In 2021, Dimock’s Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Department launched a new Maternal-Child Health Program, led by Ketura’h Edwards-Robinson, MSN, SANE-MA, WHNP-BC, AGNP-C. 

The program aims to address maternal health disparities along racial and economic lines, empower patients to advocate for their health care, provide resources to nurture healthy families, and establish a sense of community among pregnant patients. 

“It’s very clear that Black and Brown women do not do as well in their pregnancies as white women. They are two to three times more likely to suffer ill effects during their pregnancies from preventable causes,” says Danielle Grimm, MPH, MSN, CNP, WHNP-BC, Clinical Director of Dimock’s OB/GYN Department. 

“This is a systemic issue. Among all of the upper-income countries in the world, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate. More than 700 women a year die from pregnancy-related complications. That is, frankly, unacceptable. This program is a call to action for our department led by Ketura’h to make an impact.” 

“Through this program, we are hoping to make connections within the community so that we can offer resources to our pregnant people, whether that be around lactation support, assistance with housing, food, jobs, childcare, or basic essentials like diapers or formula,” says Ketura’h. 

In addition to offering additional resources for Dimock patients, the Maternal-Child Health Program plans to launch a series of childbirth classes in 2022, led by Ketura’h, who is a doula and certified birth educator. Ketura’h also hopes to teach patients critical self-advocacy strategies. 

“We want to make sure that our patients have the tools to advocate for themselves,” says Ketura’h. “We know we are providing high-quality care here at Dimock, but we started asking ourselves, ‘What more can we do?’” 

The high-quality care at Dimock goes beyond medical care—we also offer behavioral and mental health support. Thanks to our partnership with Mass General Brigham, we’re proud to welcome Aderonke Pederson, MD, to our team. Dr. Pederson is a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital with a special interest in women’s mental health and mental health stigma in communities of color. She provides direct patient care at Dimock, where she works closely with the OB/GYN staff to provide integrated behavioral and mental health services to our patients. 

“I am thrilled to partner with the Dimock clinic and serve our patients in the area of mental health, in particular at the intersection of providing mental health services for women of color, especially Black and Brown women in the community,” says Dr. Pederson. “My hope is that our intentional collaborative efforts through our partnerships within the Maternal- Child Health Program can expand our reach and narrow health disparities as we seek equity for patients who are most at risk.” 

Patients might also notice the revamped clinic, which includes beautiful artwork reflecting the diversity of the patients we serve. 

“We take care of all different patients here. Creating an inclusive space is extremely important in developing a trusted relationship between the patient and their provider, especially in community health settings,” says Danielle. 

“We want our patients to know: This is your community clinic,” adds Ketura’h. “The staff here care about you, and we want you to be successful.”