Presentation Descriptions and Objectives

Presenter: Jessica Davison, MA, LPCC, LADC

Historically, women in their third trimester of pregnancy face significant barriers in accessing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Many traditional treatment programs deny admission during this critical period or require women to leave their newborns post-delivery, forcing difficult decisions between treatment and parenting. This presentation explores innovative family-centered treatment models designed specifically to accommodate third trimester pregnant women, allowing them to give birth, receive postpartum care, and seamlessly continue their treatment journey while nurturing their newborns. Participants will learn about practical strategies, supportive program structures, and clinical considerations that improve outcomes for both mothers and babies, ultimately fostering healthier families and stronger recovery journeys.

Objectives:

1. Identify common barriers pregnant women face in traditional SUD treatment programs, particularly during the third trimester and postpartum period.
2. Describe the essential components and clinical best practices of family-centered treatment programs that support continuous care from pregnancy through postpartum, enabling mother-infant bonding and ongoing treatment engagement.
3. Evaluate outcomes and benefits for mothers, newborns, and families participating in treatment programs that integrate prenatal and postnatal care with substance use disorder recovery goals.

Presenter: Leah Jordan, MD, Marcia McCoy, MPH IBCLC, and Munira Maalimisaq FNP-BC, DNP-c

Researchers and practitioners identified hesitancy in the Muslim community to accepting the use of PDHM due to religious concerns about milk kinship, even when it’s medically advised for premature and ill babies. Focus groups showed the ubiquity of this concern among Somali mothers, leading to an initiative to address those concerns and to develop strategies and resources to increase donor milk acceptance. Practitioners, religious leaders, scholars, researchers, and Milk Bank leadership collaborated on the development of the fatwa regarding the use of pasteurized donor human milk in the Muslim faith. Efforts continue to provide effective educational resources and strategies health care providers can use to safeguard the health of vulnerable infants while respecting the religious needs or their Muslim patients.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Describe deficits in the perinatal care as reported by Somali and African American mothers
2. Explain concerns in the Muslim community about utilizing donor milk (PDHM) for their infants
3. Identify strategies and resources to address families’ concerns about PDHM

Presenter: Marlys Weyandt, CD (DONA), Mallory Cummings, MHA, RN, PHN, Cinthia Rodriguez Navin, DNP

This session explores key considerations surrounding doula care models, funding mechanisms, cultural dynamics, and workforce integration—particularly in the context of all areas in Minnesota. Several models of doula care have emerged, ranging from fully funded programs to volunteer-based efforts. These models vary widely in their structure and sustainability. Programs that are dependent on grants or temporary funding often face challenges in maintaining services once that funding expires, highlighting the need for long-term financial planning, possibly through legislative changes, and systemic support.

A central issue in sustaining doula programs is reimbursement. In Minnesota, there has been progress in establishing pathways for Medicaid and other insurers to reimburse doula services. However, significant gaps remain. Expanding commercial payer reimbursement is crucial for integrating doulas into the healthcare system, especially for underserved populations. Without consistent reimbursement mechanisms, doulas may be underutilized or unavailable to work on a volunteer basis, risking the sustainability of these programs.

Doulas often reflect the racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds of the communities they serve. This representation is vital in addressing disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Doulas act as cultural brokers, bridging gaps between medical institutions and the lived experiences of clients. Their presence can challenge systemic inequities and improve communication, particularly in racially diverse or marginalized communities. The role of doulas also extends to providing continuity of care throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. This ongoing relationship builds trust and contributes to better health outcomes. Furthermore, when doulas are present, nurses and other healthcare providers can work more effectively and at the full scope of their licenses. Doulas take on supportive, non-clinical roles that complement medical care, reducing provider burden and improving patient satisfaction.

Join us to learn more about equitable access to doula care and how to optimize outcomes across communities, it is essential to develop sustainable funding models, expand commercial reimbursement contracts, and continue integrating culturally representative doulas into healthcare model of birth. Doula care strengthens maternal care systems but also fosters a more inclusive, community-centered model of health delivery.

Objectives:

1. Identify and compare different models of doula care, including funded, grant-supported, and volunteer-based structures.
2. Evaluate the sustainability challenges of doula programs after initial funding ends and propose strategies for long-term viability.
3. Explain the current status and future needs of doula reimbursement in Minnesota, particularly in relation to Medicaid and insurance systems.

Presenter: Kari Rabie, MD

The presentation aims to educate healthcare providers on implementing harm reduction strategies in their practice, particularly for pregnant patients with substance use disorders. It emphasizes non-judgmental, patient-centered care and addresses various aspects of prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care.

