Agenda

EMPOWER: Maternal Healthcare Conference Agenda

April 5, 2024 | 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT | Virtual Only | On-Demand Registration Coming Soon

7:45 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions with Dr Connie Guille, MUSC

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.  Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in South Carolina
Laura Carlson, MD
Dr. Carlson is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and maternal fetal medicine specialist, and is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Prisma Health University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville. She works closely with the reproductive psychiatry team at Prisma Health on the Womens Mental Health committee. Dr. Carlson specializes in high risk pregnancy care with a particular academic interest in the area of maternal mental health.

Ashley Jones, MD
Dr. Jones is board-certified psychiatrist and an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Prisma Health University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia. She directs the perinatal psychiatry integrated care clinic at Prisma Health Richland. She is a member of the South Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee and several of its subcommittees. She also participated as a South Carolina representative in a national maternal mortality committee delphi study with the CDC. Dr. Jones specializes in women’s mental health, resident and medical student education, and professional well-being.
 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Identification and Treatment of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder
Neha Hudepohl, MD
Dr. Neha Hudepohl completed her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, and medical school at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. She completed her general adult psychiatry residency training at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in 2010. She was on faculty at Brown University – Alpert Medical School following her graduation and was the Medical Director of the Center for Women’s Behavioral Health at Women & Infants Hospital until 2019. There, she founded and led a Women’s Mental Health fellowship training program in 2013. In 2019, Dr. Hudepohl joined Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville as the Director of the Women’s Mental Health Program and the Program Director of the Greenville Psychiatry residency program. She was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville in 2021. In 2022, she became the Interim Vice Chair of Academic Affairs for the Department of Psychiatry, and in 2023 took on that role full-time. Her clinical and academic interests including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, perinatal ethics and decision-making, and medical education.

Stephanie Berg, MD
Dr. Berg is the physician lead psychiatrist with Prisma Health Behavioral Day Treatment, where she has been practicing since 2010. She established the Prisma Health Perinatal Mood Disorders Clinic in 2014. She is board certified with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Columbia. Her area of specialization is Women's Mental Health, in particular perinatal, premenstrual, and perimenopausal mood disorders. She teaches residents in the Department of Neuropsychiatry at the University of South Carolina and speaks throughout the area on topics related to Women’s Mental Health.

Jess Obeysekare, MD

Kelly Helms LISW-CP
Kelly Helms is in private practice in Columbia with an emphasis on Postpartum Mood Disorders. For more than a decade she acted as the South Carolina Coordinator for a Midlands area for Postpartum Support International. She was trained in REBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City and in EMDR at the EMDR Institute, Inc.


10:30 a.m.- 10:45 a.m. Morning Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Identification and Treatment of Perinatal Substance Use Disorder
Rubin Aujla, MD
Rubin Aujla is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC. Dr. Aujla attended the University of South Carolina for medical school, and completed her MPH and psychiatry residency training at Tulane University in New Orleans. She returned home to Charleston and completed a fellowship in perinatal psychiatry at MUSC, and now works as the clinic director of the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health Clinic. When not at work she is enjoying time with her new baby and her family.

Dawn Boender, MD
Dr. Dawn Boender is a fellow in the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC. Dr. Boender is a board certified OB/GYN. She attended medical school at Sanford School of Medicine in South Dakota, and completed OB/GYN residency through the University of Kansas (KU) Wichita. Her professional interests include treatment of mood and anxiety disorders that are affected by hormonal changes, including the perinatal, menstrual, and perimenopausal time periods. Outside of work she can be found spending time with her husband and four children.

Abbigail Lee-Rodgers, DO
I graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed residency in General Psychiatry at Henry Ford Health. I began fellowship in Reproductive Psychiatry at MUSC in July 2023. I have a special interest comorbid metabolic and psychiatric illnesses, particularly PCOS.

Victoria Bowen, LPC
Victoria Bowen is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of Delaware and earned her Masters of Science in Community and Trauma Counseling at Philadelphia University.

Sara Witcraft, PhD
Dr. Sara Witcraft is an Assistant Professor and Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health (WRBH) Division at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her research focuses on addressing transdiagnostic psychological mechanisms and utilizing innovative digital solutions to improve quality, access, and equity of evidence-based behavioral and pharmacological treatments for individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. She is currently funded by a National Institute on Drug Abuse Career Development Award to develop a technology-enhanced behavioral intervention to improve retention in and adherence to medication for opioid use disorder among pregnant and postpartum people.
 

