Bryce Whitwam’s Post

University Health has received two grants totaling $14 million to support two multi-year programs, Mama Bexar and Baby Bexar, designed to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in South Texas. “Providing wraparound services to expecting and new moms will assure healthier pregnancies, healthier babies and more resilient families, healthier communities and lower medical costs downstream,” said Dr. Anna Taranova, deputy chief public health, innovation and equity at University Health. “We know we can do more, and we have a lot of work to do.” University Health is the only organization in Texas to receive these competitive awards, and the only organization in the nation to receive both. Paired with the opening of our Women’s and Children’s hospital, these two awards represent pivotal long-term investments in improving maternal health in Bexar County, South Texas and beyond. University Health, as the state-of-the-art regional perinatal referral center for 22 counties in South Texas, is the perfect organization to receive these two awards and to significantly impact the health of mothers and babies. Watch Dr. Taranova's interview with WOAI-TV News 4 and hear more about this initiative: https://ow.ly/XjvC50Q87e5 #maternalhealth #maternalhealthcrisis

Recently, Julie Rovner, KFF Health News interviewed Michael LeNoir MD, provider at our member #CHC LifeLong Medical Care about racial disparities in medicine. Read the full interview below for Dr. LeNoir's thoughts on the increase in Black maternal mortality rates, unconscious bias in medicine, and how to educate and train more Black providers. #ValueCHCs #HealthEquity #BlackHealthMatters #culturallyresponsivecare

Recently, Julie Rovner, KFF Health News interviewed Michael LeNoir MD, provider at our member #CHC LifeLong Medical Care about racial disparities in medicine. Read the full interview below for Dr. LeNoir's thoughts on the increase in Black maternal mortality rates, unconscious bias in medicine, and how to educate and train more Black providers. #ValueCHCs #HealthEquity #BlackHealthMatters #culturallyresponsivecare

We (Catarina Falleiros Nogueira Rojas, Danielle Abdel Massih Pio and I) are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest article: "Understanding Child Development and Care Integrality: Primary Health Care Doctors and Nurses’ View" in RPPed, a prestigious health care journal. This research was part of Catarina's masters at Faculdade de Medicina de Marília - FAMEMA. 🔍 Objective: The study focuses on identifying the perceptions of primary care health professionals on child development and strategizing to address existing difficulties in conceptual understanding. 🏥 Conclusions: It becomes evident that there is a pressing need for enhanced health education and comprehensive service projects. Empowering health professionals beyond the biopsychosocial model is essential to advance the care for our children. Your thoughts and feedback are valuable to us! Dive into the full article and join the conversation on how we can collectively enhance child care in primary health settings. https://lnkd.in/da98WK5b #ChildDevelopment #PrimaryCare #HealthcareInnovation #PublicHealth #ResearchPublication #Brazil #SUS

North Carolina Health System Enhances Care for Black Mothers At Forsyth Medical Center, significant improvements are being made to address health disparities for Black mothers. Novant Health has implemented bias training, new policies, and education for healthcare providers, resulting in reduced C-section rates for Black mothers. These efforts ensure equitable care and emphasize the importance of listening to and addressing patient concerns. Education initiatives, like viewing the "Aftershock" documentary, have been pivotal in changing provider attitudes and practices. #BlackMaternalHealth #HealthcareEquality #PatientAdvocacy https://lnkd.in/gRfsD3NJ

Dr. Emily Lawler, Economist and Assistant Professor for the University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs, recently sat down to discuss her journey to becoming a professor. Lawler, an economist by trade, mainly studies the effects of health policy on the economy. Her most recent study, entitled "The Effect of Hospital Postpartum Care Regulations on Breastfeeding and Maternal Time Allocation," poignantly examines the linkages between pro-breastfeeding policy and the rate at which new mothers return to the work force. Read more about Dr. Lawler and her research here https://lnkd.in/eEZj-nPD

Urgent Call for Action: Systemic Racism in Maternal Healthcare 📢 Afro descendent women in the Americas face alarming disparities in maternal healthcare. A new UNFPA report reveals a distressing trend of systemic racism, neglect, and mistreatment leading to tragic outcomes during childbirth. Mistreatment spans medical education, policies, and care delivery. Racist ideologies persist in medical curricula. Shocking maternal death rate disparities: Black women in the US are three times more likely to die than white women. Only 11 out of 35 countries collect maternal health data by race. Join us in demanding equal access to quality maternity care for Afro-descendant women. It’s time for change: Medical schools must tackle harmful ideologies and hospitals must end abuse. Read the report 👉🏼 https://ow.ly/omgk50PzGTm

📖 On #ReadABookDay, let's celebrate the pursuit of knowledge in public health! Check out some of our top recommendations and share your favorite reads that transformed the way you perceive public health. https://bit.ly/3OOaj8U

Experience our Health Equity Rounds discussing the importance of prioritizing cultural and linguistic needs in enhancing perinatal and infant outcomes. Here, we discuss the importance of understanding the challenges faced by families who do not speak English or who may be unfamiliar with medical terminology — and how these difficulties can lead to poor health outcomes. We also explore ways to provide culturally sensitive care that meets the needs of patients from diverse backgrounds. Our aim is to ensure that all babies have the best possible start in life, regardless of their parents' background or educational attainment. https://lnkd.in/g37C77ZN #ChildHealthEquity

Early this summer, Sameer Khan, Dr. Jay Bhatt, Sona Dave, and I had the privilege to speak to clinical and non-clinical executives from a leading children’s health system about the future of children's health. Please read our blog to see what we expect are four factors that will be instrumental in shaping the future of children’s health. Jay Bhatt, Sameer A. Khan, Elizabeth Baca, MD, MPA, Ken Abrams, MD, Bill Fera, Andy Wiesenthal, Pragati Chaudhary, Camilla Gessner (Lucas), Anna Ye