Tackling Maternal Health Disparities Through Community Engagement and Policy with Grace Mabiala-Maye, MD, MPH, Doctoral Student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

Grace Mabiala-Maye, MD, MPH, Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Student Liaison at the American Public Health Association and Ambassador at One Young World, shares her journey from being a midwife’s daughter in Congo to helping reduce maternal deaths in Nebraska. 

Grace highlights the similarities between healthcare challenges in rural Congo and rural Nebraska and explains how systemic barriers often hinder progress. She underscores the importance of humility, co-leadership, community engagement and policy advocacy in driving meaningful change across communities.

Key Takeaways:

(02:34) Helping her mother deliver a baby as a child inspired Grace’s lifelong commitment to healthcare. (11:41) Rural areas globally share challenges in healthcare access. (13:05) Local solutions need systemic policy support to be effective. (20:10) Seeing yourself as part of the community is essential to serving it. (22:04) Leadership begins with vulnerability and co-creation. (26:27) Representing Congo at One Young World inspired further action. (38:23) Addressing racial disparities through research strengthens systemic change. (41:15) Doula integration can help reduce Black maternal mortality.

Resources Mentioned:

Grace Mabiala-Maye, MD, MPH - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-mabiala-maye-md-mph-313811170/

Terre Sans Frontières - https://terresansfrontieres.ca/

One Young World - https://www.oneyoungworld.com/

American Public Health Association - https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-public-health-association/

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) - https://www.unmc.edu/

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