2026 West Virginia Perinatal Summit

Presentation: Caring for the Tiniest Babies: Delivery Room Stabilization, Transport, and Early NICU Care for Infants <25 Weeks (Schedule Link)

Mahmoud Ali, MD, MSc, FAAP, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at West Virginia University and a neonatologist at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. He completed his pediatric residency at MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and his Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship at Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Hospital in Temple, Texas. He is board certified in Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and is currently pursuing a Master of Clinical and Translational Science at WVU.

His academic and scholarly work focuses on neonatal outcomes, quality improvement, delivery-room care, and early neonatal stabilization. Dr. Ali has authored and collaborated on peer-reviewed publications related to neonatal respiratory care, therapeutic hypothermia, retinopathy of prematurity, congenital anomalies, and other neonatal outcomes. He is also actively involved in clinical education, research collaboration, and quality improvement initiatives aimed at improving care for high-risk newborns.

Presentation: Compassion Fatigue (Schedule Link)

Dr. Daniel Barnett is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he has joint appointments in the Department of Health Policy and Management and in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society. Dr. Barnett’s research focus areas include psychosocial resilience dimensions of public health & healthcare system functioning during and after disasters. He received his MD degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and he completed his MPH and residency training in General Preventive Medicine at Johns Hopkins.

Presentation: The Other 97% of the Day: Sitting Less, Moving More, and Pregnancy Health (Schedule Link)

Dr. Bethany Barone Gibbs is trained in cardiovascular and physical activity epidemiology and studies the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic disease through healthy lifestyle behaviors. Her research has recently focused on sedentary behavior, a behavior distinct from moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity. She recently completed two clinical trials testing whether interventions that target reduced sedentary behavior can improve blood pressure and cardiovascular health in desk workers (NHLBI-funded RESET BP Study) and pregnancy health (AHA-funded SPRING Study). She is the Principal Investigator of an ancillary study to measure objective sedentary behavior and activity, pulse wave velocity, and heart rate variability among young women in the nuMoM2b Heart Health 2 Study cohort, approximately 10 years after their first pregnancy.

She leads the West Virginia University site for the Pregnancy 24/7 Study linking the 24-hour activity cycle across pregnancy with pregnancy outcomes (NHLBI), and is Co-PI of a follow-up study of the intergenerational effects of prenatal activity on offspring health (Pregnancy 24/7 Offspring Study, NHLBI). She also co-leads the Mountain Mama & Baby Cohort Study, an exclusively Appalachian cohort supported by the West Virginia CTSI (NIGMS), where she is studying rurality and health behaviors (vaping, cannabis use, physical activity, diet, sleep, and stress) as they relate to maternal-fetal health health outcomes.

Presentation: Navigating Complex Pregnancy Care in West Virginia’s Current Legal Environment (Schedule Link)

Leo Brancazio, MD, is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist and academic physician with expertise in high-risk obstetrics, prenatal diagnosis, and evidence-based obstetrical care. He is a faculty member at the West Virginia University School of Medicine, where he provides comprehensive care for complex pregnancies while advancing clinical quality, education, and innovation in Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Dr. Brancazio has a strong interest in fetal imaging, including, placental disorders, and congenital anomalies. Much of his carrier has focused on caring for pregnant women with medical disorders. He is a strong advocate for underserved pregnant women. His scholarly work emphasizes translating current medical evidence into practical clinical guidance, with particular focus on developing high-quality consultation resources and improving patient counseling. He is also involved in clinical operations, quality improvement initiatives, and educational programs that enhance maternal and fetal outcomes.

Beyond clinical medicine, Dr. Brancazio has interests in medical informatics, statistical analysis, simulation modeling, and the application of artificial intelligence to healthcare. His work integrates technology, data analytics, and workflow optimization to improve both patient care and physician efficiency.

Presentation: A Case for a “Banana Bag”…Wernicke’s Encephalopathy in Hyperemesis Gravidarum (Schedule Link)

My Maternal-Fetal Medicine journey began at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) in 1995. My interest in endocrinological disorders during pregnancy led to an observational study of subclinical thyroid disease during pregnancy at Parkland Hospital. This study also led to the development and implementation of an unprecedented multicenter treatment trial of women identified with subclinical thyroid disease in early pregnancy by the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network for which I was the PI. This study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, and showed that screening and treating pregnant women with subclinical thyroid disease did not result in improved infant IQ at age 5 years. I also served as PI for UTSW’s clinical site and the alternate PI for the UAB site for the MFMU Network. I also served on the highly successful Opioid Prescription After Cesarean Trial (PACT) and was the director of the UAB Comprehensive Addiction for Pregnancy Program. In 2024, I joined West Virginia University as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences.

