2025 West Virginia Perinatal Summit

Presentation: Public Policy Update on Maternal and Infant Health (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Lisa M. Costello, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a lifelong West Virginian who hails from Weirton, and resides in Morgantown, where she is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at West Virginia University (WVU) and a Pediatric Hospitalist at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital. She is co-director of the Pediatrics Clerkship, leads a healthcare literacy and patient advocacy curriculum thread for the M.D. program, and is the advisor for the medical student group, Student Advocates Impacting Decision on Healthcare.

Dr. Costello is chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on State Government Affairs, and in 2022 received the AAP Section on Early Career Physicians Leadership in Advocacy Award. Dr. Costello is a Board of Trustees member and a past president of the West Virginia State Medical Association. She is also a past president of the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Costello served as an advisor to the WV Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health during the COVID-19 pandemic response and as the medical lead for the Joint Information Center within the West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force for COVID-19. Dr. Costello is President-Elect of the WVU School of Medicine Alumni Association and a past recipient of the Margaret Buchanan Cole Young Alumnus Award from the WVU Alumni Association.

She is a member of theWV State Journal’s Generation Next, 40 under 40 Class of 2024, a graduate of the Leadership WV Class of 2021, was inducted into the West Virginia University Student Life Hall of Fame in 2022, and named a 2022 West Virginia Executive Young Gun. Her academic interests include advocacy, healthcare policy, social media, and improving communication with patients, healthcare professionals, and the public by utilizing technology and media to amplify advocacy and education. Connect with her on social media (@LisaCostelloWV) and LinkedIn.

Presentation: Amniotic Fluid Embolism: Recognize and Respond (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Jesse N. Cottrell, MD, MSc, FACOG, is driven by a desire to improve maternal and fetal health as a clinician-scientist in the field of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Cottrell’s specific area of interest is the molecular mechanisms behind the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and abnormal placentation. Currently, Dr. Cottrell practices at Marshall University where he utilizes impedance cardiography to improve the care of hypertensive pregnant patients. He finds great joy in working with his incredible colleagues and teaching medical students and residents at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

Presentation: Surviving & Thriving: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder – Panel (Link)

Caroline Crislip, MA, is a 31-year-old mom of two daughters from West Virginia. Ms. Crislip currently serves on the board of Postpartum Support International – WV as the Communications Chair and is the Project Coordinator for the Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Initiative at the WV Perinatal Partnership. She has a master’s degree in Elementary Education from West Virginia University and was a middle school social studies teacher for four years before becoming a mom in March of 2022.

Eight months after becoming a mother to her daughter Caia, she was diagnosed with severe Postpartum OCD and spent a year in therapy to recover. This diagnosis motivated her to get involved with Postpartum Support International and to create a blog, www.hugsformoms.com, to help raise awareness and understanding of postpartum OCD. She works to help other moms who have struggled with perinatal mood disorders, because she believes no mom should ever have to feel alone.

Presentation: Healthcare Provider Tips on Supporting Breastfeeding – Virtual Presentation (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Anne Eglash, MD, NABBLM-C, IBCLC, FABM, is a clinical professor with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. In addition to family medicine, she has been practicing breastfeeding and lactation medicine since 1994. Dr. Eglash is a co-founder of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, the Medical Director and co-founder of the Mothers’ Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes, and the Medical Director of the University of Wisconsin Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine Clinic.

She has published many peer-reviewed articles on breastfeeding medicine and is a past associate editor for the Breastfeeding Medicine Journal. Dr. Eglash is founder and president of The Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding and Lactation Education (IABLE), as well as a cofounder, inaugural president, and immediate past-president of the North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine.

Presentation: Strengthening Rural Maternal Care: The West Virginia RMOMS Project (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Mary K. Emmett, PhD, FACHE, has over 50 years of experience in healthcare practice, administration, education, and research. She has practiced in hospitals, served on hospital and corporate health system boards, and taught in universities. As Corporate Director of the CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine’s Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, she is responsible for assuring research development, implementation, and dissemination for all areas of the Academic Medical Center. Health policy and public health practice are her passions.

Dr. Emmett’s experience includes engagement in research that investigates community concerns regarding chronic disease in the context of the infectious disease pandemic; mentoring residents, fellows, and clinical researchers as they build skills to address clinical challenges through research; and assisting clinicians in developing pilot grants aligned with the grant’s objectives. Dr. Emmett has served as a consultant and oversees data collection, analysis, and reporting for the WV RMOMS project.