12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch Break

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.  Improving Maternal Mental Health Outcomes for Black Women through Culturally Competent Care (Panel Discussion)
Christina Tolbert, MD
Dr. Christina Tolbert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC. Dr. Tolbert received her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine and completed her internship, residency, and child and adolescent fellowship training at the Medical University of South Carolina. At the National Crime Victims Research & Treatment Center at MUSC, Dr. Tolbert gained experience with trauma exposure, PTSD, and economic and racial diversity in youth. She has also earned the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Pilot Research Award. Dr. Tolbert’s specialty interests are youth and perinatal psychiatry. She is currently treating pregnant and postpartum women in the Women's Reproductive Health Division, adults and youth through the MUSC outpatient telepsychiatry program and youth at the MUSC Children’s Day Treatment Program.

Tara Ancrum, LISW
Tara Ancrum is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health Division. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Psychology at The College of Charleston and earned a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Webster University. Tara’s experience covers 16 years of working with children to adults in areas of behavior modification, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She also has a certificate in Applied Behavioral Analysis. Tara enjoys reading and is open to learning new things. When she’s not working, she loves spending quality time with her family

Marguerite Pierce
Marguerite Pierce is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of She Matters, a digital health platform that aims to reduce maternal morbidity by integrating cultural competency and technology. The platform's cultural competence certification content emphasizes patient and provider safety, effective communication, and an in-depth understanding of the history of systemic racism in healthcare.

With a solid background spanning over 15 years in operational and managerial roles within small business settings, Marguerite has refined her approach to developing sustainable strategies for ongoing process and personal improvement. Prior to She Matters, Marguerite served as Senior Director of Client Services for North America at Glass Lewis & Co., a leader in global corporate governance and proxy advisory services. She is also a Certified Professional Coach via the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching.

Marguerite earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology in 2005. She is expanding her knowledge and skillset as a member of Yale University’s MBA for Executives Program, Class of 2025, with a healthcare focus. Outside of her professional life, Marguerite enjoys singing karaoke, watching horror movies, and exploring diverse cultures through travel. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, Dexter, and their daughter, Simone.

Jade Kearney
Jade Kearney, founded She Matters after her battle with postpartum anxiety and depression. With a rich educational background that includes a Master's in Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies from Georgetown University, a Master's in Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia from NYU, and a Bachelor's in Political Science and Government from Rutgers University, Jade brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the forefront of maternal healthcare. Through her challenges with family and navigating the healthcare system, she quickly realized that Black mamas' interactions within the Black community and the healthcare system often neglect their mental health. Jade is determined to make cultural competency a priority in the maternal healthcare space and change the cultural stigma around mental health for Black women by providing a community where Black mamas feel both seen and heard.

In addition to her impressive educational credentials, Jade is a recognized Lean Startup Expert and has significantly contributed to the entrepreneurial community as an Entrepreneur in Residence at digitalundivided and a Founder in Residence at New York University. Her extensive experience and dedication to fostering innovation and support among startups, particularly those led by women of color, underscore her commitment to making meaningful change.


1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Evolving Systems of Care for Perinatal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Connie Guille, MD
Connie Guille is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and director of the Women’s Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC.

Kerry Blome, LISW-CP
Kerry Blome is a Care Coordinator for the Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC and she is a Licensed Independent Social Worker. Kerry completed her undergraduate degree at Marist College and earned her Master of Social Work degree from Boston University. She has perinatal social work experience in several states.

Courtney King, PhD
Dr. Courtney King is an assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Associate Director of Research for the Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her work focuses on evolving systems of care for perinatal mental health and substance use disorders, with a special interest in facilitating the involvement of community health workers on integrated care teams.

Marie Hayes, PhD
Marie Hayes is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at MUSC. She received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology from UNC Charlotte and completed her predoctoral internship at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Hayes completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Levine Cancer Institute. Within WRBH, Dr. Hayes sees perinatal patients for psychotherapy and conducts clinical research. Her professional interests are centered in health psychology and health behavioral change and include reproductive behavioral health, infertility and substance use in the perinatal period. 

Katherine Wallace, LISW
Katherine Wallace is a Care Coordinator in the Women's Reproductive Behavioral Health Division at MUSC. Katherine received her Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health degrees from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. She has lived in Charleston since 2018 and has a background in advocacy, crisis management, and working with people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect.

2:45 p.m.    Closing Remarks and Adjourn