In this episode of “Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery”, Dr. Jana Richards and Dr. Lateia Taylor discuss racial disparities in maternal mortality and the different ways we can change this picture.

We’ll get into the reasons why disparities exist when it comes to race and matters of maternal life or death. We’ll also talk about how medical schools can help and what work is being done at the University of Chicago to improve outcomes. Dr. Richards and Dr. Taylor also discuss what these disparities mean to them personally.

Dr. Jana Richards is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Chicago with over 15 years of obstetrics and gynecology experience. She delivers comprehensive women’s care that includes annual exams, preventive care, pregnancy and childbirth medicine, and more. She also works with her patients to create personalized treatment plans that meet each patient’s individual healthcare goals.

Dr. Lateia Taylor is a 4th year Obstretrics & Gynecology resident at the University of Chicago. She is originally from Jackson, Mississippi and completed medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Her research explores how we can fill gaps in medical provider knowledge about infertility among Black women.  

If you have questions or topics you’d like to hear us discuss, reach us at [email protected].

“Deep Cuts: Exploring Equity in Surgery” comes to you from the Department of Surgery at the University of Chicago, which is located on Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi land.

Our senior producer is Tony Liu. Our producers are Alia Abiad, Caroline Montag, and Chuka Onuh. Our editor and production coordinator is Nihar Rama. The intro song you hear at the beginning of our show is “Love, Money Part 2” from Chicago’s own Sen Morimoto off of Sooper Records. His new album is Diagnosis.  

A special thanks this week to Dr. Mathews, Dr. Posner, Shane Semmens, and Beth Gabryszak for supporting us in the work we do.

You can find more about our podcast at our website https://deepcuts.surgery.uchicago.edu/ or or on Instagram and X @deepcutssurgery.

Note: During the podcast, Dr. Dana Suskind, a pediatric otolaryngologist, was accidentally referred to as a pediatrician. We apologize for the error.