Objectives:

1. Identify the features of harm reduction in relation to pregnancy care.
2. Apply cultural humility and trauma informed care when giving care to pregnant people.
3. Formulate an approach for treating pregnant woman with SUD regardless of their readiness to be sober.

Presenter: Lauren Graber, MD

This session will focus on the unique role of medications for Opioid Use Disorder in stabilizing families and enhancing the health of the pregnancy. Participants will learn more about the different medications for OUD, how to discuss options with patients and how to confidently start medications with your patients.

Objectives:

1. Describe different medications for Opioid Use Disorder.
2. Consider risks & benefits of these options for the pregnant person & the fetus.
3. Discuss different ways to initiate buprenorphine & methadone.

Presenter: Julia Tindell, MPH, Erica Lester, MPH, MeMe Cronin, Dylan Daniels, RN, & Aimee Morago, MSW, LICSW

In this session, attendees will learn how the evidence-based, trauma-informed CUES (Confidentiality, Universal Education + Empowerment, Support) intervention has been implemented in healthcare settings in Minnesota to initiate conversations with patients about healthy relationships and violence. Presenters will share findings from their work with community health centers, domestic violence advocacy programs, and an ongoing pilot with Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, Inc (IHB). This session will build on the findings and recommendations described by Rachael McGraw in the Summit Plenary.

Objectives: 

1. Identify opportunities intervene in health settings to prevent maternal mortality by applying a universal education approach to intimate partner violence (IPV), human trafficking (HT), and exploitation.
2. Describe the evidence-based, trauma-informed CUES intervention and locate information about adopting it in their workplaces.
3. Initiate or strengthen collaborative relationships between healthcare settings and domestic violence programs.

Presenter: Rachael McGraw, DNP, RN & Jennifer Almanza, DNP, APRN, CNM

Please join one of the co-chairs and the facilitator of the Minnesota Maternal Mortality Review Committee for a presentation about the data and recommendations from the first 5-year report. This report, published in 2025, includes the largest data set we have analyzed from case years 2017-2021. Hear about the leading causes of maternal death in our state and the recommendations made by the committee with a focus on health disparities and communities most impacted by maternal death.

Objectives: 

1. Following this presentation, learners will be able to identify the leading causes of maternal death in Minnesota.
2. Following this presentation, learners will be able to evaluate their health systems for action on maternal mortality review committee recommendations.
3. Following this presentation, learners will be able to prioritize actions to promote health equity.

Presenter: Laura Colicchia, MD & Lisa Kirkland, MD

Pregnancy and the postpartum periods are high risk times for severe maternal illness. The physiologic changes of pregnancy and concerns for fetal well-being make routine management of critical illness challenging. Caring for obstetric patients in the ICU requires cooperation between providers and nursing teams from multiple subspecialties, including critical care, obstetrics or maternal-fetal medicine, anesthesia, neonatology, cardiology and more. Patients cared for at centers with multidisciplinary obstetric critical care teams have improved outcomes and less maternal morbidity.

We will discuss how the multidisciplinary obstetric critical care program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital was created and how each part of the team performs their important roles in patient care. We will use cases from our institution to describe possible issues that can arise in the care of critically ill obstetric patients and how our team manages these conditions. We will also discuss how to assess patients at regional centers to determine if transfer to a tertiary care facility with OB-ICU capabilities should be considered, and provide recommendations for stabilization and how to coordinate transfer.

Objectives: 

1. Understand the role of multidisciplinary teams in the care of critically ill obstetric patients.
2. Learn how to build a multidisciplinary OB critical care team.
3. Identify pregnant patients at risk of critical illness who should be transferred to a tertiary care ICU.

Presenter: Meghan Walsh & Laura Palombi, PharmD, MPH, MAT

Learn how to reverse an overdose and save a life! This training will cover the basics of how to administer naloxone, the medication used to reverse an opioid overdose.

Objectives:

1. How to recognize an opioid overdose.
2. What naloxone/Narcan is and how it works.
3. How to properly administer naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose.
4. About Steve’s Law/MN’s Good Samaritan and Naloxone Law and how to obtain naloxone in community.

Presenter: Rachel Pilliod, MD

Obstetric hemorrhage remains a significant driver of maternal morbidity and mortality and can negatively impact patients, staff, and families. Unique to obstetric hemorrhage is how unpredictable it can be and how rapidly care needs can escalate. Preparation, unit readiness, and prompt recognition with appropriate response can reduce adverse events and improve patient and staff experiences. This presentation will focus on obstetric hemorrhage across practice types and settings with high yield clinical practices to share and implement with clinical teams and regional partners.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the prevalence of obstetric hemorrhage and how it drives maternal morbidity and mortality
2. Methods for assessing unit/provider readiness
3. Outline recognition and response strategies to reduce adverse events

Presenter: Adrienne Richardson, MD & Hannah Burton, MSW, LISW, JD

Screening for substance use in pregnancy is an important part of caring for patients and families, and allows for access to resources and treatment. This talk will describe the validated screening tools that are recommended for substance use and will review how urine drug screening is not a preferred screening. We will provide context of how these drug screens can be interpreted in the child welfare system.

