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UPCOMING WEBINARS
Perinatal Substance Use Disorder
May 13, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
SPEAKER: Melinda Ramage, MSN, FNP-BC, CARN-AP, LCAS
Perinatal substance use disorder (PSUD) frequently intersects with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, yet many healthcare teams report uncertainty about how to identify and respond to substance use in pregnancy and postpartum care. This 90-minute interprofessional training introduces the foundations of perinatal SUD, focusing on operationalizing screening, assessment, treatment pathways, and community resources. Co-presented by a clinician and a person with lived experience, the session highlights practical strategies for integrating substance use screening into routine care, reducing stigma, and supporting patient-centered treatment and recovery during the perinatal period.
Register Here: March of Dimes Ready for Life NC: Perinatal Substance Use Disorder
A Comprehensive Approach to Maternal and Infant Equity of Care
May 20, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKER: Lewis D. Lipscomb, MD, MBA &
Chere Gregory, MD, MHS
This session will highlight Novant Health’s system-level, three-pronged strategy to reduce variation in maternal and infant care and improve outcomes across the continuum. Using an equity-focused framework, the organization has implemented standardized clinical practices, strengthened supportive services, and advanced respectful, patient-centered care to address disparities and improve birth outcomes.
Additionally, a multidisciplinary panel discussion featuring Stephanie Appling, Dr. Heather White, Dr. Jaleema Speaks, and Jenna Weathersbee will follow the main lecture, offering practical insights on operationalizing these strategies in diverse care settings. Panelists will share lessons learned, challenges encountered, and actionable strategies for embedding equity into everyday clinical practice
Register Here: March of Dimes Ready for Life NC: A Comprehensive Approach to Maternal and Infant Equity of Care
PREVIOUS WEBINARS
Maternal Mental Health
April 15, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKER: Dr. Katherine Hyde-Hensley
Mental health conditions are the number one complication of pregnancy and childbirth — yet 75% of affected mothers never receive adequate treatment. In North Carolina, the crisis is especially urgent: mental health conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the state, accounting for nearly one-third of all cases reviewed, and 85% of those deaths were deemed preventable. With 41 North Carolina counties experiencing sharply rising maternal mental health risk scores and severe provider shortages across rural communities, every clinician who encounters a pregnant or postpartum patient has a critical role to play.
Climate Considerations for the Preconception Population
March 11, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKER: Dr. Kathleen Shapley-Quinn, Carolina Advocates for Climate, Health, & Equity
Climate change affects human health in a myriad of ways. This presentation will focus on the adverse effects of climate change on pregnancy outcomes including preterm delivery, stillbirth, and congenital anomalies.
Vaccine Updates / Recommendations
February 18, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKER: Dr. Matthew Zuber, Wake Forest University School of Medicine
This webinar will provide healthcare professionals with current, evidence-based guidance on immunization during pregnancy. Participants will review the physiologic changes of maternal immune adaptation and examine how these changes influence susceptibility to infection and vaccine response throughout pregnancy. Through the use of theoretical patient cases, the program will explore vaccines recommended during pregnancy and their associated maternal and neonatal outcomes, supporting clinical decision-making and patient counseling. The session will also address emerging infectious threats and highlight evolving research and future directions in maternal vaccination to promote optimal maternal and infant health outcomes.
The State of Maternal Health in North Carolina
January 8, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
SPEAKERS: Alyssa Crawford, MPH & Patricia Campbell, RN, BSN, MBA, March of Dimes
This live webinar offers an in-depth overview of the 2025 March of Dimes Report Card for North Carolina, as well as the updated North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee Report released in August of 2025. The program will provide foundational understanding of the landscape of maternal and infant health in NC, laying the groundwork for five additional webinars presented by Ready for Life NC throughout the spring. Participants will gain valuable insights into the leading causes of pregnancy-related death in the state, explore racial disparities in maternal and infant health, and examine key recommendations for providers to address the root causes of adverse outcomes.
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