My career in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at three prominent U.S. academic centers and spanning more than three decades has provided me a broad range of clinical experiences and led to expertise in designing and conducting large, collaborative, patient-centered perinatal research, mentoring junior investigators, and implementing evidence into practice.

Presentation: The Loss of a Dream: Perinatal Bereavement (Schedule Link)

Elizabeth R. Cohen is a WV and PA licensed, independent clinical social worker. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Howard University. In 1994, Liz established the Mental Health and Wellness Division of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WVU Medicine, designed to strengthen the fundamental integration between physical and mental health to better address patient outcomes. In this out-patient setting, her clinical practice addressed a wide range of issues that affect women and their mental health, including: infertility, depression, post-partum mood disorders, pregnancy loss and bereavement, teen pregnancy, intimate partner violence, anxiety disorders, and high-risk pregnancies. In addition to her work with the OB/GYN department, Liz has worked with the WV Healthy Start/Helping Appalachian Parents and Infants (HAPI) since its inception in 2001, as a member of the project advisory team, as well as the training coordinator for the staff and as a provider of clinical services to clients. Liz has also been an instructor at the WVU School of Medicine, lecturing medical students on post-partum mood disorders, bereavement, and how to counsel patients with poor pregnancy outcomes. Since her retirement from the Dept. of OB/GYN in early 2006, she has been consulting with the WV Perinatal Partnership, serving on the Tobacco Free Families, Maternal MH Screening and Assessment, and the MH and Community Health Centers committees.

Presentation: Invisible Grief: Supporting Moms with CPS Involvement (Schedule Link)

Cara L. DeAngelis, MPA, is the Project Coordinator for West Virginia’s Drug Free Moms and Babies initiative, supporting 24 sites statewide in implementing comprehensive, family‑centered care models for pregnant and parenting women affected by substance use. She collaborates with healthcare, behavioral health, managed care, state, and community partners to strengthen West Virginia’s systems of care.

With over three decades of experience in public administration, Cara has spearheaded programs at federal, state, regional, county, and community levels. Her career includes service with the U.S. National Park Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Coconino County, AZ, Northern Arizona Council of Governments, and numerous nonprofits. She was also the founding Executive Director of Child Protect of Mercer County, Inc., establishing the county’s child advocacy center and supporting new centers throughout WV.

Cara focuses on advancing collaborative, community‑based programs that translate public policy into effective services for families and vulnerable populations. Her expertise spans maternal/child health, substance use, criminal justice, child advocacy, housing, environmental education, grant administration, strategic planning, and cross‑sector partnerships. She earned her B.S. in Political Science from Saint Vincent College and her MPA from Northern Arizona University, and remains committed to strengthening public systems through collaborative, evidence‑informed work.

Presentation: Building the Village After Discharge and Home Visitation (Schedule Link)

Maureen Farrell is a Certified Professional Midwife and owner of Highland Birth Support in Elkins, WV. She provides holistic care for growing families from pre-conception through pregnancy and postpartum. Her care includes home birth, prenatal and postpartum visitation, lactation support, doula support, herbal consultation, and education. She provides a hybrid of in home and office visits to create supportive care that fits each family.

She believes that midwifery care should be available to everyone in pregnancy and is dedicated to growing midwifery in West Virginia. She is a NARM preceptor and includes student midwives in her practice, helping more new midwives on their way! She also co-hosted the Milk Minute Podcast for 4 years, creating over 150 hours of free educational content focused on lactation for new parents. Her goal with the show was to help bridge gaps in care, both in West Virginia and world-wide, where direct lactation support isn’t available or affordable.

Maureen lives on a small farm in Randolph County with her husband, children, dogs, cats, chickens, and goose. Her favorite part of community care is exploring new places in West Virginia while out on home visitations!

Presentation: The State of Perinatal Health in West Virginia: 20 Years of Progress and the Road Ahead (Schedule Link)

Kimberly M. Farry, MD, FACOG, is an obstetrician and gynecologist who has served the Buckhannon, West Virginia community since 1996. She is currently the Quality and Medical Director of WVU OB/GYN Outpatient Clinical Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Dr. Farry’s distinguished career includes extensive service as both a hospital-employed physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital and as a practitioner in private practice. Dr. Farry earned her Bachelor of Science from Davis & Elkins College in 1985. She subsequently attended Temple University School of Medicine, where she obtained a Master of Science in 1987 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1991. Her professional affiliations include serving as a staff physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Braxton County Memorial Hospital, and as an Assistant Professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. Dr. Farry is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and maintains membership with the West Virginia State Medical Association.

