Bob Casey Asks Witness What Role Midwives & Doulas Can Play In Reducing Health Disparities

4 months ago

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Transcript

00:00Senator Casey.

00:02Let me start by thanking you, Mr. Chairman, and the Ranking Member for having a hearing on this range of critically important issues,

00:08whether it's diversity of the workforce or whether it's

00:11health disparities or maternal health or maternal mortality, and

00:18I believe that in order to

00:22nurture the future generation of black and brown health care workers or in order to close gaps between

00:30outcomes for white and black mothers, we have to start in childhood, and

00:34that means that the Congress of the United States has to get into the game in a way that we haven't ever really.

00:41I believe it comes down to at least five basic freedoms that every child should have a right to enjoy,

00:47and we should invest in those freedoms, not just talk about them like they're platitudes.

00:53The freedom to be healthy, the freedom to learn,

00:56the freedom to have economic security,

01:00which means giving children the opportunity, their families the opportunity to save at a very young age for their future.

01:07The fourth freedom would be the freedom from hunger, and the fifth freedom would be the freedom to be safe from harm.

01:15Every child has those five.

01:17Health, the opportunity to learn, economic security, freedom from hunger, and to be safe.

01:22We will have a much different outcome on all these issues we're here to talk about,

01:26but the federal government hasn't done that, and so I think it requires a maximum

01:32commitment to our children.

01:34I'll start with Dr. Lawson. You had talked about the improved outcomes patients have when they're able to see

01:41health care providers that look like them, a very important point to make in this hearing and beyond. In the context of

01:49maternity care,

01:50what has your experience been with both midwives and doulas, and what role can they play in reducing health disparities?

01:59Absolutely. Thank you, Senator. I've had a 22-year

02:03history of experience in OBGYN.

02:06My entire career, I've worked with midwives and doulas. I even owned a birth center myself and employed

02:12midwives. Very impactful. Number one, I believe women should have a choice with what type of provider they want.

02:19And that's what midwives can do. I think that doulas are an excellent support

02:26for women. They were an extension of me. I could send the doula to the house, help a woman in early labor,

02:34postpartum checks, you know, mood disorders. Sometimes they would share things with the doula

02:39they may not want to share with me. So, very important aspect, an add-on support for women during pregnancy and childbirth.

02:47Well, thank you. We're all trying to do more to invest in programs that would support doulas and midwives.

02:54Dr. Galvez, you mentioned the role of community colleges in helping to develop the

03:00pipeline of health care workers and for diversifying the workforce.

03:04Community colleges are the most diverse sector of higher education. I know that just from

03:10representing Pennsylvania. We've got 15

03:12community colleges, and I'm amazed at the

03:17sophistication of the curriculum and how well prepared

03:21young people are coming out of those community colleges.

03:24How can we better use the opportunities that community colleges offer to help grow and diversify the health care workforce?

03:35It really was, at least for me, I didn't know how to study. I did poorly in high school.

03:40It wasn't until community college that I learned how to study, and I learned those

03:45skills. I used those skills at Stanford for medical school,

03:49those same study skills, and so I do think, as mentioned, I think it's an untapped resource. I think

03:56recruiting early and

03:58encouraging students to

04:00consider a career in medicine and other health care fields is a good source. Just like you said, it's a very diverse pool.

04:10To better use them and include them, it's to create pathway programs.

04:15In California, we have the California

04:19Medical Scholars Program,

04:21which is in development where they're linking community college, but it really is

04:26providing mentorship and guiding them, but it's not guaranteed acceptance, and that's where I think taking it a step further and

04:36guaranteeing these students and creating even a quota for medical school so that they can better reflect their community is a strategy

04:45for

04:48diversifying the workforce.

04:51Doctor, thanks very much, and before I conclude, I want to commend Dr. Cook for

04:56telling your story here today. The fact that you attended Drexel helps in my

05:01estimation, but it's a great American story, and I know you worked hard to achieve it,

05:07so thanks for being here today and providing that testimony.

05:10Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

Bob Casey Asks Witness What Role Midwives & Doulas Can Play In Reducing Health Disparities

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