Presentation: Perinatal State of the State (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Kimberly M. Farry, MD, FACOG, Dr. Kimberly M. Farry, MD, FACOG, 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: Chart Smart, Stay Safe: The Art of Legal Self-Defense in Perinatal Practice (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Sam Fox, Esq, is a trial attorney and educator specializing in medical malpractice defense and health care law. A partner at Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso in Charleston, West Virginia, he has defended nurses, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers statewide since graduating from West Virginia University College of Law in 1989. He also represents providers before state licensing boards.

With over three decades of experience, Mr. Fox has led seminars, risk management courses, and mock trials for healthcare professionals across the country. His teaching focuses on malpractice prevention through proper documentation, communication, and risk awareness. In 2022, he was named Charleston’s Health Care Lawyer of the Year by his peers.

Mr. Fox received his undergraduate education at St. Vincent College and at West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he now serves on the Board of Trustees. He also teaches Business Law and Sports Law as an adjunct professor at the University of Charleston.

A native of Oak Hill, WV, Mr. Fox lives in Charleston with his wife of 33 years, Christine, who is Counsel for the WV Department of Probation Services. Their two children, Adam and Sarah Kate, are attorneys in Washington, D.C., continuing the family tradition of law and public service.

Presentation: Strengthening Rural Maternal Care: The West Virginia RMOMS Project (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Corrie Grogg, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, FNP-C, has worked for Minnie Hamilton Health System’s Glenville office for 6 years.  She grew up on her family farm, where she learned the value of hard work and dedication. She is a graduate of Gilmer County High School and received her undergraduate degree from Glenville State College/WVU Joint Nursing Program.

Ms. Grogg completed her Master of Science in Nursing as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Cincinnati, followed by her Family Nurse Practitioner certificate from Northern Kentucky University. She has four wild boys, including a set of twins, who are very active in many sports activities.  She also enjoys caring for her chickens, turkeys, and her little farmette.

Presentation: Strengthening Rural Maternal Care: The West Virginia RMOMS Project (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Connie Kincaid, CNA, LCCE, CD (DONA), CLC (ALPP), SpBCPE, has extensive experience in women’s health and has been working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon, West Virginia, since 1992. She holds several certifications, including Certified Nursing Assistant (1991), Lamaze Breastfeeding Support Specialist (2000), Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (2003), ALPP Certified Lactation Counselor (2019), DONA Certified Birth Doula (2024), and Spinning Babies Childbirth Parent Educator (2025). She serves as a navigator assisting women in their childbirth journey.

Presentation: Plumes of Doom and Pouches Boom: The Changing Threats of Tobacco to Mothers and Children (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Timothy P. Lefeber, MD, FAAP, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at WVU School of Medicine and a General Pediatrician in Morgantown and Fairmont. Dr. Lefeber graduated from Medical School at the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed his pediatric residency and Chief Residency at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and has provided education to health care providers on the dangers of tobacco and nicotine and promoting prevention and cessation for the last 8 years.

He serves as the Tobacco Champion for the WV Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and as Physician Co-Chair of the WV Tobacco Free Families Advisory Council. Dr. Lefeber currently collaborates with the WV Perinatal Partnership in developing the Help2Quit program and delivering provider outreach, tobacco and nicotine cessation education across the state.

Presentation: Strengthening Rural Maternal Care: The West Virginia RMOMS Project (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Shauna Lively, Ed.D., RN, LCCE, has over 40 years of experience in perinatal nursing in West Virginia. With a background in high-risk obstetrics and a Lamaze certification, she has practiced in various areas of maternity care. Dr. Lively served as the director of maternal infant care at WVU Hospital and later as an associate professor of nursing at WV Wesleyan College. In 2009 she joined the Perinatal Partnership as the Director of Outreach Education where she led numerous projects, including multiple Preterm Birth Initiatives, Skin-to-Skin Mother-Baby Care project, Childbirth Education, Perinatal Bereavement, Obstetric Safety Drills, and a Doula Care Project.

In August 2021, she became Project Director of the WV RMOMS project (Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies), which aims to improve access to maternity care in an under-resourced eight-county region of the state. Dr. Lively is a past chair of the WV Section of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and has recently served on the Lamaze International Board of Directors. She is a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator (LCCE) and enjoys teaching intrapartum nurses Lamaze Evidence-Based Labor Support.