A dedicated leader in her field, Dr. Farry has been deeply involved with the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership for many years. She has held key leadership roles on the Access to Care Committee and the Executive Council of the Partnership’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) project. Dr. Farry currently serves as Chair of the WV Perinatal Partnership’s Board of Directors and of the Central Advisory Council.

Dr. Farry resides in beautiful Upshur County with her husband, Glen, where you can find her on the side of the hill on a snowy night, hooking up a winch to save her husband and, more importantly, the truck, from certain death.

Presentation: What to Expect When You’re Expecting Policy Change: Implications of Medicaid Policy Change for Maternal and Infant Health (Schedule Link)

Stephanie Glier, is Senior Director of Federal Advocacy at the American Academy of Pediatrics, where she leads the AAP’s advocacy related to children’s coverage, access to care, and the delivery, financing, and quality of care. Before joining the AAP, Stephanie worked on national health policy issues from within the federal government, in non-profits, and philanthropy.

Presentation: Caring for the Tiniest Babies: Delivery Room Stabilization, Transport, and Early NICU Care for Infants <25 Weeks (Schedule Link)

Kelsey Haarbauer is a neonatologist in the WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital Neonatal ICU (NICU). She is originally from Fort Myers, Florida and received her undergraduate degree at the University of Florida in Business Administration, shortly followed by her medical degree at Marshall University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Pediatrics at WVU in Morgantown, WV in 2019. She stayed on at WVU to complete her fellowship in neonatology, which she completed in 2022. Having enjoyed her time in West Virginia, she decided to stay on as an attending neonatologist in the new free-standing children’s hospital at WVU in Morgantown where she has enjoyed leading the Small Baby Committee and has helped carry out numerous Quality Improvement initiatives for the WVU Small Baby Program, including emphasis on the Golden Hour and first weeks of life for premature babies.

Presentation: Creating Informed & Empowered Experiences by Making Birth S.A.F.E.R.
(Schedule Link)

Jen Hamilton is a labor and delivery nurse, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, and a viral digital creator with over 6 million followers. Her debut book Birth Vibes: Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth, was an immediate #1 New York Times bestseller, offering a warm, clinically grounded guide to navigating childbirth with confidence and calm. She is the founder of Hot Mess Express, a nonprofit offering judgment-free house cleaning and organizing for women in need, and a passionate advocate for dismantling systemic racism and misogyny in obstetrical and gynecological care. A 2026 President’s Award recipient from the American Nurses Association and a frequent presence in outlets including CNN, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post, Hamilton has become one of the most recognizable voices in modern nursing through her signature blend of clinical expertise, frank humor, and deep empathy.

Presentation: Weaving an Integrative Approach to Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use and Mental Health Coercion
(Schedule Link – Part 1)
(Schedule Link – Part 2)

Kelly Lemon is a dual-certified Certified Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner who lives and works in Morgantown, WV. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and Masters of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University. Kelly is a faculty instructor at the West Virginia University School of Nursing. She engages in faculty practice through the WVU Comprehensive Opioid Addiction Treatment Program, where she provides medication assisted treatment for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting women. She continues to provide inpatient midwifery care at WVU Golisano Children’s Hospital, and outpatient ambulatory care for women at Busy Moms Healthcare on a per diem basis. Kelly’s academic work focuses on the additional complex social and care needs of individuals with substance use disorder. She serves as the principal investigator for the Assist, Connect, and Encourage (ACE) Program, which provides enhanced care coordination for individuals with perinatal substance use, and is leading the SBIRT+ Pilot Study at WVU.

Presentation: Building the Village After Discharge and Home Visitation (Schedule Link)

Jodi McQuillan, MSW, LGSW, is the current Community Coordinator for the WV Healthy Start/HAPI Project. She attended Fairmont State University where she obtained her undergraduate degree before receiving her master’s in social work from WVU in 2002. She has worked for the WV Healthy Start/HAPI Project since 2003, first as a designated care coordinator/home visitor, then she transitioned to the Community Coordinator position in 2007. Jodi is a proud lifelong resident of WV. She currently lives in Fairmont with her husband and 12-year-old daughter. She believes her work with the project and others in WV, greatly prepared her for motherhood. Seeing how the project has helped her and hearing other families’ lived experices has deepened her passion to support families on a micro and macro level.

