Dr. Shannon M. Clark, MD, FACOG

And we know that our black patients are disproportionately affected. Why is that? They're having consistently higher rates of maternal mortality compared to their white counterparts. And that is even if a black patient has a college education, they are still five times more likely to die in childbirth than a white counterpart. So even education isn't protective in that patient population.

And we know that our black patients are disproportionately affected. Why is that? They're having consistently higher rates of maternal mortality compared to their white counterparts. And that is even if a black patient has a college education, they are still five times more likely to die in childbirth than a white counterpart. So even education isn't protective in that patient population.

And we know that our black patients are disproportionately affected. Why is that? They're having consistently higher rates of maternal mortality compared to their white counterparts. And that is even if a black patient has a college education, they are still five times more likely to die in childbirth than a white counterpart. So even education isn't protective in that patient population.

The next thing is going to be systemic issues. We have limited access to care. A lot of our patients don't get any care in between pregnancies. A lot of my patients don't get care until they're pregnant. And so then we're playing catch up with any pre-existing medical conditions they have while they're pregnant, which is not the ideal time to do that.

The next thing is going to be systemic issues. We have limited access to care. A lot of our patients don't get any care in between pregnancies. A lot of my patients don't get care until they're pregnant. And so then we're playing catch up with any pre-existing medical conditions they have while they're pregnant, which is not the ideal time to do that.

The next thing is going to be systemic issues. We have limited access to care. A lot of our patients don't get any care in between pregnancies. A lot of my patients don't get care until they're pregnant. And so then we're playing catch up with any pre-existing medical conditions they have while they're pregnant, which is not the ideal time to do that.

We have a lot of social determinants of health that affect patient outcomes like Poverty, transportation issues, unstable housing, nutrition. Those are all affecting pregnancy as well. Mr. Delayed Diagnosis. And that's just because in general, anyone with a uterus isn't always taken seriously. And that's even from when they're not pregnant.

We have a lot of social determinants of health that affect patient outcomes like Poverty, transportation issues, unstable housing, nutrition. Those are all affecting pregnancy as well. Mr. Delayed Diagnosis. And that's just because in general, anyone with a uterus isn't always taken seriously. And that's even from when they're not pregnant.

We have a lot of social determinants of health that affect patient outcomes like Poverty, transportation issues, unstable housing, nutrition. Those are all affecting pregnancy as well. Mr. Delayed Diagnosis. And that's just because in general, anyone with a uterus isn't always taken seriously. And that's even from when they're not pregnant.

If they're not pregnant and they're having a complication, oh, well, you know, they're just being dramatic. If they're pregnant, then, oh, it's just because you're pregnant. So there's always traditionally has been a tendency to downplay pregnancy. any concerns that a pregnant individual may have. So there's so many reasons why we are in a maternal mortality crisis. It's not where we should be.

If they're not pregnant and they're having a complication, oh, well, you know, they're just being dramatic. If they're pregnant, then, oh, it's just because you're pregnant. So there's always traditionally has been a tendency to downplay pregnancy. any concerns that a pregnant individual may have. So there's so many reasons why we are in a maternal mortality crisis. It's not where we should be.

If they're not pregnant and they're having a complication, oh, well, you know, they're just being dramatic. If they're pregnant, then, oh, it's just because you're pregnant. So there's always traditionally has been a tendency to downplay pregnancy. any concerns that a pregnant individual may have. So there's so many reasons why we are in a maternal mortality crisis. It's not where we should be.

We can do a better job. And now that we're having laws that are affecting access to reproductive health care, there's going to be maternal health care deserts because people are going to leave those states. It's already happening. My residents are not going to get the training they need because they're in a state with restrictions and bans. Abortion bans and restrictions in the United States

We can do a better job. And now that we're having laws that are affecting access to reproductive health care, there's going to be maternal health care deserts because people are going to leave those states. It's already happening. My residents are not going to get the training they need because they're in a state with restrictions and bans. Abortion bans and restrictions in the United States

We can do a better job. And now that we're having laws that are affecting access to reproductive health care, there's going to be maternal health care deserts because people are going to leave those states. It's already happening. My residents are not going to get the training they need because they're in a state with restrictions and bans. Abortion bans and restrictions in the United States

It actually affects pregnancy care. So unfortunately, we are taking steps back in recent years, and it's only going to get worse. I'm in this every day. I don't see anything being done right now that's going to help the maternal mortality crisis in this country. And I don't see anything that's going to help improve health equity and equality for our patients of color.

It actually affects pregnancy care. So unfortunately, we are taking steps back in recent years, and it's only going to get worse. I'm in this every day. I don't see anything being done right now that's going to help the maternal mortality crisis in this country. And I don't see anything that's going to help improve health equity and equality for our patients of color.

It actually affects pregnancy care. So unfortunately, we are taking steps back in recent years, and it's only going to get worse. I'm in this every day. I don't see anything being done right now that's going to help the maternal mortality crisis in this country. And I don't see anything that's going to help improve health equity and equality for our patients of color.

Everything that's being done is doing the exact opposite. And it's something that I think about every day. It's something that I'm seeing the consequences of more. I've seen things in the past three years that I have not seen in my entire career.

Everything that's being done is doing the exact opposite. And it's something that I think about every day. It's something that I'm seeing the consequences of more. I've seen things in the past three years that I have not seen in my entire career.