鈥淭his study allows us to directly compare how different supplemental forms of folate are processed during pregnancy,鈥� Jiang said. 鈥淲e found that 5-MTHF can maintain folate status just as effectively as folic acid, but with significantly less unmetabolized folic acid circulating in the body.鈥�

The study, funded by , followed 62 pregnant participants who received prenatal multivitamins containing either 5-MTHF or folic acid. Researchers found that those taking 5-MTHF maintained healthy folate levels while showing significantly lower levels of unmetabolized folic acid in both maternal blood and placental tissue. Folate plays a critical role in fetal growth and development, helping the body produce and maintain DNA. The findings contribute to a growing body of research aimed at improving prenatal nutrition and maternal health outcomes.

Jiang received both her doctoral degree in nutrition and her registered dietitian credential from Cornell University in 2013. Her research focuses on nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism, including choline, betaine, folate, and vitamin B12, which play an essential role in early development and long-term health outcomes. Her lab conducts cell culture, animal, and human studies exploring how maternal nutrition during pregnancy influences the health of both mother and child.

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Could you tell us a bit about your background?

I have a big family. What鈥檚 interesting is my mom went to school to become a dietitian and ended up changing her major to journalism. I went to school to become a journalist and ended up changing my career to nutrition.

I studied journalism and magazine writing at San Francisco State and loved it. I still write to this day. I moved to New York on a whim, found a place in Brooklyn and got a job at the American Lawyer magazine. I remember going to these different law firms to interview people. I had a big natural hairstyle, and I didn鈥檛 feel like I fit in. This was in 2006. I was anxious all of the time and so afraid of making a mistake because it was a rigorous publication鈥擨 wanted to do something different. I took a job at a nonprofit called the Torch Program. It was around that time I decided long-term what I wanted: a career in nutrition. I also dreamed of working for myself. I decided to go back to school.

Why did you choose 可乐视频 for your master鈥檚 degree?

My best friend, who was at the time also going back to school to become a nurse, told me I should enroll in a nutrition program鈥攖hat a degree in a solid registered dietitian program opens up more opportunities. I’ll never forget when I met with Dr. Kathleen Axen.

I told her about my background in journalism, and she told me that becoming a nutritionist could be a great career choice for me. She said there is so much misinformation out there about nutrition that it would be amazing to have someone who has a journalism background and a nutrition background to be able to report on nutrition from a factual and not sensational place. She walked me through the program and I enrolled. During my time at 可乐视频 I did an internship at Brooklyn Hospital Center, then worked as a dietitian at Kings County Hospital after I graduated.

Somewhere along your timeline you met your business partner, Wendy Lopez.

We met through a friend at a potluck in New York. We just started hanging out. Wendy became interested in a career in nutrition when I told her about my own career arc and she decided to go back to school (Hunter) for her degree. At around that time I learned about the . The organization had a new program called the . It brought nutrition education and cooking lessons to underserved communities. I ended up working for the Stellar program, teaching nutrition all throughout New York City. I eventually became a senior nutritionist there and I brought Wendy on board. We had the best time doing cooking demos, entertaining, and really feeling like the community was benefiting from the information we were giving them. From there, we came up with an idea to do a show on Brooklyn Public Access Television (BRIC). I took a production course at 可乐视频 and learned how to use the camera equipment. I wrote a grant proposal for a show called Healthy Kitchen Chronicles for a community nutrition class project. Wendy and I recorded the show, which was really us cooking foods from different cultures鈥擶endy鈥檚 Afro-Dominican. And we did an entire soul food episode, highlighting nutrition and affordability. On top of the TV show, we started a blog.

So you combined your storytelling skills with your nutrition education. How did Diabetes Digital come about?

I had had my own practice in New York City for some time and decided to move back here to Sacramento. I worked as a dietitian at a wellness center. Because we could no longer record together for public television, we created a podcast called Food Heaven, which was an extension of our media company .