Presentation: Perinatal Mental Health Screenings: Aligning Patient Experience and Clinical Utility (Schedule Link)

Dr. Sara Wagner Moyer, PhD, RN, is a passionate perinatal mental health advocate and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Nursing.

Founded on her clinical experience as a neonatal and maternal-infant nurse, her research centers on a holistic approach to understanding perinatal mental health (PMH) symptom development and screening. She is highly dedicated to understanding how healthcare experiences, including PMH screening, birth and early postpartum experiences impact mental health during the perinatal period and beyond. As part of her commitment to accessible person-centered clinical interactions and resources for parents, Dr. Moyer led the US/North American based translation of a screening tool and the development of an information sheet and resource guide to accompany PMH Screenings, the PMH Connect. By bridging the gap between active clinical practice and innovative research, Dr. Moyer brings an invaluable, front-line perspective to the conversation surrounding PMH screenings and care.

Presentation: Building the Village After Discharge and Home Visitation (Schedule Link)

Alyssa Murphy is a Certified High-Risk Doula, PAILAdvocate®, LATCH Leader, and founder of Modern Motherhood Birth Services. As a mother of five, Alyssa brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work supporting families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, lactation, and pregnancy and infant loss.

Alyssa currently serves as the Maternal & Infant Health Innovation AmeriCorps VISTA at HAPCAP, where she leads the development of a regional community doula training program serving Southeast Ohio and the Appalachian region. Her work focuses on expanding access to skilled birth support, strengthening the maternal health workforce, and creating sustainable community-based doula pathways.

Through her work as a doula, educator, and maternal health advocate, Alyssa is passionate about improving birth outcomes through evidence-informed care, trauma-informed support, and meaningful collaboration between families, healthcare providers, and community organizations. She is dedicated to building stronger perinatal support systems so that every family has access to compassionate, respectful, and informed care.

Presentation: Reproductive Health: Empowering Women Through Access, Knowledge, and Choice (Schedule Link)

Melanie Riley, MSN, RN, C-EFM, has been a registered nurse for thirty-eight years, and has spent most of that time working in women’s health. Melanie graduated from West Virginia University School of Nursing with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, then completed her Master of Nursing Administration at Walden University.

Working in gynecology/oncology, obstetrics, labor and delivery, and newborn care, Melanie has devoted most of her career to the acute care setting. She has experience as a bedside nurse, perinatal educator and Director of Maternal/Infant services at Berkeley Medical Center. She has held certifications as a Nurse Executive, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and currently is certified in Electronic Fetal Monitoring. Melanie is also an AWHONN Designated Fetal Monitoring Instructor.

Since joining the WVPP in 2014, Melanie has coordinated the state’s efforts to implement the AIM Patient Safety Bundle for obstetric hemorrhage and severe hypertension in pregnancy, she has spearheaded the Love Your Birth Control educational trainings and is responsible for overseeing the quality improvement and outreach education programs of the organization. She has partnered with the March of Dimes on a project to reduce early elective deliveries and provided numerous other educational opportunities across the state.

Presentation: Building the Village After Discharge and Home Visitation (Schedule Link)

My name is Chrissy Rodeheaver, and I am a Certified Doula, Certified Breastfeeding Specialist Peer Counselor (CBS), Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), and PMH-C located in Morgantown, WV. I am made and raised in West Virginia, and a mom of three beautiful girls who are my drive and inspiration for everything I do. My experiences in the perinatal periods of my own life over the last 12 years have shaped me into the person I am, and fuel the passion I have for supporting families across the state of West Virginia. My work with the WV WIC and CHAMPS National Programs as a Hospital Liaison has put me face to face with many families across Appalachia and has inspired me to be the hands-on Doula and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor that I am. I strongly believe in building a village of friends, family, Community Partners, and peers for families to thrive. It’s my mission to make that as accessible as possible for the families of West Virginia, and that journey for all Appalachian moms starts with you.

Presentation: A Case for a “Banana Bag”…Wernicke’s Encephalopathy in Hyperemesis Gravidarum (Schedule Link)

Maureen Schmitt recently retired after working in a Level 4 Labor and Delivery for over 40 years. For the past 18 years, she worked closely with the Maternal Fetal Medicine team, assisting with invasive procedures and coordinating care for antepartums admitted with complications in pregnancy. She led multidisciplinary outreach education to referring facilities and rural emergency departments related to pregnancy complications and neonatal stabilization. Her passion surrounds optimization of interdisciplinary communication in a large healthcare system.

