The Orlando VA Healthcare System hosted a PREPAREe Maternal Health Summit last week that gave healthcare providers, local hospital leadership, and the community an opportunity to come together and strengthen collaboration to better deliver perinatal services for Veterans.
The Maternal Health Summit keynote speaker was Executive Director of the VA Center for Women Veterans Lourdes Tiglao, MBA. The summit included welcome and opening remarks from Melissa Tran, PMH-C, LMFT; Lisa Zacher, MD, MACP, FCCP; and, Melissa Shaugnessy, DO. Melissa Tran, LMFT also led a Connecting Conversations discussion. There were also several panels and programs before closing remarks from Susan Kirsh, MD, MPH.
A “Health Disparities and Social Determinants Panel” was described as a conversation on important factors facing maternity care in the current climate with considerations to marginalized communities, health disparities, and social determinants. It was moderated by Jasimine Joiner, LCSW with panelists: Cynthia Gantt PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP; Claudia Taboada, DO; and, Nichol Brewery-Lowry, MSc.
An “Innovations and Research Panel” had panelists explore the future opportunities in healthcare and spark ideas for participants to innovate in their own spaces. It was moderated by Kelly Nestman, MA with panelists Laura J. Miller, MD and Matthew Oommen, MD.
Also on the agenda, InnoVAtion with Kim Bielicki was described as empowering employees to focus on problems to create innovative, Veteran-centric solutions. Veteran Lived Experience heard from Veterans who have utilized PREPARe services and personal stories from their own perinatal journey. Small Talks, Big Impact included short, bold talks from VA and community providers, with Daniel J. Podberesky, MD; Briana Martin, MA, BC-DMT, ECDCS; John Decaro, MD; and, Antoinette Stewart.
Additionally, VHA Deputy Chief of Staff Maureen Elias attended and provided remarks during the Central Florida summit.
The event took place at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona.
