*This webinar was recorded on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, and expires on November 1, 2024.*
About the Webinar
According to CDC data, Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, with most of the maternal deaths being preventable. This heightened risk is pervasive across all income and education levels, indicating a deeply ingrained problem. The root causes of this disproportionate impact on Black women are multifaceted and intertwined with inequality, discrimination, and systemic racism ingrained within the U.S. healthcare system. BIRTHING JUSTICE delves into the multiple facets of these disparities. It not only sheds light on the challenges but also provides healthcare clinicians with best practices to recognize their individual roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, it advocates for systemic changes, such as policy amendments and strategic funding redirection, to tackle the root issues. The involvement of doulas and midwives is also emphasized as part of the solution. These professionals can play a vital role in supporting pregnant women, complementing the efforts of the healthcare workforce. By understanding the multifaceted nature of these disparities and adopting the recommendations put forth by BIRTHING JUSTICE, we can work towards creating a healthcare system that prioritizes equity, compassion, and the well-being of all expectant mothers, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status.
About the Speakers
Denise Pines, MBA, is an award-winning filmmaker and community health advocate. She served more than 14 years as a creative consultant for talk television and radio shows (PBS/NPR) and 12 social justice documentaries. As co-founder of Women in the Room Productions, she is committed to diversity in front and behind the screen. Ms. Pines' work includes thought-provoking documentaries and engaging live programs for PBS, including the award-winning “Birthing Justice” and NAACP nominated “PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools” the “Fight for $15” and its impact on small business, “Too Important to Fail” examining the school-to-prison pipeline, and the plight of New Orleans’s residents on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (directed by Academy Award winner Jonathan Demme). Ms, Pines is the immediate past president of the Medical Board of California and currently sits on the board of the Federation of State Medical Boards and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California.
Yolanda Lawson, MD, is President of the National Medical Association. She is a board certified Obstetrician- Gynecologist, the founder of MadeWell OBGYN in Dallas, Texas, and an Associate Attending at Baylor University Medical Center. She is the medical director of Abounding Prosperity, a community-based organization that addresses HIV disparities in target, Black communities. Dr. Lawson is also principal investigator of one of twenty-one sites for the EBONI study which is investigating Black women interested in reducing HIV by using PREP. Dr. Lawson leverages her business acumen, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial skills to contribute to better healthcare for all but especially for the healthcare of women. As a seasoned leader and strategist, Dr. Lawson has successfully navigated several pivotal roles for the National Medical Association, including serving as vice president and president of the CV Roman Medical Society in Dallas and the Regional secretary, chair, and trustee. Her leadership extends to councils and committees, including as the chair of the Council on Concerns of Women Physicians and is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Medical Association. Dr. Lawson earned her medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, completed internship at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed residency at St. John Hospital & Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan
About the Moderator
Jeffrey D. Carter, MD, became Chair of the FSMB in 2023 and has been a member of the FSMB Board of Directors since 2017. During his time on the board, he has held numerous committee appointments and served as Chair of the FSMB Workgroup on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Medical Regulation and Patient Care. Dr. Carter currently serves on the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts and was twice elected as its President. He isa graduate of Yale University School of Medicine, with postgraduate training in anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Carter has 25 years of practice experience as a board-certified anesthesiologist and is a member of Metro-West Anesthesia Group, Inc. in St. Louis. Dr. Carter’s contributions to clinical, administrative, and regulatory practice have been recognized by his peers yearly since 2007 with “The Best Doctors Award,” and he is the recipient of the St. Louis American Foundation’s “Excellence in Healthcare Award.”
Target Audience
This activity was designed specifically for physicians, Allopathic healthcare professionals (such as nurses, pharmacists, and therapists), public healthcare administrators, as well as leadership staff of the state medical and osteopathic licensing boards, and others within the medical regulatory community.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify the leading causes of pregnancy complications with Black birthing women.
- Help patients, and those accompanying them, understand the urgent maternal warning signs and when to seek medical attention right away.
- Help patients manage chronic conditions or conditions that may arise during pregnancy like hypertension, diabetes, or depression.
- Recognize and work to eliminate unconscious bias in themselves and in their office on an ongoing basis.
The Federation of State Medical Boards is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.Credit Designation Statements
The Federation of State Medical Boards designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The Federation of State Medical Boards certifies that non-physicians will receive an attendance certificate stating they participated in the activity that was designated for 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Disclosure Declaration
As an organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) requires that the content of CME activities and related materials provide balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor. All faculty, planners, and others in a position to control continuing medical education content participating in an accredited continuing education activity are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. Ineligible companies are organizations whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Faculty (authors, presenters, speakers) are encouraged to provide a balanced view of therapeutic options by utilizing either generic names or other options available when utilizing trade names to ensure impartiality.
All faculty members are asked to disclose all financial relationships they have had in the past 24 months with ineligible companies regardless of the potential relevance of each relationship to the education and of the amount. The FSMB has implemented a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to the activity. The intent of this policy is to identify potential conflicts of interest so participants can form their own judgments with full disclosure of the facts. Participants will be asked to evaluate whether the speaker’s outside interests reflect a possible bias in the planning or presentation of the activity. The following indicates the disclosure declaration information and the nature of any relationships with ineligible companies:
| Speaker Name | Name of Commercial Interest and Nature of Relevant Relationship |
| Yolanda Lawson, MD |
Formal Advisor: Viiv Healthcare Grant/Research Support: Viiv Healthcare Speaker’s Bureau: Pfizer Full-time/Part-time Employment: Elevance Health |
All other speakers, course director, and planners at the Federation of State Medical Boards, have nothing to disclose.
System Requirements
In order to view this presentation, your computer must have audio capabilities (working speakers or headphones) and must have an internet browser capable of playing an HTML5 video.
Instructions for Participants and Obtaining CME Credit
There is no fee for this activity. To receive credit and receive their certificates, participants must view this CME activity in its entirety and complete the evaluation. The estimated time for completion of this activity is 1.5 hours.