Objectives:

1. Name and describe validated screening tools for substance use in pregnancy.
2. Explain why toxicology screening is not recommended to screen for substance use.
3. Interpret how drugs screens can be used in child welfare setting.

Presenter: Elizebeth Adedokun, PhD, LMFT, PMH-C & Evon Inyang, M.A, LMFT

The postpartum period is one of the most emotionally complex and relationship-defining seasons a couple can experience. While much attention is given to the physical recovery and infant care needs, many couples are quietly struggling in their relationship—navigating resentment, disconnection, identity shifts, and the invisible weight of unspoken expectations.

This presentation is designed to equip clinicians with practical, trauma-informed, and relationally attuned tools to support couples during the postpartum transition. Drawing from perinatal mental health research, attachment theory, and couples therapy modalities, we’ll explore what’s often left unsaid between partners during this vulnerable time and how to create space for repair, reconnection, and resilience.

Participants will learn:
→ Common relational patterns that emerge postpartum (e.g., role confusion, conflict cycles, intimacy disconnect)
→ The intersection of perinatal mental health symptoms and couple dynamics
→ How to normalize ambivalence, grief, and resentment without pathologizing the relationship
→ Strategies for supporting effective communication, co-parenting, and emotional validation between partners
→ How to create a safe therapeutic container where both parents feel seen and supported

Therapeutic language and clinician-facing reflection tools will be shared to support both new and seasoned providers working with individuals or couples in the perinatal period. Whether you’re a therapist, nurse, doula, or other mental health professional, this training offers a fresh lens on how to hold space for the couple system, not just the individual parent.

Postpartum doesn’t have to break a relationship. With the right support, it can be a turning point toward deeper understanding and connection. Let’s help couples not just survive parenthood, but thrive together through it.

Objectives:

1. Identify common relational stressors and behavioral patterns that emerge in couples during the postpartum period.
2. Apply evidence-based strategies to support effective communication, emotional regulation, and connection between partners.
3. Demonstrate techniques for normalizing ambivalence, grief, and role transitions without pathologizing the couple’s relationship.

Presenter: Amber Weiseth, DNP, MSN, RNC-OB & Leslie Carranza, MD

TeamBirth is a patient-centered care model supported by tools, measurement, and implementation strategies that is designed for adaptation across a range of settings. The model integrates two design principles: 1) promotion of effective communication and teamwork and 2) simplification of patient-centered decision-making. Communication and teamwork are enhanced through structured team “huddles”. This presentation will present the design, research and spread of TeamBirth through the US.

Objectives:

1. Explain the core principles and key behaviors of the TeamBirth model of care.
2. Evaluate its impact on reducing disparities through TeamBirth research.
3. Apply practical recommendations for incorporating TeamBirth behaviors and principles into their own practice.

Presenter: Enid Rivera-Chiauzzi, MD & Jennifer Thaler, APRN, AGCNS-BC, DNP

The objective of this quality improvement project was to identify the percentage of postpartum patients who were not treated within the recommended 20-minute timeframe for sustained severe range blood pressure (SRBP) and to decrease this percentage through targeted interventions. The project was conducted at the Mayo Clinic Rochester Family Birth Center and involved Obstetrics and Gynecology residents, nurses, pharmacists, and other stakeholders. The team utilized the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) methodology to implement interventions aimed at improving the timely administration of antihypertensive medications. Baseline data was collected from July 1, 2022, to July 31, 2, and postintervention data was collected in two phases: December 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, and March 26, 2024, to April 30, 2024. Baseline data revealed that 36% of patients were not treated within the 20-minute timeframe. After the first intervention, this percentage decreased to 10%, and after the second intervention, it further decreased to 0%. The interventions included the development and implementation of standardized order sets, nursing protocols, and ongoing education for all stakeholders. The project successfully decreased the percentage of postpartum patients who did not receive timely antihypertensive treatment for SRBP. The key lessons learned included the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, thorough root cause analysis, and meticulous data collection. The team’s experience underscores the critical importance of collaboration, targeted interventions, and leveraging electronic medical records for data extraction to enhance the overall quality of care.

Objectives:

1. Understand the Importance of Timely Treatment for SRBP.
2. Implementing Quality Improvement Methodologies.
3. Leveraging Multidisciplinary Collaboration.