Presentation: Understanding the Impact on Partner Mental Health in the Perinatal Period (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Heather L. Marshall, MA, LPC, PMH-C, is the owner of Wildflower Counseling and Wellness in Washington, PA. She is a National Board-Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia. With a background spanning addiction therapy, residential treatment, outpatient community work, and private practice, Ms. Marshall brings a wealth of clinical experience to her work. Certified in Perinatal Mental Health since 2021, Ms. Marshall has pursued advanced training in infertility, paternal perinatal mental health, and perinatal grief and loss.

She serves on the WV Perinatal Partnership Maternal Mental Health Advisory Council and chairs the council’s Community Outreach Committee. Since May 2023, she has also served as a Liaison and is the Acting Education Chair for the Postpartum Support International West Virginia Chapter. Ms. Marshall is passionate about educating providers and allied professionals on perinatal mental health conditions and has a strong focus on improving care for underserved families and communities.

Presentation: Building Stronger Communities Together: The Power of Collaboration and Partnerships in Human Services (Link)

Alex J. Mayer, MSA, PMP, has dedicated more than a decade to advancing the field of Health and Human Services, bringing a deep commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families through innovative and effective service delivery. He began his career as an Assistant Teacher in the Greater Grand Rapids Head Start program. Since then, his professional journey has encompassed a diverse and wide range of leadership roles in the military and across the human, health, and social services spectrum, where he has consistently demonstrated a passion for strategic reform, process refinement, and sustainable systems change.

Currently, Alex Mayer serves as the Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, where he leads the state’s efforts to deliver comprehensive support services to individuals and families across all 55 counties. In this role, he aims to promote health, well-being, and opportunities for West Virginians, with a particular focus on reforming the child welfare system, improving accessibility, and ensuring accountability at every level of service.
Alex is also a dedicated military veteran, serving as an operator and military officer with the 75th Ranger Regiment for six years, completing two tours in Afghanistan. Alex has dedicated his career to supporting those in greatest need, challenging his teams to think differently, confronting established norms, and exploring ways to enhance the efficacy and impact of public programs in a responsible manner.

Alex stays closely connected with the special operations community, mentoring transitioning Rangers through volunteering with the Three Rangers Foundation.

Alex lives in Hurricane, West Virginia with his wife, Melissa, and three daughters.

Presentation: Surviving & Thriving: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder – Panel (Link)

Sarah Moore, MSW, LGSW, is a social worker and proud mama to her rainbow baby. Since 2023 she has been a school social worker at both the elementary and middle school levels. Previously Sarah was a foster care case manager, as well as a Licensing Specialist, for Necco Foster Care where she spent nearly 3 years training and certifying foster parents.

All her life, all Sarah ever wanted was to be a mom. In the span of 60 seconds, she had everything she ever wanted, and then all of a sudden, she didn’t. She quickly began to learn just how little support there was out there for people experiencing postpartum depression and perinatal loss. She spends her days working to reform and advocate for better mental health support, an area she has become very passionate about. Her hope is to help spark conversations that lead to better treatment for parents after a loss.

Sarah received both a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Social Work from West Virginia University and holds a Graduate Social Work License.

Presentation: Surviving & Thriving: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder – Panel (Link)

Kayla Mullin, MA, LPC, AADC, PMH-C, is the owner of Montani Mental Health in Morgantown, WV. A WV native, she is a graduate of Fairmont State University and Waynesburg University, where she specialized in Addiction Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both WV and PA, and holds the title of Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor with the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals. Before opening her own practice, Ms. Mullin worked in juvenile justice and hospital settings.

Having two children of her own and hearing the stories of mothers who came in for therapy opened her eyes to the issues facing mothers in the Mountain State. She obtained her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) in October 2019. As co-chair of the new WV chapter of Postpartum Support International, Ms. Mullin hopes to lay a strong framework of support and education on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) throughout the state, empowering other professionals to seek certification themselves.

