About Birth Justice Philly

Why do we need Birth Justice Philly?

Between 2013 and 2018, Philadelphia accounted for 20 percent of Pennsylvania’s pregnancy-associated mortality (Any death that occurs during or within one year of the end of a pregnancy, regardless of cause), despite representing only 15 percent of the state’s birth rate.

The leading preventable causes of pregnancy-related deaths (A subset of pregnancy-associated deaths which are caused by, related to, or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management) were identified as drug overdoses and cardiovascular complications, with stark racial disparities in outcomes. Notably, about 77 percent of these deaths occurred postpartum, underscoring the critical need for community-centered interventions in Philadelphia. Social determinants of health such as systemic racism, lack of access to safe and adequate housing, transportation, and social support also contribute to higher rates of maternal mortality.

To address these challenges, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) evolved the initial county-level MMRC framework into the Philadelphia Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Program, Birth Justice Philly.  

What is Birth Justice Philly?

Housed within the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health (ReACH), Birth Justice Philly is a team focusing on maternal morbidity and mortality. Comprised of professionals from diverse disciplines including healthcare providers, epidemiology, education and public health, the team works to gather crucial data and translate it into actionable strategies to improve maternal health outcomes in Philadelphia.

Logo for Justice Philly, featuring a city skyline within a heart shape, with the text 'Justice Philly' and 'Data-Action' around it.
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Who is Birth Justice Philly?

Birth Justice Philly is comprised of a multidisciplinary group of stakeholders including women and birthing people, governmental agencies, health care system professionals, insurance providers, maternal support organizations, policy advocates, social determinants of health professionals, and support networks.

How does Birth Justice Philly Work?

Birth Justice Philly operates through two core branches:

  1. Conducting citywide data collection and comprehensive surveillance to track local trends in severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality, including facilitation of the nation's inaugural county-level Maternal Mortality Review Committee

  2. Leveraging this data to pinpoint and pursue tangible next steps through our action team, the Organized Voices for Action (OVA).  

Addressing racial disparities in maternal mortality in Philadelphia calls for a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach. We envision a reimagined perinatal care system with integrated support, streamlined transitions between health and social services, and enhanced community awareness.

Acknowledging the systemic nature of these issues, our approach is long-term, focusing on both immediate interventions and gradual societal shifts. Centering the needs and voices of Black birthing people, innovating beyond traditional interventions, and disrupting the current system are key to our efforts. This challenge transcends healthcare, calling for a collective commitment to impactful and sustainable change. 

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Meet Birth Justice Philly’s Backbone Team

The Birth Justice Philly backbone team is housed in the Philadelphia Department of Health’s Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health.

  • Director of the Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health

    Dr. Aasta Mehta (she/her) is the Director of the Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, where she leads the development and implementation of reproductive health policies and programs for the City of Philadelphia. With a strong background in healthcare and policy, she holds a clinical faculty position in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn Medicine and is an Affiliate Faculty at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health. Dr. Mehta directs the Philadelphia County Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Program (Birth Justice Philly) and co-chairs the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee and Pennsylvania Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative Advisory Group. Known for her practical approach to integrating medical practice with policy, she has contributed significantly to public health education and policymaking, particularly in reducing pregnancy related morbidity and mortality. Dr. Mehta completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Drexel University College of Medicine/Hahnemann University Hospital and holds a Master of Science in Public Policy from Drexel University, with a focus on Health Policy.

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  • Birth Justice Philly Senior Program Manager

    Mara Pliskin, M. Ed (she/her) is the Birth Justice Philly Senior Program Manager. In her role, Mara oversees projects taken on by OVA implementation teams, community education programs and manages strategic planning logistics related to OVA coalitions and collectives. Mara has a wealth of experience in public health and advocacy, including adolescent sexual health education, abortion access, reproductive justice & HIV care.

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  • Maternal Health Nurse Manager

    Lakeshia Montgomery, BSN, RNC-MNN (she/her) is a professional nurse with over 14 years of experience in maternal, child & community health, leadership, and acute care. A proud alumna of Rutgers University-Camden, Lakeshia’s journey has been fueled by a desire to improve health outcomes and advocate for birth justice in her community. Lakeshia coordinates the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee and manages a five-year project aimed at improving current screening practices for intimate partner violence in OB triage areas across the city’s delivery hospitals. Previously, she worked for the Nurse Family Partnership in Camden, NJ. Her commitment to maternal health is deeply personal as a mom of two preteen sons, having experienced the challenges that many black birthing people face.

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  • Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Epidemiologist

    Sarah Weinbrom, MPH (she/her) is the Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Epidemiologist for the Data & Surveillance arm of Birth Justice Philly. Her role involves the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data related to perinatal health outcomes among Philadelphia birthing people. Sarah supports data analysis and program evaluation activities for the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Severe Maternal Morbidity Surveillance, and OVA Implementation Teams.

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  • Community Specialist

    Haley Widom (she/her) is the Community Specialist with Birth Justice Philly. Haley supports several implementation teams, coalitions/collaboratives, and the EWS community education program. Haley graduated in 2022 with a BS in Public Health from American University and shortly after began a fellowship with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. She completed her first rotation with the Viral Hepatitis Program before joining Birth Justice Philly. After completing the fellowship, she began her MPH at Columbia University where she is studying within the Department of Population and Family Health while working for Birth Justice Philly.

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  • Urban Health Policy Fellow 

    Victoria Anyanwu (she/her) is the Urban Health Policy Fellow with Birth Justice Philly. In her role, Victoria supports Birth Justice Philly programming, works across the Organized Voices for Action (OVA) team, and on the Data & Evaluation team. Previously, Victoria was a fellow in the Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, focusing on preventing gun violence in Philadelphia. She graduated in 2024 with a degree in Sociology and Public Health from Davidson College, completing a senior honors thesis evaluating "The Impact of the Structural Changes of SNAP during the COVID-19 Pandemic." Victoria is currently working towards an MPH in Epidemiology. 

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  • Project Specialist – Perinatal Substance Use Disorder

    Catherine (Cate) Tomson (she/her/hers) is the Perinatal Substance Use Disorder Project Specialist. Cate worked with the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction’s medical team to define and disseminate best practices for caring for people with xylazine-associated wounds and improve healthcare for people who use drugs in Philadelphia. Cate graduated from Haverford College in May 2023 with a degree in History, Health Studies, and Dance. There, she completed her senior thesis - “Motherwork in a Community of Care: The Midwife as a Public Figure in Early America” - a historical ethnography of touch, matrilineal authority, and childbirth through the institutionalization of medicine in the United States. After her fellowship, Cate plans on attending nursing school and practicing in the public health field. Cate is native to Albany, New York. 

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  • Communications and Maternal Health Program Manager

    Emily Howell, MPH (she/her), serves multiple roles within Birth Justice Philly and the Division of Reproductive, Adolescent, and Child Health (ReACH). She oversees internal and external communications for ReACH, is a core team member of the Philly Joy Bank, and leads public outreach campaigns.

    With over a decade of experience in health and strategic communications and a background in journalism, Emily brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. She is a graduate of Carleton College and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She lives in northwest Philadelphia with her husband and two children.

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