Presented by Eurnestine Brown, Ph.D

Panelists: Dr. Aaron Doctor & Mr. Chidiebere Ibe

This webinar was presented live on September 2nd, 2022. The recording from the presentation is no longer available. Please find the handout from the presentation here.

This presentation and panel discussion will focus on proactive strategies to recognize and appreciate the beauty in the skin color of infants in our partnerships with Black mothers/birthing people, families and communities. Together the panelists will discuss why representation and language matters during interactions and respectful engagement with Black babies, newborns and families.

Dr. Eurnestine Brown brings a wealth of experience to her roles as Program Director and the first Director of Relational Equity and Belonging at the Brazelton Touchpoints Center and Liaison Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Access in the Division of Developmental Medicines’ (DDM). She also serves as the Senior Strategic Advisor on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Anti-Racism (EDIBAR) at the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. She embraces relational equity, inclusion and belonging, which begins with reflection, expanded awareness, and a commitment to action for change. Relational equity and belonging include, yet move beyond fairness, being valued, welcomed, and accountable. They also mean recognizing the historical, political, and social underpinnings of our society today.

In her leadership roles, Dr. Brown seeks to provide authentic pathways for all voices to be acknowledged, heard, and appreciated. She leads our efforts to become anti-racist and inclusive Center’s and a Division that promotes sustainable excellence by creating an organizational culture that is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Dr. Brown’s specialty areas include adolescent pregnancy and prenatal development, children/families experiencing poverty, racial, gender, and health inequities, parental socialization practices and early childhood socioemotional development, Early Head Start/Head Start, and resiliency. She recently completed the Brazelton Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) system training, moderates BTC’s Parenting While Black, a 6-week, free webinar series for and by Black parents, and earned an additional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace certification.

As a seasoned Developmental Psychologist, her research focus incorporates a multi-method approach that is observational and longitudinal. She has extensive experience in research design, implementation, analysis, and evaluation, and all aspects of data collection, observation, and coding with children and families. She has consulted for and partnered with non-profit agencies, school districts, and child and adolescent clinics across the US. Her research background includes examining maternal/paternal depression, infant mental health, childhood resiliency, and mother-child relationships in the context of substance use disorder. As a Senior Research Associate, she provided developmental and research support and direction, including grant writing and program and policy documentation.

Dr. Brown has also served as Principal, and Co-Principal investigator on multiple national projects examining transitions to public school in Head Start children, parental competence in families of color, particularly African American and Native American families.  She is an expert grant researcher and writer.  Together with Senior Leadership and her peers, she has successfully advocated for over $6.9 million in grant funding for early childhood, Early Head Start, (EHS) Head Start, and family programs.

For more information about Dr. Brown, click here

Panelists

Dr. Aaron Doctor

Aaron Doctor is a proud graduate of the University of South Carolina and Morehouse School of Medicine. While enrolled at South Carolina he studied Exercise and Sports Science and minored in Business, while also joining Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. It was during his tenure at the University of South Carolina where he discovered his passion for healthcare and serving the local community. As a born native from the Gullah community of St. Helena Island, SC, Dr. Doctor learned about the importance of a village’s support in strengthening and maintaining family structures. The principles that were instilled in him continues to drive his passion for sustaining and supporting strong family dynamics in the black community. As a 3rd year Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Doctor is also passionate about promoting maternal health in women of color.

Dr. Doctor and his wife Danielle, spend much of their time with their two young sons, Grant and Grayson, and their new puppy, Duke. Enjoying much of the outdoor spaces and events that Atlanta has to offer. After residency, Dr. Doctor desires to stay and practice in the Atlanta area with plans of delivering the next generation of leaders and continuing to support his local community.

Mr. Chidiebere Ibe

Chidiebere Ibe is a Nigerian Medical Illustrator and aspiring Paediatric Neurosurgeon. He is known for the famous illustration of a black pregnant woman with a black fetus and is acknowledged as one of the few globally recognized medical illustrators from Africa.

Chidiebere, although of the Igbo ethnic group and a native of Ebonyi State, Nigeria, was born in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He speaks English, Igbo, and Ibibio and has 3 siblings.  He is a graduate of Chemistry from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. 

Chidiebere started out as a self-taught medical illustrator and has diligently developed his art through practice and mentorship. He is presently the Creative Director at the Association of Future African Neurosurgeons (AFAN), Young Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (YCAANS) and Creative Director and Chief Medical Illustrator of the Journal of Global Neurosurgery. He is also a Junior Committee Member of the World Federation of Neurosurgeons - Global Neurosurgery. He previously served as the President of the American Chemical Society, International Student Chapter, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Chidiebere is passionate about medicine and art, and a combination of both passions have led him to focus on contemporary illustrations of Black people. He has worked assiduously to promote the use of Black skin medical illustrations in medical textbooks and public health materials, which has brought him global affirmations and recognitions. He remains an advocate for equal representation, inclusion, and diversity in healthcare practice.

Presently a medical student at Kyiv Medical University, Ukraine, Chidi hopes to build a career in Pediatric Neurosurgery and work with others to establish an association for black medical illustrators.

Chidiebere’s works have been featured on CNN, BBC, Sky News, Fast Company, Fortune, Huffington Post, Good Morning America, CBS, Bloomberg, NBC, etc.

Register for the webinar here.

Missed a previous webinar? Check out previous recordings here.