Presentation: Strengthening Rural Maternal Care: The West Virginia RMOMS Project (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Mindy A. Mussano, RN, ADN, is the Obstetric Navigator at Stonewall Memorial Hospital, and is active in the WV RMOMS program. A graduate of Excelsior College, Albany, NY, and New River Community and Technical College, Mindy is working toward certification as a Lamaze childbirth educator and lactation consultant. Currently, Mindy offers pregnancy and childbirth education that empowers pregnant and postpartum mothers. She provides individualized orientation and navigation to all patients throughout pregnancy and serves as a resource and point of contact for healthcare-related questions and care facilitation.

She provides lactation support for those who choose to breastfeed their newborns and provides comprehensive follow-up and care coordination to postpartum families. She also volunteers as an RN at a local 4-H camp for one week each summer and serves as an instructor for childbirth classes in the surrounding communities. When not working or volunteering, Mindy can be found enjoying her four children and tending the family farm.

Presentation: Puffs and Consequences: The Hidden Toll of Maternal Vaping (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Mark Olfert, PhD, FAHA, FAPS, RRT, CPFT, is a professor in the School of Medicine at West Virginia University with a joint appointment in the Department of Human Performance, Division of Exercise Physiology, and the Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Toxicology. He serves as the Graduate Program Director of the Clinical & Translational Science PhD Program in the Robert C Byrd Health Sciences Center. Dr. Olfert is a member of the executive committee for the Center for Inhalation Toxicology.

He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physiology & Pharmacology from Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, in 2000. His post-doctoral training in pulmonary physiology and vascular biology was performed at the School of Medicine Division of Physiology, University of California, San Diego. Dr. Olfert was named Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences in 2014, and Fellow of the American Physiology Society (FAPS) in 2017.

Prior to his graduate education, Dr. Olfert was trained as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and worked in adult, pediatric, and neonatal intensive care settings for over 7 years. In addition, he is also a Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) and Perinatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist by the National Board of Respiratory Care. In his free time, Dr. Olfert enjoys motorcycle riding, scuba diving, and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Presentation: Surviving & Thriving: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder – Panel (Link)

Andrew M. Pinkney, MS, AADC, is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor with a strong foundation in clinical addiction counseling. Mr. Pinkney brings over a decade of diverse experience working in recovery, reentry, and behavioral health services. He currently serves as a counselor for the 18th Judicial Circuit Court’s Adult Drug Court in West Virginia, where he facilitates evidence-based individual and group counseling and supports justice-involved individuals in long-term sobriety.

Mr. Pinkney manages the day-to-day operations at the Lewis/Upshur Community Recovery Center. He is a member of the West Virginia First Foundation’s Expert Panel for Region 4 as a Corrections and Reentry specialist.

Presentation: Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: Bridging the Gap Between Evidence and Clinical Practice (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Emily Priestas, DPT, OCS, PRPC, CMTPT-DN, PCES, graduated from WVU with her B.S. in Exercise Physiology in 2013 and graduated from WVU with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2016. She received her designation as a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist (OCS) in 2019 and achieved her Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification in 2021.

Dr. Priestas opened the doors to Paradigm Pelvic Health & Wellness in June 2023, where she provides services specializing in the evaluation and treatment of pelvic pain conditions, bladder and bowel issues, pregnancy, and postpartum concerns. Dr. Priestas is involved in teaching at both West Virginia University and Marshall University and is also involved in various community service projects serving women and mothers in her community. She is a proud mom of two.

Presentation: Delivering Support: The Impact of a Hospital-Based Doula Program (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Jill Shanklin, MSN, RNC-OB, is a nurse leader and an advocate for women’s and children’s health. She serves as the Vice President of Nursing Excellence at University Medical Center (UMC) Health System, in Lubbock, Texas, where she provides strategic leadership for the Maternal-Child Service Line, Nursing Professional Development, and the Magnet Designation Program. With over two decades of experience, most of it in nursing leadership, Ms. Shanklin has dedicated her career to advancing clinical quality, developing nursing leaders, and improving patient and family experiences.

She holds a BSN from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and an MSN from Lubbock Christian University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a focus on executive leadership at the University of Kentucky. Certified in Inpatient Obstetrics through the National Certification Corporation, Ms. Shanklin leads a team of over 200 professionals who have helped UMC Health System achieve multiple national designations, including Magnet Recognition, Baby-Friendly Hospital status, and Level IV Maternal and Neonatal Designations.

