Advancing Maternal & Child Health: A Celebration of Innovation Showcases Impactful Research and Interventions

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) Endowment hosted an event that brought together healthcare professionals, researchers, and community partners committed to improving maternal and child health outcomes across Wisconsin.  

The "Advancing Maternal & Child Health: A Celebration of Innovation" event showcased groundbreaking work funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and highlighted the collaborative spirit driving progress in this critical healthcare domain. 

Addressing a Critical Need through Strategic Funding 

In November 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services directed $5.5 million in ARPA funding to the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to be administered by AHW. This strategic investment aimed to advance maternal and child health initiatives throughout the state, leveraging AHW's infrastructure, technical expertise, and extensive networks to identify and support innovative projects addressing maternal health disparities. 

A Day of Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration 

The day began with welcome remarks from Ugwuji Maduekwe, MD, MMSc, MPH, associate dean and deputy director of AHW and associate professor in MCW’s Department of Surgery, who emphasized the power of federal funding and the collective wisdom of participants in driving impactful work.  

Anna Palatnik, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the Patrick J. and Margaret G. McMahon Endowed Chair at MCW, delivered the keynote address on "Equity-Focused Interventions in Improving Maternal Health Outcomes." Her presentation examined disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality, identified key levers for reducing these disparities, and highlighted ongoing equity-focused interventions at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin and throughout the region. 

Innovative Projects Driving Change 

The event featured presentations from ARPA-funded project teams, showcasing their methodologies, experiences, and outcomes.  

Presentations included: 

• A Culturally-Informed Interdisciplinary Prevention Program for Perinatal Depression 

• • Presenters: Kavitha Venkateswaran, PhD; Elizandra Sandoval, MS 

• • Organization: Marquette University 

• Effectively Addressing Social Determinants of Health through Early Childhood Education 

• • Presenter: Tamara Johnson 

• • Organization: Malaika Early Learning Center 

• Improving Collaboration with Community Partners for Equitable Pregnancy Outcomes in Milwaukee 

• • Presenters: Meghan Benson, MPH; Alyson Chavez-Stewart 

• • Organization: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Inc. 

• Improving Maternal Health with the Focus on the Fourth Trimester 

• • Presenters: Kristy Graettinger, MD; Natasha Griffin, M.Ed. 

• • Organization: MCW 

• Food for Healthier Women and Babies 

• • Presenters: Dr. Brintha Vasagar; Jessica Hughes; Amanda Parrell Kazmarek 

• • Organization: Progressive Community Health Centers 
    

• Increasing Access to Pregnancy Care through Mobile Clinics 

• • Presenters: Erika Peterson, MD; Laurie Diske, MSN, MBA, RN 

• • Organization: Froedtert Hospital 

• Preconception Health and Contraception Education among High School Students 

• • Presenter: Nadia Tabit 

• • Organization: MCW 

• Developing Perinatal Trauma-Informed Care Curriculum for Obstetric Clinicians and Staff 

• • Presenter: Abbey Kruper, PsyD 

• • Organization: MCW 

• Building Trust and Uniting Teams through Doula 

• • Presenters: Dalvery Blackwell, BA, CLC; Erica Marion, PhD 

• • Organization: African American Breastfeeding Network Inc.; MCW 

• Reducing Housing Instability and Neighborhood Deprivation Effect on Maternal Health 

• • Presenters: Julia Dickson-Gomez, PhD; Tra Essic On, PhD; Jessica Olson, PhD 

• • Organization: Institute for Health and Equity, MCW 

• Postpartum Management of Preeclampsia 

• • Presenter: Nadine Sunji, MD 

• • Organization: MCW 

• Preventing Common Obstetric Complications through Coaching and Targeted Nutrition 

• • Presenter: Anna Palatnik, MD 

• • Organization: MCW 

Event attendees actively engaged in question-and-answer sessions following each presentation. 

• Maternal Stress and Resilience in Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Anomalies 

• • Presenter: Sydney Timmer-Murillo, MD 

• • Organization: MCW 

• Advancing Equity for Adolescents in Maternal and Child Health 

• • Presenters: Wendi Ehrman, MD; Kaitlin Michel, APNP 

• • Organization: MCW 

• Mapping Maternal and Child Health in Wisconsin: A First Look at the Data 

• • Presenter: Ugwuji Maduekwe, MD, MMSc, MPH 

• • Organization: AHW 

Fostering Continued Collaboration 

A highlight of the day was the panel discussion, "Collaborating for Maternal Health Equity," moderated by Jessica Olson, PhD, director, associate professor, Institute for Health and Equity, MCW. Panelists included: 

• Joni Williams, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Advancing Population Science, MCW 

• Dalvery Blackwell, BA, CLC, Executive Director, African American Breastfeeding Network Inc. 

• Abbey Kruper, PsyD, Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, MCW 

• Kathy Korshgarian, President & CEO, Food for Health 

The panel explored strategies to foster ongoing collaboration and ensure the sustainability of maternal health equity initiatives beyond initial funding periods.  

Panelists discuss strategies for sustainable maternal health initiatives. 

Beyond formal presentations, the event created valuable opportunities for networking and relationship-building among researchers, healthcare providers, and community partners. These connections are instrumental in developing comprehensive approaches to complex maternal health challenges, particularly for underserved populations. 

Building a Foundation for Lasting Impact 

The innovations showcased at this event represent more than individual projects—they form the building blocks of systemic change in maternal and child healthcare across Wisconsin. By bringing together diverse stakeholders from academic, clinical, and community settings, the event fostered the cross-sector collaboration essential for addressing deeply rooted health disparities. 

While the challenges in maternal health equity remain significant, the collective expertise, dedication, and innovative approaches highlighted at this event offer hope for meaningful progress in the months and years ahead.