Presentation: Understanding Neurodivergence in Pregnancy and Postpartum Care (Schedule Link)

TaKiesha Smith, CD(DONA), CBS, CLC, CCHW, is a nationally recognized Maternal Health Advocate and Educator whose work sits at the intersection of birth equity, community care, and inclusive lactation support. Founder of A Caring Doula, LLC and Neuro Spicy Birth, she reimagines culturally responsive, trauma-informed care for neurodivergent, marginalized, and Black birthing communities. TaKiesha serves as Coordinator of Outreach & Community Lactation Support at MelaMama Inc., is the Indiana State Ambassador for Count the Kicks, and sits on the board of the Indiana Breastfeeding Coalition. A Pathway 3 IBCLC Candidate, she equips audiences with practical, actionable tools to advance equity in maternal and infant health.

Presentations:
Milk is Medicine (Schedule Link)

Facilitating Parents Lactation Journey Upon Return to Work and/or School (Schedule Link)

Diane L. Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAWHONN, FAAN, is a Professor of Perinatal Nursing & Helen M. Shearer Professor of Nutrition at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing with joint appointment as a nurse scientist-lactation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) in the Center for Pediatric Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice. Dr. Spatz is the Founder of the CHOP Mothers’ Milk Bank. Dr. Spatz is an active researcher, clinician, and educator who is internationally recognized for her work in human lactation. She has authored and co-authored over 290 peer-reviewed publications and authored numerous book chapters related to human milk and breastfeeding.

Dr. Spatz has authored or co-authored position statements for the International Lactation Consultant Association, the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric & Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN), the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN), and the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. She has also written the clinical practice guidelines on human milk and breastfeeding for AHWONN and SPN. In 2004, Dr. Spatz develop her 10-step model for human milk and breastfeeding in vulnerable infants. This model has been implemented in NICUs throughout the United States and other countries worldwide (Thailand, India, China, Mexico, Japan, Chile). Dr. Spatz is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from both AWHONN and NANN and the Outstanding Alumni Award winner from Penn Nursing. She is an Edge Runner of the AAN.

Presentation: The State of Perinatal Health in West Virginia: 20 Years of Progress and the Road Ahead (Schedule Link)

Amy N. Tolliver, MS, has served as the Executive Director of the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership since 2013. Under her 10+ year tenure, she has grown the organization from a project under the WV Community Voices to an independent not-for-profit corporation with a $5M+ operating budget. The Partnership, incorporated in 2019, now has seven full-time employees, ten full-time contractors and numerous other special project contractors who all contribute to the important statewide work of the organization. Amy came to the position with 20 years experience in state and federal policy development focusing on legislative and regulatory health care policy.

She served as the Government Relations Specialist and Director of the Political Action Committee for the West Virginia State Medical Association for 15 years and also served as Budget Analyst for the West Virginia House of Delegates Finance Committee and as Program Coordinator for the West Virginia Child Care Association. Ms. Tolliver earned her BS in Business Management from Marshall University and an MS in Business and Industrial Relations from Marshall University Graduate College. She serves on the Board of the DRESS Syndrome Foundation and organization with a vision to see a world where severe adverse drug reactions are predictable, recognizable and treatable. Amy is the mother of two beautiful children, Emma and Eli, with whom she loves spending time downhill mountain biking and snowboarding.

Presentation: Building the Village After Discharge and Home Visitation (Schedule Link)

Annie White-Barb, RN, LCCE, CD (DONA), joined the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership in the summer of 2023 as the coordinator of the Doula Project initiative. Since then, she has become the Director of Community Health Programs, and also the data coordinator for the RCORP NAS program, within the Substance Exposure initiative.

Annie earned a Bachelors in Child Development and Family studies from WVU; and a Registered Nursing Associate from the University of Charleston. She has a history of working as a coordinator for Birth to Three; a midwifery volunteer organizer; a home health clinical nurse; and a care coordinator for a national non-profit organization. Annie is a DONA trained birth and postpartum doula, and a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator.

Through Annie’s leadership, a state-wide doula network has been established, as well as a Doula Advisory Council.

Presentation: MyDecision/MiDecisión: A Decision Aid for Patients Considering Tubal Sterilization (Schedule Link)

Michaella Wu, MPH, is a Research Coordinator with CONVERGE at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She holds a Master of Public Health from the UNC Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, where her research focused on evaluating global health services related to cesarean section delivery. At CONVERGE, she has coordinated multiple research projects centered on technology-based interventions that advance reproductive health equity and perinatal health outcomes.