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Infants born to Black women are more than twice as likely to die compared with those born to white women. The factors driving disparities in maternal and infant health are complex and multifactorial, including differences in health insurance coverage, access to care and a wide range of social determinants of health. In maternal and infant health specifically, the intersection of race, gender, poverty and other social factors shapes individuals’ experiences and outcomes.

These factors and more will be the topic of “Quality Perinatal Care Through an Equity Lens,” a free workshop co-sponsored by the Health Equity Alliance of Tarrant County and The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Texas Obstetrics & Gynecology Association of Students.

From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday in HSC’s Research & Education building, the event is open to the public and will provide lunch, offer CEU credits and feature a nationally recognized speaker.

Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MAS, FACOG is the medical director of the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review for the Louisiana Department of Health and the state’s Perinatal Quality Collaborative. In this role, she leads initiatives to improve birth outcomes in Louisiana and eliminate the Black-white disparity gap.

Gillispie-Bell has testified before Congress about the drivers of maternal mortality, and she was invited to speak at the White House Maternal Health Day of Action. She also is an associate professor and OB-GYN section head at Oschner Health in New Orleans.

“Maternal morbidity and mortality rates for Black mothers in the U.S. are unacceptable,” Gillispe-Bell said. “We can improve, and we must improve. When we center patients’ voices and we provide equitable quality of care, outcomes improve for everyone.”

Health care and public health professionals, including physicians, midwives, nurses, doulas and community health workers, as well as students in health care professions, are encouraged to attend. Attendees can register here to reserve a seat and lunch and to receive free parking information.

HEAL is a nonprofit network of public health experts, local agencies and community leaders united to save the lives of babies and birthing people by making racial, economic and health equity a reality for more people across Tarrant County.

“HEAL is very excited to bring Dr. Gillespie-Bell to Fort Worth,” said Barbara Dunlap, chair of the Health Equity Alliance of Tarrant County. “We are looking forward to her sharing her extensive experience in perinatal care and health equity with our community.”

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