Black Maternal Health ECHO

Lauren Dungy-Poythress, MD, FACOG

Associate Professor | IU School of Medicine

Lauren Dungy-Poythress, MD, an accomplished board-certified physician specializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine and educator, brings to her patients and their physicians more than 25 years of perinatology experience. She has designed, developed, and led successful Maternal-Fetal Medicine offices and/or programs in three states.

Dr. Dungy-Poythress has held faculty appointments as an associate and assistant professor at several university medical programs and serves, or has served, on multiple community boards and programs, some of which include the Women’s Fund Advisory Board, The State Board of Directors for the March of Dimes, The Indiana Perinatal Network, The Julian Center Board of Directors, and Officer and Board of Directors for the Dungy Family Foundation, Inc.

Emmalee K. Garate, CCHW

Community Health Doula, Member of DONA, INCHWA

Emmy Garate found out about doula services and that she wanted to be a doula when she saw a job posting for a community doula position with Indiana Minority Health Coalition in 2020. She had no idea of the beautiful support that doulas provide or of the dismal maternal and infant mortality rate in the US, Indiana, and her county of residence, Cass. At that same time, she learned of the significant positive impact that doula services can have in reducing Cesarean births and improving birth outcomes through continuous one-on-one care at a birth. With a broader understanding of racial bias in healthcare and learning the fact that Black moms are twice as likely to die in childbirth than other moms regardless of education level or socioeconomic status, she knew she wanted to be part of community doula work in her community!  

She strives to make sure underserved populations in her community have access to doula services through the Community Doula Services Program offered by Indiana Minority Health Coalition in Cass County. 

Davinia Givens

Prenatal Community Health Specialist and Certified Birth Doula | Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program

Hello everyone! My name is Davinia, and I am truly happy to be a part of the Black Maternal Health ECHO Hub Team. My experience and professional education come from an intensive and diverse background of being a victim advocate for specialized crimes, domestic violence, human trafficking, homicides, and crimes against children. I have now blended my former background with perinatal and pregnancy-related care for my community. I am one of the prenatal community health specialists for Northwest Indiana, and soon to be a certified birth doula for my team and the surrounding communities. Since I do have a background in victim advocacy, I do take on prenatal cases that would be assault-based or high alert due to a crime. 

Jasmine Johnson, MD, FACOG

Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology | IU School of Medicine

Jasmine Johnson, MD is a wife, mother of two, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine faculty at Indiana University Health. Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine, and completed OBGYN residency and MFM fellowship at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Dr. Johnson’s research interests include health equity and quality improvement efforts to help reduce severe maternal morbidity and maternal mortality. Dr. Johnson strives to be a fierce advocate for the historically marginalized populations of her community.  

Lauren Lancaster, MPH

Maternal Child Manager | Indiana Minority Health Coalition

Lauren Lancaster is a Maternal Child Health Manager at the Indiana Minority Health Coalition.  Within her role, she works to advance the Indiana Minority Health Coalition’s agenda to eliminate racial disparities within maternal and child health throughout the state by facilitating events and programs to educate and inform the community and stakeholders. Lauren is committed to seeing that all pregnant people have healthy and safe pregnancies, labors, and deliveries and that they and the baby both return home to their families.

Velvet G. Miller, PhD, FAAN

Director | Not 1 More Project, Inc.

Velvet G. Miller began her career as a professional nurse, practicing in a variety of clinical and administrative positions. Dr. Miller has also served in senior positions in the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors. The consistent thread throughout her career continues to be ensuring affordable, geographic, and equitable access to health care, with a focus on people of color.

Vanessa Summers

State Representative & Public Policy Associate | Indiana Minority Health Coalition

Vanessa’s primary goals in the Indiana General Assembly include working on Maternal mortality for women and improving the infant mortality rate in Indiana and addressing all issues directly affecting children. She has authored or co-authored bills that work to improve the foster care system in Indiana, help law enforcement locate missing and endangered children, and establish safe sleep standards for children while at daycare. She also works to even the playing field for the daycare system in Indiana by addressing the great difference between licensed day care facilities and day care ministries. 

In 2012, Vanessa became the first African American woman to become assistant Democratic Caucus Chair. She then became the first African American Woman to be Democratic Caucus chair. She is presently the longest-serving African American woman in the General Assembly in Indiana.  

Vanessa is currently a Public Policy Associate for the Indiana Minority Health Coalition in Indianapolis.

Nicole Williams

Doula | IMHC Community Doula Services Program

Nicole Williams is a Doula for the Indiana Minority Health Coalition’s Community Doula Services Program. As mother of five with a passion to serve others, she has worked with IMHC for 16 years and enjoys being hands on and 10 toes down in the community.