News
CONVERGE Responds to the Preventable Death of Tierra Walker
CONVERGE is horrified and heartbroken to hear of the death of Tierra Walker, a 37 year old from San Antonio, Texas who died after being denied lifesaving abortion care. Tierra’s story is difficult for anyone to read, but we know it is especially painful for anyone who has experienced the same injustices Tierra and her family faced during her pregnancy.
Myana (Mothers, You Are Not Alone) Selected as A Winner of the 2025 Graphic Design USA Health & Wellness Design Award
Graphic Design USA’s Health & Wellness Design awards is an annual nationwide competition that highlights outstanding achievement in design projects that promote health, wellness, fitness, and healthcare. Myana (“Mothers, you are not alone”), which is a custom digital health intervention for new birthing parents in the first year postpartum, was one of this year’s winners!
Dr. Marian Jarlenski Highlighted On NPR
Project DREAM is a first-of-its-kind study that will provide much-needed evidence on how doula programs can promote positive birth outcomes and reduce racial disparities in severe maternal morbidity. While only in its 3rd year, Dr. Marian Jarlenski's Project DREAM has made headlines for the work being done.
To read the article click HERE.
Calling all Pennsylvania Doulas!
We are looking for doulas who have provided care to pregnant and postpartum people in Pennsylvania during the last year to join our research study on medical insurance and racial health equity. You will receive $50 in compensation for your time.
Congrats Dr. Krishnamurti on your new R01!
Congratulations to Dr. Tamar Krishnamurti on her new NIMH R01: Machine learning for personalized preventative intervention in perinatal depression!
Perinatal Economic Abuse: Experiences, Impacts, and Needed Resources
Drs. Chang, Miller, Ragavan, and their team members interviewed advocates and survivors about their experiences, impacts, and needed resources. Survivors and advocates reported a variety of experiences with economic abuse during the perinatal period, including financial control, exploitation, and employment sabotage.
Communication and counseling preferences of women who chose abortion during adolescence: a qualitative study
Laura Kirkpatrick, Traci Kazmerski, and their team members conducted a series of interviews with women who chose abortion during adolescence. This team found that:
1) Participants perceived options counseling before abortion as important and necessary, but did not always feel they personally needed it.
2) Participants reported that nurses, physicians, and other staff sometimes had poor bedside manner, which was not aligned with their perceived need for gentleness due to their adolescence.
Black Father's Influence on Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in the United States: A Narrative Synthesis of Literature
Drs. Ashley Hill, Martina Anto-Ocrah, and their team reviewed studies examining associations between characteristics of Black fathers and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the United States. This review identified six research studies demonstrating Black fathers’ significant association with preterm birth outcomes, but also finding an inverse impact on preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.
Implementing Comprehensive Sex and Sexuality Education in Kindergarten-Grade 12 Schools: Guiding Practices and Examples
Sex education legislation follows a hierarchy, where federal legislation takes precedent over any state legislation, and it continues down the chain. At the state level, only 3 states require comprehensive sex education (CSE); and 1 requires CSE but upon further examination, this policy does not align with national standards.
A Model for Engaging Citizen Scientists: A Community-Partnered Research Collaboration to Address Inequities for Black Birthing People
Persistent disparities characterize maternal and child health outcomes in the United States. These disparities, mediated by poverty, racism, and place-based social and structural determinants of health, are the biggest threats to Black maternal health. Recently, community-engaged efforts to improve Black maternal health disparities have moved towards cross-sector approaches that center the lived experiences of Black birthing people. Despite these comprehensive approaches, community members rarely participate throughout the research lifecycle.
Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex in Human Lactation: An Integrative Literature Review
Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex is an understudied condition of lactation involving emotional dysregulation during letdown or milk ejection. Dr. Demirci's literature review on Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex shows that negative emotional sensations during lactation were synthesized under five conceptual umbrellas: (1) Experiences, Sensations, and Symptom Management; (2) Biological Underpinnings; (3) Influence on Maternal Role and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy; (4) Support, Understanding, and Awareness; and (5) Reduction and Cessation of Breastfeeding.
Welcome to the team Sarah!
Meet Sarah, the newest addition to CONVERGE's team as the Research Coordinator for Talabi Labs!
Supporting Youth Exposed to Violence in the Post-Pandemic: Prevention and Intervention Strategies
Drs. Ragavan and Miller's study reviews the increase in intimate partner and youth violence during the Covid-19 pandemic, mechanisms contributing to these increases, and the overarching health impacts on adolescents. Pediatricians play a vital role in implementing healing-centered practices and prevention efforts that mitigate the impacts of trauma and violence.
Research Opportunity for Doulas and Community Health Workers
Researchers at The University of Pittsburgh want to learn how Doulas and Community Health Workers support survivors of Intimate Partner Violence during the perinatal period.
Complete a 1-hour interview over Zoom and be compensated $50. Contact Erin if you're interested in learning more at mickieviczee@upmc.edu or you can call/text at 412-277-5514!
MCO Perspectives on Medicaid Policy: Racial Equity in Pregnancy and Child Health
Findings from Drs. Salter, Mendez, Jarlenski, and their team can assist Medicaid agencies in understanding how MCOs interpret and implement equity-based policy to ensure intended populations are benefiting from the planned outcomes.