2nd Maternal & Child Health Symposium (28 Sep 2026)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:30:00 GMT

2nd Maternal & Child Health Symposium

September 28, 2026

8:30 AM - 3:00 PM CT

Full Day

This activity is approved for up to 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Malcolm X College

1900 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60612

Main Building – 1^st Floor - Conference Center Hall 1106-1107

Convenient parking available on campus.

More details soon.

OVERVIEW

The 2nd Institute of Medicine of Chicago (IOMC) Maternal & Child Health Symposium will bring together healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, educators, policymakers, and community organizations to explore the latest advances in maternal and child health. This interdisciplinary symposium will focus on the intersection of clinical care, public health, social determinants of health, and community partnerships to improve outcomes for mothers, infants, children, and families.

Through evidence-based presentations and collaborative discussions, participants will examine innovative approaches to addressing maternal health disparities, improving access to care, leveraging emerging technologies, and strengthening community-based solutions. The symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and identify actionable strategies that advance health equity and improve maternal and child health outcomes across our communities. Together, we can build healthier futures for all families! We can’t wait to see you there!

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By attending the symposium, you will be able to:

1. Describe current evidence related to maternal and child health disparities and their underlying social, structural, and clinical determinants.

2. Discuss innovative models of care that improve maternal and infant outcomes through culturally responsive and community-based interventions.

3. Evaluate the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence and digital health technologies in advancing maternal health equity.

4. Incorporate evidence-based approaches for managing obesity, oral health, and other factors affecting maternal and child outcomes into clinical practice.

5. Identify interdisciplinary and policy strategies that promote equitable, high-quality maternal and child healthcare.

Open to All! Come and join us!

AGENDA

8:30 AM Registration & Networking

9:00 AM Introduction & Announcements

Deborah Hodges, MA- IDS, Association Manager & Program Manager

9:05 AM Welcome, Objectives & Goals

Beena Peters, DNP, MS, RN, FACHE, FABC, Fellow, IOMC

Chief Clinical Officer, HRTLY

Chair, IOMC Maternal & Child Health Workgroup

PRESENTATIONS

9:15 AM

Simbo Ige, MD, MPH, Fellow, IOMC

Formerly City of Chicago-Commissioner of Public Health

Chicago Infant Mortality Rates Contribute to Racial Life Expectancy Gaps

9:45 AM

Lovelle Reynolds, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, CPN, CNE

Assistant Professor, Malcolm X College

Structural and Social Determinants of Maternal and Child Health: Implications for Clinical Practice

10:15 AM

Karie Stewart, MPH, MSN, CNM, APRN, FACNM

Certified Nurse Midwife

UI Health - Mile Square Auburn-Gresham Clinic

Ian Jasenof, MD, FACOG, MHA, CPE, Fellow, IOMC

Chief Medical Officer, UI Health – Mile Square

Community Maternal Health Care: A Culturally-Adapted Model

10:45 AM Break

11:00 AM

Jacqueline Hairston, MD

Assistant Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Obesity and Obstetric Care

11:30 AM

Melissa Simon, MD, MBA, MPH, Fellow, IOMC

Vice Chair for Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

George H. Gardner, MD, Professor of Clinical Gynecology

Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology (General Obstetics and Gynecology), Preventive Medicine, Medical Social Sciences(Implementation Science).

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Algorithmic Justice: Can AI and FemTech Actually Reduce — Rather Than Deepen — Maternal Health Disparities

12:00 PM Lunch & Networking

12: 45 PM

Aron Sousa, MD, FACP, Fellow, IOMC

President, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

Improvement in the Health of Moms & Babies through Cash

1:15 PM Panel

Ian Jasenof, MD, FACOG, MHA, CPE, Fellow, IOMC, Moderator

Chief Medical Officer, UI Health – Mile Square

Vice Chair, Maternal & Child Health Workgroup, IOMC

Panelists

Tonia Branche, MD, MPH

Associate Medical Director of Maternal Child Health Initiative, Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities

Integrated, Equity-driven, Clinical and Community-based Support for Maternal & Child Health

Lisa Green, DO, MPH, Fellow, IOMC

CEO / Founder, Family Christian Health Center

Community Centered Maternal Freedom Medicine- Addressing Level II Ultrasounds for High-Risk Patients

Marie Heffernan, PhD

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatrics, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine

Director, Voices of Child Health in Chicago

Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center | Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Sensory Overload Research of Parents Experience

Karin Weber-Gasparoni, PhD, DDS, MS

Professor and Head of Pediatric Dentistry - The University of Iowa

Oral Health & Maternal Health – What's the Connection?

2:15 PM Open - Key Take-Aways

Q & A Session

2:45 PM Closing Remarks

Beena Peters, DNP, RN, FACHE, FABC, FAAN, Fellow, IOMC

Chair, IOMC Maternal & Child Health Workgroup

3:00 PM Adjournment

###

Physician Credit*

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Participant Credit

Other participants will receive a Certificate of Participation. For information on the applicability and acceptance of Certificates of Participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME, please consult your professional licensing board.

SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS WELCOME

Live Webinar: Expanding Equitable Access to Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Care Through Primary Care Workforce Development (17 Nov 2026)

Tue, 17 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Advancing Cancer Prevention, Survivorship Care, and Health Equity

Live Webinar

November 17, 2026

12:00 OM CT - 1:30 OM CT

Learning Objectives

By attending this webinar, you will be able to:

Describe the role of oncogeneralists in expanding cancer prevention and survivorship care within primary care settings.
Discuss how workforce development models can help reduce disparities in cancer outcomes and improve health equity.
Identify key survivorship and high-risk cancer prevention services that can be integrated into primary care practice.
Recognize strategies for implementing scalable, community-based training programs to support primary care providers in delivering cancer prevention and survivorship care.

Speaker

Pamela Ganschow, MD, University of Illinois Cancer Center

Look for more details soon.

Interested in sponsoring this program, send an email to sponsorship@iomc.org.

###

National Public Health Week (5 Apr 2027)

Mon, 05 Apr 2027 05:01:00 GMT

National Public Health Week

April 5–11, 2027

...Take a moment to recognize how public health has improved our daily lives, safeguarded our families, expanded our life spans, and strengthened our communities. This week is also a chance to honor the public health workers who show up for us every day — and to advocate for policies and practices that promote good health for all. [APHA]

Check back with us on activities for this special week.

###

National Public Health Week (3 Apr 2028)

Mon, 03 Apr 2028 05:01:00 GMT

Institute of Medicine of Chicago upcoming events

2nd Maternal & Child Health Symposium (28 Sep 2026)

Live Webinar: Expanding Equitable Access to Cancer Prevention and Survivorship Care Through Primary Care Workforce Development (17 Nov 2026)

National Public Health Week (5 Apr 2027)

National Public Health Week (3 Apr 2028)