EPISODE · Feb 24, 2025 · 37 MIN
87. The State of Maternal and Reproductive Health in the U.S.
from Inspiring People: Stories of Innovation and Service · host The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett (PhD, MD, FACOG) is the CEO and owner of Augusta Women's Health & Wellness Center.Dr Adams-Pickett's message to us: It's called a miracle for a reason. Any pregnancy that ends in a healthy baby and mother reaches that outcome through a miraculous culmination of science, medical know-how, genetic fortune and most of all, luck.Unfortunately, in the United States, because of varying legislative measures, access barriers, and rapidly diminishing resources, the luck for many women in our country is vanishing. As we continue to outpace other industrialized countries in astounding technological advances, we also continue to outpace those countries in our maternal morbidity and mortality rates. How did we find ourselves here? Is there anything we can do to change this trajectory or does the current political landscape leave us to believe that we are destined to less than greatness when it comes to women's health? For those of us who have dedicated our lives to their health and well-being our roles remain clear--protect birthing women. However, navigating our ability to do so successfully has now taken on a new level of complexity. Are we truly prepared for the challenge?Dr. Adams-Pickett is a graduate of Howard University, the Medical College of Georgia where she earned a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Adams-Pickett is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a tireless advocate for women's health concerns, her expertise has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Laura Coates Show, Vice Media and the PBS Newshour. She was most recently featured in the documentary "Birthing Justice," a look at the Black maternal mortality crisis facing the United States. Dr. Adams-Pickett is dedicated to community advocacy and education. She is the author of two books on puberty, Big Sis' Guide to Growing Up and Buddy's Big Guy Guidebook. Dr. Adams-Pickett is the founder of McStuffin Mommies, a collective of over 1400 physician mothers of color. She is also the founder of Mocha OB, a community of over 800 OB/GYN physicians of color. She has dedicated her life to increasing health education in and about historically marginalized communities. "To learn more, go to:PBS News Hour: ""Brief, But Spectacular Take on Being A Women’s Health Care Warrior"" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3suzU2RFrM Vice Media: "Inside Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Crisis""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0rL4TvX-I The New York Times: Unwanted Epidurals, Untreated Pain: Black Women Tell Their Birth Stories https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/upshot/black-births-maternal-mortality.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
What this episode covers
Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett (PhD, MD, FACOG) is the CEO and owner of Augusta Women's Health & Wellness Center.Dr Adams-Pickett's message to us: It's called a miracle for a reason. Any pregnancy that ends in a healthy baby and mother reaches that outcome through a miraculous culmination of science, medical know-how, genetic fortune and most of all, luck.Unfortunately, in the United States, because of varying legislative measures, access barriers, and rapidly diminishing resources, the luck for many women in our country is vanishing. As we continue to outpace other industrialized countries in astounding technological advances, we also continue to outpace those countries in our maternal morbidity and mortality rates. How did we find ourselves here? Is there anything we can do to change this trajectory or does the current political landscape leave us to believe that we are destined to less than greatness when it comes to women's health? For those of us who have dedicated our lives to their health and well-being our roles remain clear--protect birthing women. However, navigating our ability to do so successfully has now taken on a new level of complexity. Are we truly prepared for the challenge?Dr. Adams-Pickett is a graduate of Howard University, the Medical College of Georgia where she earned a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory University, where she earned her Doctor of Medicine degree. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology from the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Adams-Pickett is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As a tireless advocate for women's health concerns, her expertise has been featured in the New York Times, NPR, The Laura Coates Show, Vice Media and the PBS Newshour. She was most recently featured in the documentary "Birthing Justice," a look at the Black maternal mortality crisis facing the United States. Dr. Adams-Pickett is dedicated to community advocacy and education. She is the author of two books on puberty, Big Sis' Guide to Growing Up and Buddy's Big Guy Guidebook. Dr. Adams-Pickett is the founder of McStuffin Mommies, a collective of over 1400 physician mothers of color. She is also the founder of Mocha OB, a community of over 800 OB/GYN physicians of color. She has dedicated her life to increasing health education in and about historically marginalized communities. "To learn more, go to:PBS News Hour: ""Brief, But Spectacular Take on Being A Women’s Health Care Warrior"" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3suzU2RFrM Vice Media: "Inside Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Crisis""https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT0rL4TvX-I The New York Times: Unwanted Epidurals, Untreated Pain: Black Women Tell Their Birth Stories https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/upshot/black-births-maternal-mortality.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
NOW PLAYING
87. The State of Maternal and Reproductive Health in the U.S.
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.