On Nov. 29, the AAMC sponsored a maternal health convening organized by Women in Government Relations, a nonpartisan professional society for those who have responsibilities in the fields of government relations and public affairs. The convening, titled, “Lifting Voices, Taking Action,” provided a forum for academics, policymakers, business leaders, and individuals with lived experiences to discuss the status of maternal health in the U.S. and what can be done to improve it.
The event began with a presentation by Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD, professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who outlined key trends and disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality. Stacey Brayboy, senior vice president for public policy and government affairs at March of Dimes, then provided an overview of the federal policy landscape, highlighting opportunities for attendees to support federal legislation to advance maternal health equity. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), co-chair of the Black Maternity Care Caucus, provided a call to action, urging attendees to support efforts to improve maternal health care for Black patients and their families.
The latter half of the afternoon featured panel discussions exploring multi-sector strategies to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities. AAMC Legislative Analyst Sinead Hunt facilitated a conversation with congressional staffers underscoring the importance of bipartisanship in advancing maternal health legislation. Following these conversations, AAMC Director for Government Relations Ally Perleoni delivered closing remarks, during which she reiterated the association’s continued commitment to maternal health equity.