Educating the Maternal and PerinAtal workforce to advance healTHcare
This project is focused on developing dynamic, evidence-based training programs for healthcare providers that center on Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) and the Non-medical Drivers of Health (NMDH).
Through immersive, simulation-based learning and real-world case studies, our RMC curriculum equips providers to recognize and address implicit bias, enhance communication, and deliver empathetic, culturally responsive care. These trainings are enriched by firsthand accounts from The Maternal Near Miss Study, highlighting the lived experiences of individuals from historically marginalized communities. In parallel, our NMDH training explores how systemic inequities—such as housing instability, food insecurity, and economic disparity—contribute to maternal health outcomes. Providers gain practical tools and strategies to integrate NMDH into their clinical practice through interactive workshops and case-based learning.
Our ultimate goal is to foster a healthcare workforce that is not only clinically skilled but also socially conscious, capable of delivering maternity care that is respectful, equitable, and grounded in the realities of patients’ lives.
To ensure the RMC curriculum is practical, relevant, and effective for future providers, we are recruiting medical students and residents at Morehouse School of Medicine to pilot and evaluate the training. Participants will attend a single two-hour session during which they will complete a brief pre-test, independently complete the RMC course on their personal laptop, and take a short post-test. The session will conclude with a facilitated focus group to gather in-depth feedback on the course content, usability, and clinical relevance. Participants will receive a gift card in recognition of their time, and their input will play a critical role in refining and strengthening the curriculum before broader implementation.
