Maternal Health Awareness Day – AMWA Participates in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Program

Report by Dr. Padmini Murthy

January 24, 2025, AMWA joined the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Program

Navigating Today’s Challenges in Maternal Health, in honor of Maternal Health Awareness Day (Jan. 23). The event was organized by Dr. Gloria Bachmann, AMWA’s Women’s Health Lead along with a team of leaders at Rutgers as well as Dr. Padmini Murthy (AMWA Global Health Lead) and Dr. Eliza Chin (AMWA Executive Director).

The first Lady of New Jersey Tammy Snyder Murphy (and Founder of the Nurture NJ Initiative) welcomed the audience. In her inspiring remarks, she highlighted the initiatives in New Jersey which have resulted in positive outcomes in improving maternal health in the state.

The event was well attended by leaders from Rutgers, including President Holloway, Dean of the medical school, Dr. Amy Murtha, faculty, students, community members and healthcare professionals.

Dr. Murtha moderated the panel discussion “Navigating Todays Challenges in Maternal Health” with panelists including Dr. Ruchira Sharma, Assistant Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine (Maternal Fetal Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School) who reviewed evidence-based data on maternal and neonatal outcomes related to cardiac conditions and addressed the importance of postpartum follow-up care for individuals with a history of cardiac issues, along with long-term strategies for cardiovascular health. Dr. Ru-tong Cheng, Director of Women’s Health Innovations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discussed social determinants of health, including maternal mortality rates, inequities in care, and gaps in services for underserved populations

Dr. Padmini Murthy, Professor New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and Practice Global Health Lead and NGO Representative of the American Medical Women’s Association to the United Nations, presented an overview of effective advocacy strategies to influence policy, build coalitions and engage communities, along with tangible steps for students to get involved in advocacy efforts for improving maternal health outcomes in various communities.

Dr. Naveena Yanamala, Associate Professor of Medicine, Section Chief of Clinical Research and Al Innovation, and Director of Al/Machine Learning Robert Wood Johnson Medical School discussed applications of Al in maternal health care, including risk-prediction models and diagnostic and monitoring tools, as well as ethical considerations in Al development.

Closing remarks were made by Dr. Gloria A Bachmann, Associate Dean for Women’s Health, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (and on behalf of Dr. Eliza Chin) and Dr. Archana Pradhan, Interim Chair, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

AMWA was honored to co-sponsor this event along with Rutgers Health, RW Barnabas Health, CJFHC, and The Tara Hansen Foundation.

Photo caption:

L-R:  Front: Dr. Chris Gilligan, Amy Papi, Dean Amy Murtha, Dr. Gloria Bachmann, NJ First Lady Tammy Synder Murphy, Dr. Padmini Murthy, Dr. Archana Sharma, Dr. Naveena Yanamala, Dr. Ru-tong Cheng, Dr. Archana Pradhan. Back: Jonathan Holloway