About this talk
Every year in the United States, over 60,000 women suffer a severe, life-altering complication during childbirth, and 700 to 900 women die from a pregnancy related cause. Elizabeth Howell, OBGYN and expert on maternal health, explains that these complications, often resulting from treatable ailments like blood clots and hemorrhages, are far too preventable to produce such staggering outcomes. Even more shocking is the clear racial disparity to these outcomes, as black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to suffer a pregnancy related death than white women, even when controlling for social factors. Elizabeth believes that, to permanently mend this gap, every hospital must adopt standardized procedures to assure high quality maternal health care from contraception to post-pregnancy.
Elizabeth is leading the way to make high quality care at childbirth a standard practice for every mother. Watch Elizabeth’s TEDMED 2018 Talk to discover how preparing for preventable complications, addressing racial bias in care, and educating and supporting mothers throughout pregnancy can save countless lives each day.
About Elizabeth Howell
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Elizabeth Howell is a physician and researcher who is a leading expert on women’s health. She is currently the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Her work focuses on improving the quality of health care for women and reducing the significant racial and ethnic disparities that exist in maternal and child health. Her research often looks at how the care women receive affects their health, particularly concerning maternal and infant mortality and morbidity (serious health problems). She has extensively researched these issues in places like New York City, where she previously worked as the founding director of the Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute at Mount Sinai. A graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Kennedy School, Elizabeth is a strong advocate for health equity. She has served on numerous national committees and testified before Congress to push for better health care for all women. Her work continues to provide vital information for policymakers and health care providers working to create a more just and equitable health care system.
