EVENT DESCRIPTION

The United States continues to grapple with a worsening maternal health crisis. Trends show that our systems are failing people who give birth: The United States' maternal death rate is nearly three times the rate of comparable countries, and Black and Indigenous women continue to experience unacceptable disparities in health and well-being. However, the maternal death rate is only one piece of the picture. Significant barriers restrict access to care before, during, and after pregnancy, resulting in serious complications for both parents and infants. Removing these barriers and building systems that ensure equitable access to comprehensive, patient-centered care is a priority for policymakers, providers, businesses, patients, and families. Join the WGR for a convening on maternal health, hosted by the Health and Social Policies Task Force on November 29 from 2-5pm. This event is for government relations professionals interested in learning more about the policy landscape surrounding maternal health care access, as well as promising opportunities to support birthing people and families. Note that health care policy expertise is not required to attend the convening. During this event, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts, congressional staff, business leaders, and WGR members who have given birth on the status of maternal health in the U.S., and what we can do to improve it. Speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. 

RECEPTION FOLLOWING THE PROGRAM!

Registration Fees:

• Members: $35
  
• Non Members: $55
• Public Sector: $20 (email sknight@wgr.org for discount code) 

There are limited tickets available. 

SESSION INFORMATION 

Opening Remarks

Elizabeth Sharp, Head of U.S. Government Affairs and Policy, Philips North America

Elizabeth Sharp is Head of U.S. Government of Affairs and Policy for Philips. In her role, Elizabeth is responsible for advocacy efforts and Philips’ government program in the U.S., driving initiatives that will help shape healthcare public policy in line with the Philips mission of improving lives through better access to quality care. Elizabeth has 20 years of demonstrated experience working with the federal government, healthcare industry and trade associations. She is a seasoned professional with a keen understanding of legislative agendas and processes, as well as regulatory issues affecting the healthcare market. She has held various senior management and leadership positions, including Vice President for Federal and International Government Affairs at Cook Medical. Prior to that, she held a variety of roles over 10 years at AdvaMed, including leading the legislative efforts as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Federal Government Affairs. Elizabeth graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster and went on to get her Master's in Public Policy from Duke University. She lives in Washington, D.C. and has two children who are 7 and 10 years old. Outside of work she enjoys family time, cooking, reading fantasy and sci-fi novels and running.

From Statistics to Solutions: Exploring Key Trends in Maternal Health

This session will define key terms and describe recent trends related to maternal morbidity and mortality. Participants will gain a better understanding of the key drivers of injury and death among pregnant people in the United States, as well as how these factors differ by demographics.

Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD, Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Dr. Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD is a scientist and professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research focuses on the implementation and evaluation of perinatal quality and safety interventions, both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining the faculty at Hopkins, Dr. Creanga spent six years working on maternal morbidity and mortality surveillance at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she led the national Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. This work led her to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor given by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers. 

In addition, Dr. Creanga currently serves as Program Director for the Maryland Maternal Health Innovation program (MDMOM),a  five-year program designed to improve maternal health across the state of Maryland by coordinating innovation in the areas of maternal health data, hospital and US home visiting, training and resource availability. She is a member of the Maryland Maternal Mortality Review Committee, World Health Organization’s Maternal Mortality Estimation Technical Working Group, and United Nations’ Stillbirth Estimation Group.

From Crisis to Care: Advancing Federal Policies to Promote Maternal and Infant Health

This session will provide an overview of the current federal policy landscape surrounding maternal and infant health, outlining opportunities for policymakers to improve health outcomes and redress disparities.

Stacey Brayboy, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government for the March of Dimes

Stacey Brayboy is the Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs at March of Dimes. She brings decades of experience in public policy, government affairs, issue advocacy, and national campaigns. Stacey leads the organization’s development and execution of federal and state government affairs and public policy agendas. She oversees a nationwide team that advances legislative policies and external advocacy efforts. Prior to joining March of Dimes, she served as Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Virginia, having been appointed by Governor Ralph Northam. As Director, she served as the Federal Liaison for the Commonwealth of Virginia and worked closely with the Virginia congressional delegation, the U.S. House and Senate leadership, the White House, federal and state agencies, and US States and Territories.

Brayboy served 8 years in the Obama-Biden administration, holding various leadership roles at the United States Department of Agriculture. She was Chief of Staff to the Chief Financial Officer, Chief of Staff for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), and Director of Economic and Community Development for USDA Rural Development. Stacey was a member of the transition team for President Obama and prior to that role, was appointed by then Governor Tim Kaine (now US Senator) to serve as Deputy Director of the Virginia Council on Human Rights. Brayboy holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Francis Marion University. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia Sorenson Political Leadership Program and The Federal Executive Institute. Brayboy’s awards include the Professional Industry Achievement Award in Public Service and Law from Francis Marion University and a nomination for the Excellence in Advocacy Award by the Women in Government Relations in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

From Partisanship to Partnership: Building Bridges for Moms, Infants, and Families

This session will provide a forum for Republican and Democratic congressional staff to discuss their efforts to advance maternal health legislation. The session will highlight opportunities for bipartisan collaboration to promote the health of moms and infants, both in the 118th Congress and beyond.

Meagan Thompson, DNP, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Ill.)

Meagan Thompson serves as Senior Health Policy Advisor for Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Co-Chair of the House Maternity Care Caucus and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Her portfolio comprises health and social welfare issues. Thompson first joined Congresswoman Kelly’s office as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow in 2020. Prior to assuming her current role, she served as Senior Legislative Assistant to Congressman Sean Casten (D-Ill.). Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Science in Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Georgetown University.

Nora Blalock, Legislative Director, Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-Fla.)

