Morehouse School of Medicine News September 19, 2018 How Do You Keep Black Mothers from Dying? 23rd Annual HeLa Symposium to Address National Crisis Family members share their stories of losing a mother following childbirth; experts tackle ways to ensure the health of African-Americans mothers and babies. Thought leaders in women's and reproductive health will gather for Morehouse School of Medicine's (MSM) 23rd Annual HeLa Symposium<http://www.msm.edu/hela/> "Birthing Babies: A Solution Symposium to Address the Crisis of African-American Maternal and Infant Mortality." MSM is partnering with March of Dimes for the day-long event on Friday, September 28 at MSM's Louis W. Sullivan National Center for Primary Care. "African-American women are 243 percent more likely to die due to issues related to pregnancy or childbirth," said Roland Matthews, M.D.<http://www.msm.edu/about_us/FacultyDirectory/ObstetricsGynecology/RolandMatthews/index.php>, OBGYN Chair at Morehouse School of Medicine citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "There are a number of factors contributing to this startlingly high rate. From stress to heart disease. As a medical community, it is up to us to ensure that African-American women are has healthy as possible during and following their pregnancies." The morning will begin with experts from the CDC, United Healthcare, and other organizations as they define the problem and focus on finding solutions. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion among community leaders moderated by Stacey D. Stewart, president of March of Dimes. "The rate of preterm births in the United States has risen for the third year in a row," said Stewart. "When it comes to African-American women, preterm births are rising at a disproportionate rate. Every mom and baby deserves the opportunity to be as healthy as possible regardless of income, education or racial background. We are working to ensure all woman have access to preventive and supportive care before, during and after pregnancy." During lunch, three guest speakers will share how this crisis forever changed their lives. Charles Johnson lost his wife shortly after she gave birth to their second child. Wanda Irving is now raising her grandchildren after her daughter passed away due to complications from childbirth. Sherri Martin Kinard will talk about how she nearly lost her own life while bringing a new life into the world. Other topics to be discussed include depression and mental illness, substance abuse, and closing the gap in health disparities. Guest speakers at this year's HeLa Conference include: * Patrice Harris, M.D.<https://www.ama-assn.org/patrice-harris-md-ma>, president of the American Medical Association * Richard Migliori, M.D.<https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/speakers/richard-migliori.html>, chief medical officer of United Healthcare * Wanda Barfield, M.D.<https://www.ajmc.com/conferences/acog-2018/rear-admiral-dr-wanda-barfield-on-perinatal-morbidity-and-mortality>, director of reproductive health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention * Michael Lu, M.D.<https://publichealth.gwu.edu/departments/office-dean/michael-lu>, senior associate dean at the Milken Institute School of Public Policy at The George Washington University The annual HeLa Symposium honors the legacy of Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman who in 1951 unknowingly donated her cells to research. Her cells were then used to develop numerous vaccines, used in cancer research, and were integral in the creation of a cure for polio. For more information and to register for the symposium, please visit MSM's HeLa Symposium web page<http://www.msm.edu/hela/>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. The 8th HBCU Library Alliance Membership Meeting is scheduled at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) on Sunday through Tuesday, October 7-9. Click here<http://www.hbculibraries.org/meeting-2018-info.html> for registration and session details. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/