The Restart of CDU’ s OB / GYN Department Emphasizes Its Mission in SPA 6( continued)
sharing. Offering various perspectives, the coalitionbuilding process has the advantage of developing a set of unified, aligned goals.
Racism is a public health issue. Organizations addressing the issue should develop a different kind of infrastructure. Emphasizing such elements as free-standing birth centers as a community-based hub is of value. Such an entity would provide wraparound services in a one-stop model providing access to a community in need.
She discussed a framework for group prenatal care in partnership with clinical partners as a mix of service provider proficiency. There is a need for more evidencebased strategies based on trulyinformed models of care that are not the conventional one size fits all approach prevalent today.
CDU’ s Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence( BMHCE) Co-founders Bita Amani, PhD & Brandi Sims Desjolais, Ed. D reviewed racism as a public issue that led to the creation of that led to the creation of a new vision of Black maternal health that dismantles structural racism and transforms systems to protect and promote the holistic well-being of Black mothers and their families.
The 4-Year medical students in attendance were also able to discuss their interests in the field of OB / GYN. Their comments and Dr. Ogunyemi’ s perspective made it clear that Dr. Dawson’ s assessment of leadership was deepening the hunger of the participants to put into operations such a collaborative model at multiple levels.
One of Dr. Dawson’ s PowerPoint slides carried the maxim that Leadership Drives Collaboration. Leaders must use their authority to create and foster a collaborative culture and an appealing environment in which to collaborate. This must include trust and enable others to see the value of the proposed connection.
A follow along slide offered a list of leadership skills that encourage collaboration, including balanced motivation, management of control by the various participating entities, risk taking, developing a strong network, intellectual versatility, and powerful communication skills. Key ingredients of this mix shared vision and goals, trust and mutual respect, clear communication, inclusivity and diversity, multiple effective decisionmaking processes, and resource sharing.
As Dr. Dawson presented the follow up information that clarified and expanded these key points, it became evident that she was sharing this wisdom with a group highly receptive to such ideas. Looking around at those in attendance, there was an interesting mix of attendees who already share many of the interests, values and traits that she presented that night.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 37