Beyond statistics: MATTER’s Healthcare Horizons podcast explores the U.S. maternal mortality crisis with three industry leaders

Last week, MATTER, the premier healthcare incubator and innovation hub, launched a limited podcast series titled Healthcare Horizons. The series’ inaugural season, which coincided with Black Maternal Health Week 2024, focused on maternal mortality in the United States. Throughout the series’ three episodes, Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER, spotlights three healthcare trailblazers and dives deep into factors causing the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S., innovative solutions working to address the crisis and more.

Here are some key takeaways from Healthcare Horizons, Season One.

Episode One: A Discussion on Maternal Mortality with Dr. Elizabeth Garner

The premiere of Healthcare Horizons featured a conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Garner, chief scientific officer of Ferring Pharmaceuticals and president of the American Medical Women’s Association.

Dr. Garner explored both the individual and systemic factors exacerbating the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. She shed light on the sobering findings of a recent March of Dimes report, revealing that a staggering 36 percent of counties across the nation are classified as maternity care deserts, due to lack of obstetric providers.

Episode Two: Addressing Disparities in Maternal Health with Dr. Sarosh Rana

The second episode featured Dr. Sarosh Rana, the head of maternal-fetal medicine and chief obstetrical transformation officer at UChicago Medicine. Dr. Rana shared insights from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighting a troubling statistic: four out of five pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable.

Among the underlying causes contributing to maternal mortality are mental health conditions, hemorrhage and cardiac issues, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of maternal health. Dr. Rana pointed to UChicago Medicine’s innovative protocols designed to safeguard the health and well-being of expectant mothers as a proactive approach to addressing maternal health challenges.

Episode Three: Maternal Health with Colby Holtshouse

Colby Holtshouse, who is the global med tech commercial organization head at Organon, provided an overview of The Jada System, a postpartum hemorrhage control device. She shared her personal journey as a female entrepreneur in the women+’s health space, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of navigating this critical sector.

Learn more about how MATTER is accelerating the pace of change of healthcare at matter.health. For more information on some of the latest innovations in women’s health, check out MATTER’s women’s health accelerator, 51 Labs. On May 22, hear the 10 startup finalists deliver their pitches to a panel of industry experts and celebrate the conclusion of the 51 Labs program. Learn more about the event here

About MATTER
At MATTER, we believe collaboration is the best way to improve healthcare. The MATTER collaborative includes more than 1,000 current and alumni startups from around the world, working together with dozens of hospitals and health systems, universities and industry-leading companies to build the future of healthcare. Together we are accelerating innovation, advancing care and improving lives. For more information, visit matter.health and follow @MATTERhealth.