Celebrating Black History Month, Important Changemakers and Women’s Health

February is Black History Month. It’s a great time to celebrate Black Americans who have made a difference, especially in the world of women’s reproductive health. We’d like to introduce you to just a few, and to some modern-day trailblazers and organizations who are continuing to support (especially Black) women today — on their journeys to parenthood, and to better health.

Those Who Paved the Way

There are, of course, countless members of the Black community who have contributed to women’s health and to safe and effective family building. Here are just a few we’d like to help you know better. 

Helen Octavia Dickens, M.D. is generally known as the first Black OB/GYN. It’s a title she earned when in 1945, when she became the first Black, female board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in Philadelphia. Even though her father was born into slavery, she earned her M.D., held a variety of impressive leadership roles, and was named an American Medical Association’s Woman of the Year. She also worked with the American Cancer Society to encourage doctors to perform more cervical-cancer-fighting pap smears, and was also integral in leading other young Black students to the medical field.

Dr. Rosalyn Payne Epps was named the first African American national president of the American Medical Women’s Association. Although she was a pediatrician, Dr. Payne spent her life advocating for women as well, authoring nearly 100 articles for professional journals, and overseeing maternal healthcare for multiple organizations.

Margaret Charles Smithis a famous midwife from rural Alabama. Born in 1906, she delivered her first baby at just five years old. She went on to assist in the births of more than 3,500 babies and reportedly never lost a mother. At a time when few Black women had access to hospitals, Smith was literally a lifesaver for her community. 

Today’s Trailblazers

Today we’re fortunate to have physicians, advocates and organizations inspired by these pioneers, working to move the needle even further ahead; to shine the spotlight on the unique challenges facing Black women today — especially as they aspire to become parents. Here’s a look at just a few. 

Dr. Tia Jackson Bey is a board-certified OB/GYN with additional REI (reproductive endocrinology and infertility) training. She is a frequent contributor to podcasts, webinars and conferences that focus on delivering better healthcare to women of color.

Dr. Stephanie Marshall Thompson is an OB/GYN, fertility specialist and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity for her network of infertility clinics. As an advocate for Black women, she was featured in the documentary, “Stories We Tell: The Fertility Secret.” 

The Tinina Q. CADE Foundation is a nonprofit founded by Drs. Jason and Camille Hammond to provide information, support, and financial assistance to help needy families overcome infertility.

xHood is the first community group and organization created in service of Black queer family- building journeys.

Sister Girl Foundation founder, Shantana Hazel, works to help combat the feelings of loneliness and fear that so many African Americans experience on their infertility journey.

Fertility for Colored Girls seeks to provide education, awareness, support and encouragement to African American women/couples and other women of color experiencing infertility and seeking to build the families of their dreams.

Melanated Healthcare is an app designed to help you find healthcare providers who are people of color and find access to exceptional, nondiscriminatory care.

Doing Our Part

While we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to these Black pioneers and modern-day changemakers in women’s health care, we at Donor Egg Bank USA™ understand we still have far to go. The CDC reports that Black women are three times more likely than White women to die from a pregnancy-related cause. Additionally, data from Johns Hopkins University reveals that non-Hispanic Black women are 44% more likely than women of other races to experience infertility.

That’s why we’re committed to helping people — of all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds — to create and grow their families. We’re making sure to talk about infertility — so we can help destigmatize it and stop the spread of misinformation. It’s also our mission to provide education, information, and connections so that we can become a resource for you throughout your journey. 

Finally, we also understand the importance of finding a frozen-egg donor who “looks like you,” or someone you love. To that end, we actively seek out outstanding donors from a multitude of backgrounds and ethnicities.

The journey to parenthood is different for every family. However, you can rest assured that at Donor Egg Bank USA, our goal is to celebrate their individual qualities, and to recognize and work to overcome the unique challenges each may face. Because we believe everyone deserves to have their dreams of parenthood come true … everyone.

Ready to learn more about using frozen donor egg to help grow your family? Just reach out to our qualified team at Donor Egg Bank USA to find out more, including information about our Assured Refund Plan® option. Or, if you’re ready to get matched to your ideal donor, start your search here.