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Lunch and Learn: Advocating for Black Maternal Health

Co-presented with the Prince George's County Office of Human Rights

This summer, grab your favorite lunch at noon and tune in to virtual conversations with the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System on topics from how racism is making us sick to human trafficking awareness to increasing equity and opportunity in the sciences. Let’s learn together!

Lunch & Learn continues with a virtual panel that includes Asiah Gayfield, Ph.D., whose research includes Black Women and Prenatal Care, and Dr. Doee Kitessa, a general obstetrician and gynecologist and professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Asiah Gayfield, Ph.D., is a recent University of Maryland graduate who specializes in Demography and Stratification. Her research focuses on Black women and girls, which led to her research on Black Women and Prenatal Care. Dr. Gayfield also taught Intro to Sociology and Sociology of Gender at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Doee Kitessa received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed her residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at University of Maryland Medical Center.  She went on to complete a Global Women’s Health Fellowship at University of Maryland where she worked in Rwanda partnering with faculty at the University of Rwanda to expand residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology and supporting programs to increase access to care by OB/GYN specialists.

After fellowship, Dr. Kitessa joined the faculty in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at University of Maryland School of Medicine.  She specializes in general obstetrics & gynecology with a focus on pregnancy care, management of abnormal cervical cancer screening, surgical management of gynecologic disorders, and family planning.  

Throughout her career, Dr. Kitessa has been actively involved in medical student and resident education.  She has served as Course Lead for Women’s Health Section of MS2 Curriculum and a member of the Dean’s Strategic Plan Education Working Group.  In addition, Dr. Kitessa is Associate Director of the Ob/Gyn Residency Program at University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dr. Kitessa is passionate about the care of patients from underserved communities and marginalized groups and is the Director of the Program on Diversity, Inclusion, and Women’s Empowerment.  In this role, she works with Department leadership, faculty, and staff to apply a health equity lens to areas of clinical care, education, and research to better care for, engage with, and advocate for the communities we serve.