2nd ANNUAL SOUTHERN REGIONAL NC OB/GYN CONFERENCE
Friday, January 26, 2024
7 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Location: CFV Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience Institute, 3305 Melrose Road, Fayetteville, NC 28304
Over the last decade, North Carolina’s (NC) mortality ratios associated with pregnancy have increased by 33 percent. Trends show striking health differences among specific racial and ethnic populations, which persist despite recent advances. Particularly, women of color experience a disproportionate number of maternal deaths and adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes. The purpose of the Southern Regional NC OB/GYN Conference is to strengthen the system of care for obstetrical and gynecological (OB/GYN) patients and aim to decrease maternal mortality with a focus on disparities by 1) Engaging interdisciplinary providers and residents from receiving and referring hospitals throughout the southern region of NC and 2) Providing updates on the latest maternal and infant health issues and evidence-based practices.
INTERESTED IN POSTER PRESENTATIONS?
You are invited to submit a poster proposal by January 5, 2024 for a presentation opportunity at the OB/GYN Conference. Projects should be designed as a quality improvement initiative in one of the following categories: 1) Maternal-fetal medicine, 2) Innovation in culturally appropriate women’s care, or 3) Improved birth outcomes. You may submit individually or on behalf of your organization with other colleagues. Winners and prizes will be announced at the conference.
Speakers
Infertility Developments and Clinical Pearls
Bruce Pier, MD is a graduate of UNC Pembroke and the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. During obstetrics and gynecology training in the US Army, he developed a passion for infertility patients, and subsequently completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His research interests include improving the safety and success of assisted reproductive cycles and further characterizing the impact of military service on fertility success. In his free time, he enjoys family time with his wife, two boys, and daughter, and a fun-loving dog. When able, his family enjoys traveling to either the mountains or the coast of North Carolina.
- Participants will be able to review key changes in infertility definition and treatment as outlined by American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
- Participants will be able to identify best practices to address infertility needs of a diverse patient population.
Pregnancy Planning Visit – How a Good Family History Frames your Plan of Care
Alissa Carver, MD received her medical degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This was followed by Ob/Gyn residency at UNC Chapel Hill and Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She is board certified in both Ob/Gyn and Maternal-Fetal Medicine by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has worked at Mercer University in Georgia and the University of Michigan prior to moving to Wilmington. This includes a strong background in regional high-risk pregnancy care coordination in areas such as diabetes, substance use disorders, cardiac disease, and placenta accreta spectrum. Her interests include prenatal ultrasound and genetic diagnosis, fetal therapy/surgery, maternal safety/quality improvement.
- Participants will be able to describe interventions to optimize maternal health prior to conception including educating families on disease inheritance and testing options.
Community Doulas Bridging the Gap to Help Improve Maternal Outcomes
Angela Tatum Malloy, MAT, IBCLC, CBD, CBDT, AC-CBE is a lactation consultant and community-based doula providing support in her hometown, Fayetteville, NC. She received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the best HBCU, Fayetteville State University and her master’s in teaching from the University of Southern California.
Angela received her lactation training at the very FIRST accredited lactation program, the Mary Rose Tully Training Initiative (MRT-TI) at UNC-Chapel Hill. She’s been in the birth world for over six years and in 2019, Angela created her very own African-centered community-based doula mentorship program. Angela became a CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor) in 2015 and an IBCLC (International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant) in 2017. In the fall of 2017, she started her clinical lactation training program.
Angela considers herself to be a lactation educator and Black maternal health advocate as she works hard to support ALL families while changing the narrative in lactation, birthing, and mental health to remove barriers and improve outcomes for Black and brown families. She was successful in collaborating with the Mayor of Fayetteville, Mitch Colvin, in getting Fayetteville designated as a Breastfeeding Friendly City in 2018, getting our local Fayetteville Police Department to invest in purchasing TWO lactation pods and become designated as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace in 2022. Her future goal is to make Fayetteville a Birthing Friendly community through several city and organization initiatives and collaborations.