Presentation: Strengthening Rural Maternal Care: The West Virginia RMOMS Project (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Denise Smith, MS, MCHES, graduated from West Virginia University with a Master of Science in Community Health Promotion. Ms. Smith has over 23 years of public health experience in the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health.  She served as Director of Perinatal Programs, Director of the Division of Perinatal and Women’s Health, Director of the West Virginia Title X Family Planning Program, Director of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, and as a Family Planning Program Specialist, all within the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health.

She also worked as a medical imaging technologist in diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy, and mammography from 1977-2013. Ms. Smith was Project Director for the WV Bureau for Medical Services Maternal Opioid Misuse Project from 2021-2022.  She has worked with the WV Perinatal Partnership as the Project Coordinator for the Rural Maternal and Obstetrics Management Strategies Project since 2022.

Presentation: Cannabis Use in Pregnancy: Effects on the Mother-Baby Dyad (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Elizabeth ‘Libby’ B. Stuyt, MD, is a board-certified Psychiatrist and has worked in the addiction/behavioral health field since 1990. From 1999 to 2020 Dr. Stuyt was the Medical Director for the Circle Program, a 90-day inpatient treatment program, funded by the state of Colorado, for persons with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse who have failed other levels of treatment. She was instrumental in helping the Circle Program to become tobacco-free in January 2000 and has been a strong advocate of the need to address all addictions at the same time, including tobacco, to improve outcomes. She has been actively incorporating complementary treatments into treatment programs, including the 5-point ear acupuncture NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) protocol and BST (Brain Synchronization Therapy), to help patients recover from addiction as well as trauma, which often underlies addiction and chronic pain issues.

She retired from clinical practice in 2021 and continues to do consultant work for treatment programs, trainings on ear acupuncture and BST. Dr Stuyt also aims to educate as many people as possible on the unintended consequences of the commercialization of marijuana in Colorado, focusing primarily on the deleterious effects of high-potency THC on the developing brain and mental health. She is on the board of the International Academy on the Science and Impacts of Cannabis (IASIC) and believes that people should be following the science regarding policies related to cannabis.

Presentation: Welcome Remarks (Link)

Amy N. Tolliver, MS, has served as Executive Director of the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership since 2013, bringing more than three decades of experience in state and federal health policy development to her role. Ms. Tolliver began her career in public policy as a Budget Analyst with the West Virginia House of Delegates Finance Committee. Driven by a commitment to improving healthcare and social outcomes, she went on to serve as a government relations professional, first with the West Virginia Child Care Association and later with the West Virginia State Medical Association.

Ms. Tolliver holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Business and Industrial Relations from Marshall University. Under her leadership, the Partnership has transformed from a small initiative into an independent, statewide, nonprofit corporation with over twenty staff and contractors dedicated to advancing perinatal health across West Virginia. She also serves on the Board of the DRESS Syndrome Foundation, an organization dedicated to creating a future where severe adverse drug reactions are predictable, recognizable, and treatable. She enjoys mountain biking and snowboarding with her daughter Emma and son Eli.

Presentation: The Intersection of Psychological Trauma and Childbirth: Working Towards More Collaborative, Culturally Sensitive, Trauma-Informed Care (Schedule Link) Download Slides

Tracey M. Vogel, MD, is an Obstetric Anesthesiologist, trained sexual assault counselor, and the creator and Director of the Perinatal Trauma-informed Care Clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh and finished her anesthesia training, including a fellowship in obstetric anesthesiology, from Stanford University in California. She speaks nationally and internationally on the topic of birth trauma and the need for trauma-awareness in obstetrics and actively promotes medical “centers of excellence” in providing trauma-informed care for obstetric patients. She offers full-day training sessions on trauma-informed care principles throughout Pennsylvania as an initiative through the PA PQC (Perinatal Quality Collaborative).

Her hospital-based work also includes involvement with quality assurance processes, education and training of nurses, residents, and medical students, and creation of specific care plans for high-risk obstetric patients, including those with prior sexual trauma, opioid tolerance and substance use disorders, and mental health concerns. Beyond her work in hospital settings, she is part of the governor’s HEAL PA Taskforce seeking to make Pennsylvania a trauma-aware state.

Dr. Vogel is founder of The Empowerment Equation website (www.theempowermentequation.com), a resource to help women with histories of trauma prepare before delivery, to offer help for providers seeking to understand patient perspectives using first-hand narratives, and to provide evidence-based research on this topic.