Bonus Episode 6: Fertility and Maternal Health in the Black Community
Today’s bonus episode comes from a recent Progyny webinar, “Fertility and Maternal Health in the Black Community,” which reflects on the inequalities and institutionalized racism within the fertility industry.
Moderated by Progyny’s Selena Campbell, and experts Dr. Genevieve Neal-Perry, Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey, and Dr. Renita White, we talk about some of the issues that uniquely face Black women in their fertility journeys, why they aren’t getting the care they need, and how they can advocate for it.
Host: Selena Campbell, Manager, Member Services, Progyny
Experts: Genevieve Neal-Perry, MD, PhD, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Chair, UNC School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Tia Jackson-Bey, MD, MPH, Reproductive Endocrinologist, RMA of New York and Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai; Renita White, MD, OBGYN at Georgia Obstetrics & Gynecology
For more information visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources.
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Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.
Host
Selena is a healthcare professional, currently working in the greater New York City area as the Manager of Member Services at Progyny. Selena is a graduate of Delaware State University and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Management, with a concentration in Healthcare Administration at Wilmington University. She has a passion for patient care and has over seven years of healthcare experience to include a children’s hospital to genetic testing facilities. Selena believes that “patients don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” As a New Jersey native, Selena enjoys all things “Jersey Shore”. She loves to travel, go to concerts, and spend time with her family.
Guest
Robert A. Ross Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Genevieve Neal-Perry, MD, PhD was born and raised in New Jersey. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and obtained her MD/PhD in pharmacology from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Dr. Neal-Perry completed residency and fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) at Beth Israel Medical Center and Montefiore Medical Center, respectively. Upon completion of fellowship, she joined faculty at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she rose to the rank of Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Neuroscience. While at Einstein College of Medicine she served as the REI division research and fellowship director as well as the Associate Dean for Diversity and Mentoring.
In 2015, Dr. Neal-Perry joined the Department of OB/GYN at the University of Washington where she was recruited to be the Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. While at the University of Washington, she lead the creation and opening of the Cancer and Reproduction Clinic at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and she was instrumental in developing the inaugural employee discount program for fertility service the University of Washington faculty, students and employees.
In April 2020, Dr. Neal-Perry was appointed as Chair with tenure for the UNC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology here in Chapel Hill.
Dr. Neal-Perry research program has focused on the menopause and the impact of nutrition on reproductive and fertility outcomes. She has published a wide range of original research manuscripts, reviews, and book chapters in the field of reproductive science. Additionally, Dr. Neal-Perry is a national leadership in women’s health research and reproductive endocrinology. Her leadership roles have included serving as a NIH study section member for Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction Study Section and the Chair and a member of the Reproductive, Andrology and Gynecology study section. She has also served as a member of the REI Division of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Basic Science Vice President for the Endocrine Society. She is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and a scientific advisor for Endocrinology.
Dr. Neal-Perry’s clinical interest and expertise include general infertility, cancer and reproductive health, PCOS, in vitro fertilization, third party reproduction, single and same-sex reproduction, nutrition and fertility, premature ovarian insufficiency, ovarian aging, menopause and perimenopause complaints, and menstrual cycle dysfunction. She specializes in minimally invasive surgical procedures intended to restore fertility including ovarian cyst removal, tubal reconstruction and uterine polyp and fibroid management.
Guest
Tia Jackson-Bey MD, MPH is a board-certified Obstetrician Gynecologist and practicing Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist based in New York City. She recently completed her REI fellowship at University of Illinois at Chicago, after OB/GYN residency at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Jackson-Bey is passionate about reproductive justice and increasing access to fertility care for all. Through her work with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and National Medical Association (NMA) she is committed to highlight health disparities in fertility care, particularly barriers to care and poorer treatment outcomes for Black women. Her professional interests also include patient education, quality improvement, mentoring underrepresented college and medical students on careers in medicine, and global public health. She has traveled to Honduras, South Africa, Swaziland, Ghana and Tanzania for various projects in women’s reproductive health.
Guest
Dr. Renita White is originally from Kennesaw, Georgia.
She received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and medical degree from Ohio State University. Residency brought her back to Atlanta where she completed her training at Emory.
She is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
In her spare time, Dr. White enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her husband, son, and dog Nala.