We’re excited to share with you that on July 17, Dr. Elizabeth Cherot was named the 6th president and chief executive officer of March of Dimes. Dr. Cherot joined us in January as senior vice president and chief medical and health officer, and has been instrumental in elevating our mission in political and media spaces and drawing attention nationwide to the health crisis impacting moms and babies.
Throughout her remarkable career, Dr. Cherot’s passion for providing the best quality of care to all has been evident. As a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Cherot has over two decades of experience in managing numerous maternal and infant health initiatives. Read Dr. Cherot’s full bio here.
On August 1, we released a new set of reports, Where You Live Matters: Maternity Care Deserts and the Crisis of Access and Equity, finding that more than 5.6 million women live in counties with limited or no access to maternity care services. Scroll down for more information on this latest research.
We can’t thank our corporate partners enough for your commitment to helping families. Your support empowers us to face challenges like maternity care deserts and find solutions for the moms and babies who need us most.
‘Til next time,
Elizabeth Dunn
VP, Corporate Engagement
March of Dimes
Where You Live Matters: Maternity Care Deserts and the Crisis of Access and Equity
NEW! With support from our corporate partner community, this month we released new research providing in-depth analysis of access to maternity care in all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, including policy recommendations. These reports show that access to maternity care continues to decline. In fact, hospitals in nearly 1 in 10 counties across the U.S. have lost obstetric services. So far, more than 680 media placements of our report have resulted in 2.2 billion+ impressions. Click below to access the reports and find out what barriers are affecting families in your state.
HCA Healthcare expands their support of March of Dimes
March of Dimes publishes our annual report card that uses data to illustrate the current state of maternal and infant health in the U.S. We’re pleased to announce that HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers in healthcare services, is the new sponsor of our 2023 report card, to be released this fall.
Their sponsorship is one of many ways HCA Healthcare collaborates with us on local and national levels to help improve the health of moms and babies.
White Castle joins our retail partner portfolio
White Castle–Chicago District is supporting March of Dimes through two customer point-of-sale campaigns this year. During each campaign, restaurants in the district ask their customers to round up their meal purchase for healthy moms and strong babies. Antoinette Wilson, Chicago district supervisor, shared her excitement about her stores’ partnership with March of Dimes:
“Our team members and our customers are committed to making a difference in their communities, and we’re proud to raise funds for March of Dimes and help families!”
Humana is helping increase access to doula services
Thanks to the support of Humana Healthy Horizons Texas, March of Dimes is working to grow and diversify the doula workforce in Houston and San Antonio. The initiative includes trainings, mentorship, and business support for aspiring doulas.
Our inaugural cohort kicked off in June and throughout the rest of the year, the doulas will work towards certification, have opportunities for continuing education, and begin taking on clients with the support of their mentors.
Sanofi partnership raises awareness of flu/RSV prevention
August is National Immunization Month, marking the start of flu and RSV season, and the launch of our vaccine awareness initiative with our corporate partner, Sanofi. Today in the U.S., millions of moms and babies are behind on their immunizations, creating greater risk for adverse health outcomes. Our partnership aims to advance immunization knowledge, trust, and equity.
Advocacy: Leading the fight for moms and babies
A critical part of our mission is advocating for legislation that protects the health of moms and babies. We’re encouraged by the recent approval of the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This follows Dr. Cherot’s June testimony on both bills before its Health Subcommittee.
In the news
Forbes: Maternity Care Access Is Dwindling For American Women, New Report Says
ABC News: Worsening maternity care crisis potentially leaves women at risk
Good Morning America: Millions of women in US have limited or no access to maternal care, new report finds
CNN: Hospitals in a 10th of US counties have lost childbirth units over the past five years, according to a new analysis
The Hill: Access to maternal health care in decline, putting millions at risk: report
Axios: Giving birth in America continues to get deadlier
FOX News: Pregnant women struggle to find care in ‘maternity deserts,’ new study finds: ‘We need more support’
Wall Street Journal: Hospitals Shutter Maternity Wards Amid Falling Birthrates
Politico: The decade-long journey to end pregnancy discrimination