Perinatal & Planetary
Health & Equity
Did you know that the same outcomes of the climate crisis also predict adverse pregnancy outcomes?
Rising Temperatures and Air Pollution Increase Risk for...
Preterm Birth
Risk of preterm birth increases with each grade of temperature increase or with longer duration of heat exposure
Low Birth Weight
Ozone exposure was associated with low birth weight in 86% of the studies documented by a 2020 systematic review
Stillbirth
A 2020 meta analysis documented that temperature predicted increased risk of stillbirth in 100% of the studies
Black and Indigenous pregnant parents experience the highest combined risk, highlighting the injustices in both climate exposure and perinatal health
The climate crisis must be addressed from the lens of perinatal health equity
2022 Presenters - Enviro-Natal Health Equity Symposium
Melissa Burt, PhD (she/her)
Dr. Melissa Burt is an Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the Department of Atmospheric Science and Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering at Colorado State University. Her research spans the intersection of atmospheric science and social justice issues. Dr. Burt also focuses on recruitment, retention, and engagement of faculty/staff, and supports the college-wide recruitment and retention efforts of students and is committed to fostering an inclusive College environment. She is the Vice President for the non-profit 501(c)3 organization, the Earth Science Women’s Network and a co-founder of Science Moms. Dr. Burt has a B.S. degree in Meteorology from Millersville University and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University.
Tonni Oberly, MPH, CHES, CLC (she/her)
Tonni Oberly is a research scholar at the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC). Tonni is pursuing her PhD in City and Regional Planning at The Ohio State University with a focus on the intersectional impact of place, racism, and gender on maternal and infant health outcomes in the Black community. Tonni also holds a Master’s in Public Health with a specialization in health behavior and health promotion from the Ohio State University along with Bachelors degrees in biology and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies from Emory University. Tonni is also a trained doula, supporting Black women and women of color through pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. She is a Certified Lactation Counselor as well as a Certified Health Education Specialist with expertise in program planning, implementation, and evaluation. She has professional experience managing public health programs and research projects at the city and state levels. Tonni and her husband own and operate a farm using regenerative agricultural principles with the goal of producing socially and environmentally responsible food and agricultural products as part of the local food and economic system.
Sartteka Nefer, MA (they/them)
Sartteka am ab Nefer supported her first birth at the age of 15. She now has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with two minors in Women’s Studies and LGBT Studies and a Master’s degree is in Women’s Studies. She took a Spinning Babies class in 2018, did a monologue about her birth story and began official doula training the following year with For the Village. She was finishing her last degree and working full time as an educator until 2020 when she began to focus on birthwork full time. Sartteka joined the Birthing From Within community when she started the Childbirth Educator “Mentoring From Within'' certification program in April 2020, joined The Nafsa Project School Traditional Moroccan Postpartum training certification program in June 2020, became a Nafsa Project School Ambassador in September of 2020, joined the Milk Magic Educators by Nurturely in October 2020, joined the Traditional Birthworkers Association and became an Ambassador for the Traditional Birthworkers Association in December 2020. Her birth story is published in volume 2 of Reclaiming Our Stories for those who wish to know more about Sartteka’s birthwarrior journey. Pregnancy, birth, postpartum & reproductive justice are her biggest passions, along with farming and food justice & climate awareness. Bringing holistic, traditional practices & knowledge to individuals, families & communities is her Nia (purpose). Sartteka is currently working towards expanding her birthwork through her business Nefer Het Ankh (beautiful House of Life) and looks forward to applying for Midwifery school.
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