Doing the podcasts and appearing on social media felt new at the time鈥攖his was around 2015. There weren鈥檛 many dietitians online yet. But about two years ago I realized the nutrition landscape had changed; it felt oversaturated. Even though we were making good money, I no longer enjoyed making content. I took it as a sign. I missed having more of a direct impact on patients. And also people were always asking us for referrals. There wasn鈥檛 a place I felt like I could send people to see a dietitian that held all our values, like diversity, health at every size, weight inclusivity, but also nutritionists who deal with chronic conditions, particularly diabetes. That鈥檚 where comes in. We created a digital practice of registered dietitians and certified diabetes educators specializing in prediabetes and diabetes care and launched it at the start of 2024. It鈥檚 the best decision we ever made.

Having other dietitians on board, including those, of course, who specialize in diabetes, a condition that is deeply tied to diet and nutrition, has been transformative.

What do you see as the role of a dietitian?

That can be broken down into four parts. Number one is the information and education we impart; it鈥檚 important to stay on top of that, but that鈥檚 only 25 percent of our role. What makes a good dietitian in a counseling setting is that are skilled in helping the patient with behavioral change. Behavioral change is really what matters if you鈥檙e trying to get someone to go from point A to point B. The third is working with the client鈥檚 emotions around and relationship with food, which can be complex. The final thing is accountability. It can鈥檛 hurt to have someone to check in with every week to make sure whatever goals that are being set can be adhered to.

Any advice for students?

One of my professors, Kenneth Axen鈥擠r. Kathleen Axen鈥檚 husband; he passed in 2020鈥攖old me, 鈥淒on’t let a slip become a fall.鈥� I share it with patients. Also, he said, 鈥渟ometimes it’s good to pick a practical career and do your creative stuff on the side. Choose a career that is still interesting to you and pays the bills.鈥�

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More than 60 可乐视频 students, faculty, staff, and alumni turned out鈥攄oubling last year鈥檚 attendance鈥攁nd smashed their fundraising goal by raising $2,500 for the American Cancer Society. Their collective energy and commitment transformed the event into a vibrant celebration of resilience and community action.

(Left to right) Lisa Millsaps-Graham, assistant adjunct professor for Health and Nutrition Sciences and assistant director of Health Programs; Ana Bartolom茅, operations manager and community outreach coordinator for the 可乐视频 Cancer Center; and Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, assistant professor for Health and Nutrition Sciences helped the cause on the Coney Island Boardwalk.

鈥淚t was incredibly satisfying to be part of a unified team fighting against breast cancer,鈥� said Ana Bartolom茅, operations manager and community outreach coordinator for the 可乐视频 Cancer Center. 鈥淎t the center, we strive to fight cancer through research, education, and community outreach, so I want to thank everyone who made this such a success.鈥�

Among the standout contributors was biology student Gulnara Zaynullina, who raised over $1,000 and played a key role in organizing pre-walk initiatives. 可乐视频 Athletics also brought their spirit and strength to the cause, helping raise funds and walking in solidarity along the shore.

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Can you tell us about your background?

I鈥檓 from Brooklyn, born and raised. I come from an Afro-Caribbean background All of my higher education has been in public universities, including CUNY and SUNY. I knew in high school that I wanted to become a doctor. I met with my guidance counselor frequently, and she told me about the Coordinated B.A.-M.D. program at 可乐视频. It鈥檚 a competitive program, and I wasn鈥檛 entirely confident I鈥檇 get in. Still, 可乐视频 was my first choice because I heard it was strong in the sciences.

What was the appeal of that program?

One of the main attractions of the B.A.-M.D. program is that I was encouraged to major in something other than science for my bachelor鈥檚 degree; 可乐视频 wants you to be well-rounded. I thought about psychology, but then Africana studies popped into my mind. I took an introduction to Africana studies class and fell in love with it. I asked myself, given my path to medical school, when else would I be able to immerse myself in Africana studies? There wouldn鈥檛 be another chance.

