Jhpiego

We start with women's health, but we don't stop there.

From Global to Local

Semiannual series | The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center | Washington, DC

Local and global experiences informing one another.

Convened by Jhpiego in partnership with the National Association to Advance Black Birth, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Georgetown University School of Nursing, Wajamama, and Align, this event series brings together health workers, health system leaders, advocates, researchers, policymakers, and implementers.

Through plenary discussions, fireside conversations, case presentations, and panels, speakers share perspectives from hospital-based care, birth centers, group care, policy and advocacy, and primary health care models.

Participants engage in facilitated breakout discussions on practical issues such as funding, staffing, referrals, health system integration, and clinical quality.

This series is designed to create a practical exchange of ideas about what local and global experiences can teach one another—and how those lessons can support stronger, more equitable health care.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Midwifery Models of Care

Wednesday, October 1, 2026 | 9:00 - 16:30 EDT

Convened by Jhpiego in partnership with Align:, American College of Nurse Midwives, Casa Materna, Georgetown University School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, National Association to Advance Black Birth, and Wajamama.

Program Agenda:

LIGHT BREAKFAST

9:00 | Opening remarks by Dr. Allyson Bear (Jhpiego)

9:10 | Setting the Stage: Midwifery Models of Care in Local and Global Contexts. Moderated by Dr. Lisa Noguchi (Jhpiego) with Julia Bluestone (Jhpiego) and Christina Marea (Georgetown School of Nursing).

9:40 | Fireside Chat: Addressing Health Inequity Through Expanded Access to Midwifery Led Care with Kanika Harris (NAABB)

10:45 | Panel: Hospital-based Midwifery Models of Care

11:45 | Approaches and Tools to Support Midwifery Models of Care with Ashley Gresh (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing), Nafisa Jiddawi (Wajamamma), and Dr. Deborah Khah (Jhpiego Nigeria)

LUNCH AND COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

13:30 | Panel: Midwifery-led Birth Center Models

14:15 | Break-Out Session: Implementing Midwifery Models of Care

15:15 | Midwifery as Primary Health Care Strategy with Katie Daily (Georgetown School of Nursing) and Christina Marea (Georgetown School of Nursing)

16:15 | Closing remarks with Kanika Harris (NAABB)

Increasing Access to Doula Care and Birth Support

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 9:30 - 16:00 ET

Convened by Jhpiego in partnership with the National Association to Advance Black Birth.

Program Agenda:

9:30 | Opening remarks from Leslie Mancuso (Jhpiego)

9:45 | History and landscape in the U.S. and selected non-U.S. settings with Noelene Jeffers (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing) and Lisa Noguchi (Jhpiego)

10:15 | Increasing Access to Doula Care in 2026: Lessons from the Doula-Healthcare Systems Partnerships Convening with Kanika Harris ((NAABB) and Noelene Jeffers (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing).

11:00 | Scaling With Care: Opportunities and Challenges in Advancing Doula Access through Healthcare Partnerships. Moderators: Kanika Harris (NAABB) and Noelene Jeffers (Johns Hopkins School of Nursing) with Rachel Wade (Mae), Mavhu Hargrove (Doula), and Charnise Littles (Doula).

LUNCH BREAK

13:00 | Community Marketplace

13:30 | Supporting Birth Companionship in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Trial with Lisa Noguchi (Jhpiego).

14:30 | AMAR Doula Program, an initiative of the Children’s Home Society of NJ with Julie Blumenfeld (Rutgers School of Nursing) and Silvia Corado.

15:15 | Panel Discussion: Forward Thinking. Moderated by Lisa Noguchi (Jhpiego) with Koiwah Koi-Larbi (Action on Preeclampsia), Julie Blumenfeld (Rutgers School of Nursing), and Silvia Corado (Doula).

15:45 | Closing remarks by Kanika Harris (NAABB).