In this episode, Dr. Mai Heath shares her journey from theater directing to naturopathic medicine, her work in community-based doula programs, and her efforts to decolonize healthcare and support Black maternal health. Discover insights on healing arts, advocacy, and building community-led initiatives. About Dr. Mai Heath: Dr. Mai Heath, ND is an artist, wife, mother to three daughters, and medical advocate. Mai is a proud recipient of the National Council of Negro Women's 2024 Women Making History Award and the 2013 Go Natural Inspiration Award. Her undergraduate studies earned her a BA (Hons) from Columbia College Chicago in 2005. She obtained her first doula training certification in 2012. In 2013, Mai received her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, first-professional degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario. After years of attending births privately, Mai served as a community based doula, case manager, and home visitor. In 2019, Mai was among the first group of birthworkers to attend birthing people through the Cook County Jail Pilot Program. Recently, she has served as group facilitator, program and design directors for various reproductive health groups in Chicago, IL. Mai’s special interest in trauma-informed support & violence prevention leads her to focus on mentorship, volunteering, and family. She is Founding Director of health equity & social justice nonprofit NDoula Community Alliance and Artistic Director for its Elemental Reproductive Healing Arts program. Her understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection shapes how she communicates in this world. Mai bridges art and science to eagerly share in others’ journeys as they accesspower and inspire their communities. Mai is proud to serve Chicago, the traditional homelands ofthe Council of Three Fires, Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi. About NDoula: NDoula Community Alliance is a movement building organization addressing quality of life gaps within Chicago communities by influencing perceptions and policy toincrease access to patient-centered, equitable, integrative healthcare & healing justice. We serve those hardest hit by the Black Maternal Health Crisis, including community care workers. We approach health literacy with a specifically inclusive, trauma informed, and violence prevention lens. NDoula works to build a Chicago where all patients and birthing people benefit from informed decision making among a culturally reflective care team. NDoula was founded in 2022 by Black women committed to addressing the urgent disparities facing BIPOC birthing people and patients in Cook County. We are dedicated to transforming healthcare by amplifying community knowledge, fostering research and evaluation led by people of color, and ensuring that the insights of those most affected by the Black Maternal Health Crisis inform policymakers, academics, and medical professionals. NDoula was born out of a desire to share what we’ve learned as integrative and community service workers, and ourlived experiences as vulnerable people and patients navigating intracultural struggles and the medical industrial complex. This perspective catalyzes our innovative and sustainable approach to systems change. To learn more about NDoula: http://www.ndoula.org Connect w/ Dr. Mai: mai.heath@ndoula.org IG: @ndoulacommunityalliance By The Roots exclusively serves the Naturopathic Medicine Professional community, and is supported by listeners. Special thanks to the Producer of this episode: Raylene Jordan Join our Patreon community and become a supporter: https://www.patreon.com/c/bytheroots/membership
