Venus Standard MSN, CNM, APRN, FACNM, LCCE, CD(DONA), Co-Presenter

Venus Standard is passionate about educating women, other birthing people, and their families. She is dedicated to promoting healthy natural childbirth and encouraging breast/chestfeeding.

She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Duke University and earned a Master’s Degree in Nursing and a Certificate in Nurse-Midwifery from East Carolina University.

As a certified nurse-midwife, a certified Lamaze childbirth educator, and a certified labor Doula, she has supported more than 1000 women through their pregnancy, labor, and birthing process. As an assistant professor at UNC School of Medicine and a primary provider for women’s health at UNC’s Department of Family Medicine, most of her clinical time is spent supporting and supervising the Family Medicine residents during their obstetrical rotation on labor and delivery. She promotes a culturally sensitive, non-medicalized, patient-centered-hands-off approach to managing normal labor.

Professor Standard is the UNC Family Medicine’s Director of DEI of Education and Community Engagement. She precepts UNC’s Internship in Science and Health Training and Research annual program: a program designed to allow high school students of color exposure to the medical field through the eyes of a provider of color.

From 2012 – 2016, Professor Standard sat on the board of directors of Lamaze International. She is the past chair of the American Association of Birth Center’s Diversity and Inclusion committee. She currently sits on the board of directors of the NC Perinatal Association and the American Association of Birth Centers. She serves on the Maternal Health Learning and Innovations Center committee, The 4th Trimester Project, and Family Medicine’s Community Health Collaborative.

Professor Standard is also the co-founder and Director of LEAD – Lived Experience Accessible Doula. A grant-funded doula training program designed by Black women for Black women. The program aims to mitigate the maternal mortality disparity among women.

Session

Racial Disparities in Perinatal Health, A National Crisis: Concordant Perinatal Doulas are Making a Difference

The U.S. has the highest rates of perinatal mortality and morbidity among high wealthy countries. And while this needs to be addressed overall, it’s clear that Black birthing people suffer disproportionately high rates. In the U.S., Black birthers and their babies die at 3-4 times the rate of their White counterparts and their babies.

Doulas have been shown to improve birth outcomes. This project’s unique strength is a holistic approach to addressing perinatal morbidity and mortality among Black birthers. Workforce diversity is particularly urgent in supportive care during pregnancy and childbirth. High fees and limited availability of culturally appropriate training have made it very difficult for Black doulas to receive DONA certification.

This unique project is a significant step toward addressing this key equity issue. We have implemented a model to address racial inequities in access to culturally appropriate doula care and in access to Doula certification among Black families.