Vindman Hosts Global Maternal Health Roundtable at Mary Washington Hospital

Fredericksburg, Va. - Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today convened a maternal health roundtable with the Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium at Mary Washington Hospital, bringing together state and local officials, health care leaders, clinicians, and community advocates to address maternal health trends and persistent disparities.

The discussion focused on identifying high-impact policies and programs that can save lives, elevating provider perspectives, and developing cross-sector calls to action. Participants also outlined actionable priorities to advance maternal health policy in the Virginia General Assembly and Congress, alongside community-based solutions to improve outcomes for mothers and families.

"Too many women, and disproportionately Black women, face unacceptable risks during pregnancy and childbirth," said Vindman. "We must do better as a country. The insights shared during today's roundtable with local leaders and the Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium will help inform concrete priorities we can advance in Congress, the General Assembly, and our communities to strengthen maternal health and better support all families. In a country as rich in resources as America, maternal health outcomes should never depend on race, income, or ZIP code."

The roundtable was attended by Dr. Christopher Newman, President and CEO of Mary Washington Healthcare; State Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy; Delegate Candi Mundon King; Delegate Briana Sewell; Delegate-Elect Nicole Cole; Delegate-Elect Stacey Carroll; and Vice Chair Andrea O. Bailey. Providers shared frontline insights on challenges and opportunities to strengthen care delivery.

"Mary Washington Healthcare was proud to host this vital discussion on maternal health," said Christopher Newman, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Mary Washington Healthcare. "Addressing disparities, especially for black mothers, requires collaboration and action. We are committed to ensuring every mother receives safe, high-quality care and to working with partners to improve outcomes for all families."

"After giving birth to my twins, I was sent home prematurely despite my complaints. I was later taken to the hospital where I learned that I would have died if my husband did not rush to get me emergency care. Almost 90% of all maternal deaths are preventable. Black women are over three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. The legacy of racial prejudice still exists in modern-day maternal healthcare. That is why I have worked for years to pass bills to support doulas and doula organizations like Birth in Color, expand access to Medicaid and collect data related to maternal mortality. We must continue to improve Black maternal health outcomes through partnerships, community engagement and leadership from elected officials," said Virginia State Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy.

"The global maternal health townhall with Congressman Vindman and The Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium demonstrated the power of bringing together federal leadership and grassroots advocacy," said the Honorable Candi Mundon King, Incoming Secretary of the Commonwealth. "When we create spaces for honest dialogue about maternal health disparities, we move closer to solutions that save Black mothers' lives-not just in Virginia, but across our nation."

"Black maternal health is not just a medical issue, it is a matter of equity, dignity, and justice, particularly in the South and across the Global South, where systemic barriers too often determine who survives pregnancy and childbirth," said Chanceé Lundy, Executive Director, Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium. "Black women in the South face some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation, driven by inequitable access to care, racial bias, and underinvestment in community-based solutions. We appreciate this opportunity to co-host this Black Maternal Health roundtable with Congressman Vindman because it demonstrates the power of cross-sector collaboration to center lived experience, advance policy, and invest in approaches that save lives locally and globally. When we listen to Black women and resource trusted community leaders, we create systems of care that honor dignity and protect families."

The conversation strengthened collaboration among policymakers, clinicians, and community leaders, reinforcing a shared commitment to coordinated action to improve maternal health across the region.

BACKGROUND

Maternal mortality remains a serious challenge, with deep disparities in outcomes. Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, and maternal mortality in the United States far exceeds that of other industrialized nations. More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable through timely, high-quality care and respectful treatment.

Vindman has long worked to address these challenges through legislative action. He introduced the Dads Matter Act, which supports healthier families by increasing fathers' involvement immediately before and after birth to improve maternal outcomes. He also introduced the Caring for Grieving Families Act, which ensures women who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth are not charged more for prenatal care than women whose pregnancies go to term.

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