spent more than 20 years providing high-quality, culturally responsive reproductive health care across the United States and the Caribbean. She completed advanced training in Complex Family Planning at Boston University and Boston Medical Center and earned a Master of Public Health with a concentration in health law, bioethics, and human rights. These experiences shaped her work as a clinician, educator, and advocate, grounding her practice in strong medical evidence, compassion, and a deep commitment to reproductive autonomy. They also strengthened her belief that reproductive justice is a fundamental human right and an essential framework for health equity. For nine years, Dr. Moreno-Ruiz served on the Board of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, an organization that builds Latina power, amplifies Latina voices, and advances system-level change to secure health, dignity, and justice for Latine communities. Her board leadership deepened her advocacy, rooted in community-driven policy change and structural transformation. She previously served as Medical Director of the Zika Contraception Access Network (Z-CAN), a CDC and CDC Foundation initiative that expanded equitable access to contraception during a public health emergency. Throughout her career—spanning Boston, Washington, DC, and California—she has specialized in complex family planning and in providing respectful, comprehensive care that supports pregnant and non-pregnant people across the full spectrum of reproductive health needs and decisions. In addition to her clinical and advocacy work, Dr. Moreno-Ruiz has been a dedicated educator for more than two decades, teaching medical students, residents, and fellows. She currently mentors underrepresented pre-medical students, helping to build pathways for future clinicians committed to equity, justice, and community-centered care. Her work is grounded in the belief that listening to lived experience is essential to transforming health systems and advancing reproductive freedom. |
| Alex Pastuszak, MD, PhD is a urologist, scientist, and serial entrepreneur. He earned his BS from Yale University and MD/PhD from the UCSF, and completed his residency and fellowship in male reproductive medicine and surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Alex’s clinical and NIH-funded research at the University of Utah is in men’s sexual and reproductive health, and his entrepreneurial work has encompassed healthcare technology, diagnostics, medical devices, pharma, biotech, clinical research, and medical innovation. Alex currently serves as Associate Professor of Surgery (Urology) and Chief of the Section for Surgical Innovation in the Department of Surgery, and Faculty Director of the University of Utah School of Medicine Innovation Unit. He concurrently serves as Cofounder and CEO of Paterna Biosciences. |
Your registration provides you access to live and on-demand sessions for the duration of the conference and up to 30 days following. Additionally, registrants enjoy a virtual networking reception to connect with other leaders and professionals across all industries with a vested interest in maternal health.
At this time, we are unable to offer discounts on tickets. As a self-funded center, we've maintained a registration fee for this year's conference to cover essential costs and dedicate more resources to research, advocacy, policy, and community engagement. Your support through this fee helps sustain our work, benefiting Black birthing mothers in Boston and communities worldwide
For group registration, please email bmm@tufts.edu. Pricing varies for groups of up to 10, 11-20, and 21 or more. Group viewing in classrooms or offices is allowed, but each attendee must be listed and will receive an individual login.
While we are unable to provide individual discounts, we have structured our pricing to offer significant savings through our Early Bird registration. We recommend booking your spot soon to ensure you get the lowest price before the deadline.
No. Registration is non-refundable.
No, Continuing Education Credits will not be offered for this year’s conference. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to join our mailing list for future events, some of which do offer CMEs.
No. Registration will be closed on Friday, March 20, 2026. We encourage all attendees to register for the conference in advance. As an added bonus, there will be a discounted early registration option. Refer to the registration information for more details.
The online searchable schedule for the conference has information about each speaker and the topics they will be covering, as part of their session. If you encounter any issues please email us at bmm@tufts.edu
As the conference is primarily virtual, there are no designated hotel accommodations. We encourage those local to Boston, MA or planning to travel for the in-person components to choose the option that best suits their needs and budget.
Feel free to email bmm@tufts.edu if you have additional questions or need further assistance.
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