Can you name some of your mentors?

The entire Africana Studies Department was incredibly supportive. There were so many people I met along the way to earning my degree. Prudence Cumberbatch, who is today department chair, was my first. She was the one who encouraged me to minor in health and nutrition sciences, which complemented my pre-med studies. She also helped me with my thesis on art therapy and healing. [Associate] Professor Dale Byam invited me to be a part of the project, a conference held in May 2023. I was one of four alumni from the Africana Studies program, featured.

I joined the Black Student Union, and we helped bring the NAACP back to campus after it had been absent for 15 years. [Adjunct Assistant] Professor Trina Yearwood served as the club liaison for both the Black Student Union and the NAACP. That鈥檚 how I met her. Professor Lynda Day taught a fantastic course that I took, Black Women in America. My professors and mentors wrote letters of recommendation for medical school on my behalf. They鈥檙e still very much a part of my life.

Have you decided if and in what you want to specialize?

I鈥檓 considering emergency medicine; that鈥檚 what I’ve always wanted to do. It鈥檚 underrepresented when it comes to Black and Latinx doctors. You see infuriating statistics in medicine. There was a survey of White medical students in 2016 asking them about White versus Black patients when it comes to pain. Half of the students surveyed believed that Black patients had thicker skin and had less sensitive nerve endings than White patients, so they needed less pain medication. These beliefs, which die hard, were carried into medical practices when students became doctors, and that is one of the reasons Black patients have been undertreated for pain.

You mentor in your free time.

Mentoring is a big part of my life. Even when I don’t really have time, I still try to do it because, it may sound corny, it really made a big difference in my life. When I applied to medical school, the main person helping me was a close friend from high school who was a podiatry student. That was the closest person to medicine that I had access to.

There are many times that premed students approach me and ask for help, and there鈥檚 no way I can say no because I was given help. At SUNY Buffalo, I was a grad assistant and a teaching assistant for CSTEP [College Science and Technology Entry Program]. That program exists to increase the number of underrepresented students in STEM fields. I also worked at Success Academy in Flatbush. I was an adjunct professor for the NYU Tandon K鈥�12 STEM Education program and taught high school students science ethics.

I always welcome those opportunities because there’s so much that people don’t know and don’t have access to. Many of my classmates have parents and grandparents who are physicians. They come from multigenerational families of doctors. I think for those who don鈥檛 have people in their family who went to medical school or even college, it鈥檚 a totally different ballgame. You鈥檙e making your way by trial and error, and that is very hard to do in medical school.

What advice would you give an incoming first-year student at 可乐视频?

It definitely depends on what major they choose. If they鈥檙e pre-med, I would say settle in first, get your coursework done, then join the clubs. But definitely get involved. That was the highlight of my college experience, the different clubs and activities that I was able to take part in. Although sometimes it was stressful juggling extracurricular activities with school, the friends that I made and the mentors that I met and stay in touch with are still a big part of my life. Even though 可乐视频 is a commuter school, it didn’t feel like one because I was so involved on campus. So yes, get involved. Find your people.

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Bringing a child into the world is often seen as one of the most joyous moments in a mother’s life. But for many, moments of bliss are overshadowed by the silent, yet powerful, presence of perinatal mental health (PMH) disorders.

These conditions span a vast and often devastating spectrum of mood, anxiety, and related disorders that can take hold during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum鈥攔anging from depression and anxiety to obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use disorder, and postpartum psychosis.

Their impact is not confined to mothers; they ripple outward, deeply affecting fathers, families, and the fragile foundation of early parenthood. What should be a time of love, bonding, and new beginnings can instead become a relentless battle against crushing stress, isolation, and despair.

At their most severe, these disorders do more than steal joy鈥攖hey take lives.

According to a recent report by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths was attributed to mental health conditions. And when you add that Black women in New York City were on average nine times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their White counterparts, the ability to identify and intervene is nothing short of a matter of life and death in communities of color.

