Washington, DC ― It has been well documented by the World Health Organization and others that social determinants of health (SDOH) — a person’s economic and social conditions — can have a major impact on their health, well-being, and quality of life. SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities.
On February 1-2, 2022, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) — together with the Commonwealth Fund, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, and the Society for Women’s Health Research — will bring together leading national and international clinicians and researchers for an in-depth discussion about approaches that have and should be taken to lessen the detrimental effects of systemic racism and SDOH on obstetric outcomes.
The President’s Workshop on Social Determinants of Health and Obstetric Outcomes takes place in conjunction with SMFM’s 42 nd Annual Pregnancy Meeting , which is being held virtually.
Topics to be discussed include:
“The effect of social determinants of health and systemic racism on obstetric health care and outcomes is one of the most important challenges in reproductive health care today,” says workshop co-leader and SMFM President William Grobman, MD, MBA. “As a profession, and as a society, we must find more effective interventions and strategies to improve maternal, infant, and lifelong health outcomes for all.”
“Despite research initiatives to understand SDOH and individual and systematic efforts to dismantle associated obstetric health disparities, inequities in health outcomes among obstetric patients and their children persist,” says workshop co-leader and Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania Elizabeth Howell, MD, MPP. “This workshop will provide a space for clinicians and researchers to discuss recommendations and best practices for research and multi-level interventions to lessen the detrimental effects of structural racism and SDOH in an effort to increase equity in obstetric outcomes.”
For more information, view the workshop agenda here . To access other Annual Meeting information, click here .
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About the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), founded in 1977, is the medical professional society for obstetricians who have additional training in high-risk, complicated pregnancies. SMFM represents more than 5,000 members who care for high-risk pregnant people and provides education, promotes research, and engages in advocacy to reduce disparities and optimize the health of high-risk pregnant people and their families. SMFM and its members are dedicated to optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes and assuring medically appropriate treatment options are available to all patients. For more information, visit SMFM.org and connect with the organization on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . For the latest 2022 Annual Meeting news and updates, follow the hashtag #smfm22.
About the Commonwealth Fund
The mission of the Commonwealth Fund is to promote an equitable high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, and people of color. For more information, visit commonwealthfund.org , and connect with the organization on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn .
About the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health
The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) is a national data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiative. Based on proven safety and quality implementation strategies, AIM works to reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe morbidity across the United States. AIM is funded through a cooperative agreement between the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB)-Health Resource Services Administration. For more information, visit safehealthcareforeverywoman.org .
About the Society for Women’s Health Research
The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is dedicated to promoting research on biological sex differences in disease and improving women’s health through science, policy, and education. For more information, visit swhr.org , and connect with the organization on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and YouTube .