Black Maternal Health
at Home and Abroad
An urgent conversation with three of the nation's leading experts in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, and global health equity.
Reserve Your Free Seat Free to attend · Registration requiredAbout this event
Why this conversation cannot wait
Black women in the United States are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women — a disparity that persists regardless of income, education, or access to care. Globally, the picture is even more alarming.
This webinar brings together three of the nation's foremost leaders in obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, and global health policy for an honest, evidence-based conversation about why these disparities exist, what the data tells us, and what must change.
Whether you are a healthcare professional, community advocate, concerned parent, or simply someone who believes every mother's life matters — this conversation is for you.
What you will learn
- How maternal mortality is defined and measured — and why the numbers may be worse than reported
- Why Black women die at disproportionate rates, and the systemic factors driving that gap
- How the United States compares to other Western nations and what we can learn from them
- What is happening in developing nations and how global interventions are making a difference
- How you can take action — including supporting Mama Kits, a program delivering life-saving birthing supplies to mothers in need
Featured panelists
Three leaders. One urgent mission.
President, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO)
Professor, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Former President, Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Secretary, Bexar County (TX) Hospital District Board of Managers
Professor, Georgetown University School of Medicine
Chair, ACOG Foundation Board
Associate Professor, Dell Medical School Department of Women's Health
Akua Afriyie-Gray (uh-free-yay - gray), M.D., FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology with a focused-practice designation in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. She received her medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and her bachelor’s from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Georgetown University Medical Center and currently serves as Associate Professor, Division Director and Fellowship Director of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology at the University of Texas Dell Medical School. Nationally, she serves on the board of directors for the North American Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology and has served on the board for the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, where she is also faculty for the prestigious Academic Scholars and Leaders Program. Her research has focused on medical education and pediatric and adolescent gynecology. Dr. Afriyie-Gray has received multiple awards for exemplary medical student and resident teaching and patient care throughout her career and in 2022 was named one of the top ten African American doctors in Austin.
What to expect
An hour that could change how you see this crisis
This one-hour panel moves from the local to the global — grounding you in the data, the disparities, and the real-world solutions that are saving lives.
Take action
Support Mama Kits
The Links, Incorporated, Lone Star (TX) Chapter supports the Mama Kits program through Mercy for Mamas — a maternal health initiative that delivers essential birthing supply kits to mothers in developing nations who would otherwise deliver without basic medical resources.
A single kit can mean the difference between life and death for a mother and her baby. During the webinar, you will hear directly about the global crisis that makes this work so essential.
We invite you to give before, during, or after the event.
Donate to Mama Kits →Your donation is tax-deductible through Mercy for Mamas a 501c3 non-profit. Tax ID: #46-0693097.
Note: Comparative statistics are calculated by aligning the most recent maternal mortality ratios (MMR) from the WHO/UNICEF (2025) and the CDC NCHS (2026).
Reserve your seat — it's free
Space is limited. Register today and receive your Zoom link by email.
Register Now →Questions? Contact us at info@lonestarlinksinc.org · lonestarlinksinc.org