Distinguished Population Health Lectureship spotlights urgent advances in maternal health

At the conclusion of Research Day 2025, the John D. Bower School of Population Health welcomed a renowned expert in maternal health equity for its annual Distinguished Population Health Lectureship. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, a nationally recognized obstetrician-gynecologist and health equity leader, delivered this year’s lecture titled “Advancing Women's Health: Improving Obstetrical and Birth Outcomes in the South.”

Held at noon on Wednesday, April 10, in the Nelson Student Union’s Conference Rooms A, B, and C, the lecture drew students, faculty, clinicians, and community leaders eager to engage with one of the South’s most influential voices on maternal health.

A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Dr. Gillispie-Bell currently serves as Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Queensland Medical School – Ochsner Health. She is also the Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review for the Louisiana Department of Health, leading groundbreaking efforts to reduce maternal mortality and eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.

Dr. Gillispie-Bell’s lecture underscored the persistent challenges in maternal health across the Deep South, highlighting systemic drivers of poor outcomes while championing data-informed, community-engaged solutions. Her expertise spans clinical care, quality improvement, and public policy. Notably, she has testified before Congress, spoken at the White House Maternal Health Day of Action, and been featured in national media outlets such as USA Today, The New York Times, and Good Morning America.

“Dr. Gillispie-Bell brings the kind of bold, equity-driven leadership our region needs,” said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, Dean of the Bower School of Population Health. “Her work exemplifies the transformative potential of population health when we focus on structural change, community voice, and clinical excellence.”

Her dynamic presentation challenged attendees to confront disparities head-on and to collaborate across disciplines to build a healthier future for women and birthing people throughout the region.

The Distinguished Lectureship continues to be a hallmark of the Bower School’s commitment to advancing population health through bold ideas and impactful dialogue. This year’s speaker left the audience inspired, informed, and ready to act.