Nora Blalock is the Legislative Director for Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. She has a portfolio that includes health care, education, and appropriations, and leads the Congresswoman’s work on the Academic Medicine, Children’s Health Care, and Childhood Cancer Caucuses. Prior to joining the Congresswoman in 2022, Nora worked for Congressman David Price (D-N.C.) for 8 years. She earned her Master of Public Policy from George Washington University in 2020 and received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013.

From Employer to Innovator: Catalyzing Private Sector Solutions to the Maternal Health Crisis

This session will highlight efforts by the private sector to expand access to maternal health care and support working parents. The session will showcase companies that are working to promote the health and well-being of parents, infants, and families through supportive and inclusive policies, cross-sector collaboration, and equity-informed innovation.

Jesse Matton, Director, Corporate Social Impact Policies' of National Partnership for Women & Families

Jesse Matton is the director of corporate social impact policies on the congressional relations and social impact team. Jesse builds alliances with corporations and other private sector stakeholders to identify common policy priorities and develop partnerships that further joint policy goals and systems change. Jesse also leads the National Partnership’s Business Working Group for Gender Equity and works collaboratively with the Economic Justice and Health Justice teams to make an impact in the private sector.Jesse comes to the National Partnership with over 10 years of nonprofit experience, which covered partnerships, operations, and programming related to social investments, corporate citizenship and ESG strategy. Jesse was the Director of Economic Opportunity and Empowerment at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Center where she led strategic programming and partnership opportunities to further the business communities’ impact on women’s economic empowerment, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality, supplier diversity, and inclusive entrepreneurship. Jesse hails from Northern Virginia and attended University of Tennessee where she studied International Business, Russian, and Economics. She lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, son, and dog.

Dawn Godbolt, PhD, Director of Health Equity at Maven Clinic

Dr. Godbolt holds her PhD in Sociology with a concentration on race, class, and gender inequalities. She came to Maven from the Reproductive Justice space and the National Partnership for Women and Families, where she advocated for creating a more equitable health care system through federal policy levers. Prior to joining Maven Clinic, Dr. Godbolt was heavily involved in drafting and development of critical federal health legislation, including the Health Equity Accountability Acts of 2018 and 2020, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, and the COVID-19 Safe Birthing Act. Today, Dawn works alongside Maven’s clinical team to expand Maven’s footprint to historically underserved communities by expanding access to equitable and culturally-affirming care.

Anya Malkov, Senior Manager, Public Policy at Amazon

Anya specializes in partnerships with policymakers and organizations that represent them. At Amazon. she leads a team responsible for state and local public policy in the Southeast. Previously, she served as Head of US Vaccine Policy, supporting Amazon’s goal of providing access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all Amazon employees. She worked hand-in-hand with policymakers at every level of government – from the White House to local epidemiologists – as Amazon invested in supporting employees and communities navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Anya joined Amazon in 2017 as a state and local policy lead for the Midwest. She had also worked at The Pew Charitable Trusts and served as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Congress. She is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School and Dickinson College.

From Story to Action: Highlighting Lived Experiences in Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting

This session will provide a space for panelists to reflect upon their lived experiences with pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. The session will feature perspectives from WGR’s membership and local community-based organizations.

Angela Lee, Director of Communications and Programs at the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW)

Angela Lee is the Director of Communications and Programs at the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) where she oversees ABHW’s communications strategies and leads the Stamp Out Stigma initiative. Throughout her career, Angela has developed and executed strategic communications that advance federal and state policy. Angela has worked on a broad range of subject matters including mental health, substance use disorders, workforce development, economic mobility, and sexual assault and harassment. Angela currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, and as a founding member, for the Diversity in Government Relations Coalition and previously served on the leadership team for Women in Government Relations’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. In 2021, Angela experienced severe, early onset preeclampsia while she was pregnant. This experience has had a profound impact on her life and made her an advocate for the health of pregnant people and parents. She's honored and grateful for the opportunity to share her story.

Virginia Duplessis, Director, National Health Resource Center On Domestic Violence

Virginia Duplessis, MSW is the Associate Director of Health at Futures Without Violence, providing oversight for a range of initiatives designed to improve the public health response to violence against women and increase the capacity of domestic violence services providers to address the health needs of their clients. She serves as the Director of the federally-designated National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence. She brings over 20 years of experience in the domestic violence, sexual assault and public health fields. Ms. Duplessis has worked extensively with healthcare and social service providers, developing training and educational materials on a range of health and behavioral health issues within local and state public health organizations. Trained as a social worker, she has also worked directly with community members, youth, and victims/survivors of violence as an advocate, counselor and prevention educator. She is also a community-based doula.

Valarie Molaison, Director, Government Affairs, Neurocrine Biosciences

Dr. Molaison is a uniquely experienced government affairs executive with broad expertise advancing health policy initiatives after roles as a Congressional staffer, healthcare provider, educator, and public policy journalist. Her appreciation for patient, provider, and health system perspectives enables success in advancing advocacy for patients, science, and medical innovation. Prior to her federal policy work, Val served over 20 years as a licensed psychologist in a number of roles, such as pediatric medicine, director of family bereavement center, university adjunct associate professor, corporate diversity consultant, pediatric rehabilitation consultant, and psychotherapist. Her policy interests and clinical work have emphasized helping people cope with unexpected stressors (e.g., health issues, end of life, developmental disabilities, mental health issues, traumatic events, managing life as a person of minority status), as well as normative developmental life transitions (e.g., raising children, caring for aging parents, vocational issues). As a thought leader in grief and traumatic stress, Dr. Molaison has been a frequent presenter and subject matter expert for print, radio, web and television media coverage of topics related to coping with loss and life transition. Val completed her undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University, focusing on psychology and broadcast journalism. Her PhD in applied developmental psychology is from the University of Maryland. She also completed a residency and post-doc in pediatric psychology in the medical school at Michigan State University.

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