Recently, Angela had partnered with the 4th Trimester Project at UNC-Chapel Hill to do a research study centered around the experiences of Black mothers during the postpartum period. This supported the creation of the NEWMOMBABY website which hosts valuable resources for providers, parents, and the entire community. Momma’s Village-Fayetteville is also one of two lead Black doula organizations in the ACURE4MOM project, which received $10 million in funding from PCORI to reduce preterm births throughout several counties in the state of North Carolina. She believes that it is important for research about the Black community to be provided by Black researchers because the answers for the Black community are IN our community. In this project, all the birth workers received training as lactation community peer supporters and in PMADS (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder) to help support the families they provide services for by connecting them to culturally focused mental health support.
- Participants will be able to describe the role of a community doula.
- Participants will be able to list three benefits of integrating doula support to help improve patient care and outcomes.
Quick Strategies to Promote Breastfeeding in Prenatal Care
Jarold “Tom” Johnston DNP, CNM, IBCLC is an Associate Professor of Nursing teaching maternal-child nursing, human lactation, nursing theory and research. He is well known for his energetic and entertaining lecture style. He is a midwife, lactation consultant, retired US Army Nurse, and the father of eight children (that’s right, 8). Dr Johnston served the US Army in several positions during his 27 years, finishing as the Chief of Midwifery at Womack Army Medical Center on Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty). He is active on the lecture circuit and regularly speaks at conferences across the US and internationally. His publications focus primarily on fatherhood, breastfeeding, and newborn care. He is currently the lead investigator working with an international team to develop the Lactation Assessment Care Tool (LACT) which aims to be helpful at identifying families at risk of breastfeeding complications. He serves as the Medical Director and primary provider for his private practice in Human Lactation and specializes in at-risk and premature newborns. Professionally he is active in the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Committee (LEAARC) which oversees Lactation education in the US and abroad. Locally he serves on the board of Partnership for Children, a regional organization providing care for infants and children, he is the Sunday School Director at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Haymount and has been a scout leader in Scouts BSA for 20 years. Dr. Johnston earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, his master’s in nursing at the University of Rhode Island, and his doctorate in nursing practice at the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.
- Participants will be able to identify successful strategies for introducing breastfeeding promotion into prenatal care.
- Participants will be able to review strategies demonstrating basic clinical support for breastfeeding complications.
Asha Talati MD, MSCR is an Assistant Professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Clinical Genetics and Genomics at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Talati completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University and was a part of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She completed her residency at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, where she served as chief resident. Dr. Talati pursued dual training in Maternal Fetal Medicine and Clinical Genetics & Genomics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Talati directs the Maternal Fetal Medicine Reproductive Genetics Clinic, which offers diagnostic and management services for people growing their families in the context of genetic disorders. In addition, she is Associate Faculty at the UNC Center for Bioethics. Dr. Talati’s research focuses on the ethical and equitable implementation of genetic and genomic technologies in the prenatal period.
Keynote: Supporting the Perinatal Person After Birth
Trauma
Roxanne Rosenberg, LCMHC, PMH-C is cofounder and clinical director of Anchor Perinatal Wellness, the Southeast's only perinatal-specific intensive outpatient program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors from Yale University and her master’s degree in psychology from Duke University. Roxanne has been supporting pregnant and postpartum people for over 15 years through individual psychotherapy, support groups, birth doula work, and advocacy work.
Roxanne is a member of the new federal Task Force on Maternal Mental Health and is also past chair of Postpartum Support International - North Carolina. Roxanne has provided training across the country in perinatal mental health and women’s trauma. Roxanne is a bilingual Latina mom of two and is herself a survivor of perinatal loss and trauma.
- Participants will be able to review the psychological impacts of birth trauma.
- Participants will be able to identify best practices for post-trauma support within various healthcare roles.