University of California outlines 3-year initiative to advance equitable maternal care

University of California health leaders described a systemwide initiative to reduce severe maternal morbidity and address racial disparities in maternal outcomes, emphasizing access to prenatal care, standardized evidence-based practices, community partnerships and data-driven interventions.

Dr. David Rubin, executive vice president of health for the University of California, introduced the item and framed it as central to the university’s clinical mission and values: “our true north is really about our mission and our values.” Dr. Robert (Rob) Cherry, interim chief health officer, and Dr. Nerris Benfield, chief medical officer for adult services and professor and vice chair for quality and safety in the department of OB‑GYN at UCSF, described the scope and early findings of the work.

Why UC is acting now

Presenters cited national and state trends and the CDC’s consensus definitions for severe maternal morbidity as the basis for consistent data collection across institutions. Dr. Benfield noted that maternal morbidity and mortality rose during the COVID‑19 spike in 2019–2021 and that, even excluding the COVID effect, the trend has increased. “We have, substantial inequities in maternal care … especially a challenge for our black identified patients,” Benfield said, citing U.S. severe maternal morbidity of about 18 per…