OCTOBER 22, 2021 PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

Eliminating Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality and Morbidity

Time: 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm

Place: Cisco WebEx

Maternal mortality in the United States has steadily increased over the last quarter century, meaning that the United States is currently a deadlier place to be pregnant and give birth than it was in the recent past.  Researchers estimate that more than half of these deaths are preventable.  The path to motherhood is significantly deadlier for women of color than it is for their white counterparts.  Nationally, black women are three to four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, a disparity that has only widened in recent years. There is also significant variation in racial disparities in maternal mortality across cities and states, with some states experiencing far poorer maternal outcomes than others.[1]  In Arizona, maternal mortality rates are far higher for Native American women than any other group. 

This presentation will explore the injustice of racial disparities in maternal mortality, both nationally and in Arizona.  This distinguished panel of speakers will discuss the data demonstrating that birthing individuals of color in Arizona experience maternal mortality and morbidity at strikingly higher rates than white birthing persons, explain some of the contributing factors, describe evidence-based solutions that have been identified and successfully implemented, and discuss what healthcare attorneys can do to effect change on this critical issue. 

Speaker Biographies:

Andrew F. Rubenstein, MD, is the Academic Chair of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Dignity Health Medical Group at Dignity Health/St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Vice-Chair in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix Campus and an Associate Professor at the Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix Campus.  He presently serves as the Co-Chair of the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) and on the Executive Committee for the Arizona Alliance for Innovation for Maternal Health (AZ AIM).

As a women’s health care leader, Dr. Rubenstein’s  vision is that the maternal and child health care teams must come together to ensure that every care setting has a systematic and comprehensive framework for obstetrical and perinatal care delivery and delivers this within the health equity lens. By focusing on improving and monitoring quality metrics, related to obstetrical and postpartum care, and collaborating with colleagues on advancement of maternal child health, health equity and standardization of health care processes, Dr. Rubenstein has emerged as an early champion in helping to improve obstetrical safety and maternal health care outcomes.

Leila Barraza, J.D., M.P.H., is an Associate Professor in Community, Environment & Policy at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, and a Senior Consultant for the Western Region of the Network for Public Health Law.  She is also the Director of the Arizona Area Health Education Centers Program. Her research interests include studying the impact of laws and policies on population health, both nationally and globally.  Professor Barraza instructs a public health law course for public health and law students, and she has also provided numerous presentations at national and local conferences on a variety of critical public health law issues. 

Patricia Tarango currently serves as the Chief for the Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health, Division of Public Health Prevention Services, Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). In her role as Bureau Chief, Patricia functions as the Maternal & Child Health Director. A proud native of rural Arizona from Pinal County, she has dedicated her career to improving access to care for Arizona residents. Most recently Patricia provided leadership for the development of a comprehensive Maternal Health Action Plan, the Maternal Health Task Force and secured two federal grants dedicating resources to the Maternal Mortality Review Program and the Maternal Health Improvement Program.  Patricia is a member of the Arizona Public Health Association, Arizona Rural Health Association and served previously as a community Representative on Chicano’s Por La Causa, Early Childhood Head Start Policy Council and the Arizona Medical Student Loan Program Board. Currently, Patricia serves as the ADHS Designee on the First Things First Board. Patricia holds an Associate degree from Central Arizona College, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University – Go DEVILS! — a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of St. Francis and holds Leadership certificates from Arizona State University, W.P. Carey College of Business and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, Arizona State University, Valle del Sol.   

Breann Westmore is the Advocacy and Government Affairs Director at Centering Healthcare Institute (CHI). CHI is a non-profit organization with the mission is to improve health, transform care and disrupt inequitable systems through the Centering group model. As a Director of Advocacy & Government Affairs, Breann works to create and support evidence-based health policy, develop a pathway for access to care/payment reform, and mobilize advocates to expand the utilization of the Centering model. Prior to joining CHI, Breann served as the Maternal Infant Health & Government Affairs Director for March of Dimes for 8 years. Past policy wins including expanding access to care, newborn screening innovations, and enhanced data surveillance and monitoring of maternal morbidity and mortality. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids.

Due to the current social distancing recommendations, this program will be held via video conference through Cisco WebEx.  This program will be $10 for members and $15 for non-members.

To register, please visit our website https://azsha.org/, click upcoming programs, on the right you will see a button that says “Register for Next Program Pay Now”. This button will take you to a screen with multiple payment options. Please select your membership level. If you are a member, please login and proceed with the payment process. If you are not a member, you will have to create a username and password to continue with the payment process.

  Once you have registered online, you will receive a calendar invite containing the WebEx link. Please note, you don’t need to sign up for a WebEx Account to join a meeting.

The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1.5 hours of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.