While there has been a growing awareness of the need to address PMH, the system to screen, diagnose, and treat remains fragmented and inconsistent. This is especially true in Brooklyn and other underserved communities, where educational and other resources are scarce.

A Powerful PMH Partnership

Antonio Reynoso and Michelle J. Anderson

To help make meaningful and lasting change in the neighborhoods it serves, 可乐视频 connected with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to develop the first credit-bearing advanced certificate program in perinatal mental health in New York State. The program will educate and train mental health, health care, and early education/early intervention professionals to work with pregnant mothers and birthing parents.

In collaboration with Borough President Reynoso鈥檚 Maternal Health Task Force and experts from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, a multidisciplinary team from 可乐视频 developed innovative coursework on perinatal mental health to ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to this important area of education.

鈥淎s one of the Borough鈥檚 longstanding anchor institutions, we are honored to partner with President Antonio Reynoso and his Maternal Health Task Force in this vital mission, and we deeply appreciate his steadfast support of the PMH program,鈥� 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson said. 鈥淲e are thrilled to develop this innovative curriculum, which seamlessly combines academic excellence with tangible, real-world impact. This initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, community-driven education and training that truly makes a difference.”

This spring, two pilot courses are underway, and the full certificate program will launch in the 2025鈥�26 academic year.

The program鈥檚 coursework was specifically designed for licensed professionals or those pursuing careers in fields such as mental health counseling, social work, clinical and counseling psychology, midwifery, doula work, nursing, OB-GYN, and pediatrics, as well as in the area of early childhood/early intervention. The program presents a one-of-a-kind opportunity to transform academic learning into meaningful, real-world change.

Groundbreaking Curriculum

Haroula Ntalla, Jacqueline Shannon, and Michelle J. Anderson

This spring, Clinical Professor Haroula Ntalla led one of two groundbreaking pilot courses, Parent-Child Dyad Relational Health, a deep dive into the roots of mental well-being within the parent-child bond鈥攂eginning prenatally and extending through the child鈥檚 first year of life. The course explored how early relational experiences shape lifelong mental health, emphasizing the powerful connection between parents and infants.

The second pilot course, Biopsychosocial Aspects of the Perinatal Period, was co-taught by Nina Newman, and Ira Glovinsky 鈥�68. This interdisciplinary course examined the intricate interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that influence the perinatal experience鈥攆rom pre-pregnancy through childbirth and beyond.

鈥淧erinatal mental health is not just a Brooklyn issue鈥攊t鈥檚 a New York City crisis,鈥� Ntalla said. 鈥淗owever, Brooklyn has been at the epicenter of alarming trends. Recent maternal mortality cases at Brooklyn hospitals underscore the urgent need for intervention, as mental health plays a significant role in these tragedies. Without proper intervention, these factors contribute to poor health outcomes for both mothers and their children, reinforcing cycles of trauma and instability within families.鈥�

Professor Laura Rabin, who initiated the curriculum design with Rona Miles, said 可乐视频鈥檚 PMH curriculum directly addresses a public health crisis in perinatal care.

鈥淥ur goal is to improve maternal and child outcomes throughout New York City, and this program will enhance professionals’ clinical skills and help address maternal perinatal mental health problems, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and substance use disorders,” Rabin said.

Ntalla and Associate Professor Jacqueline Shannon leveraged existing expertise from 可乐视频鈥檚 early childhood education and early intervention training and curriculum. They realized that mental health was often at the center of many of the issues they were teaching. The need for this specific curriculum became obvious, allowing them to build on the PMH curriculum design initiated by Rabin and Miles.

Shannon, who directs the PMH program, added: 鈥淲e are excited to offer this specialized curriculum that not only bridges academic learning with real-world impact but also reflects our commitment to a compassionate, community-centered approach to perinatal care with a clinical focus on supporting maternal mental health across professions.”

Leading the Change

Keema Wiley and Georgina Gooden

Georgina Gooden and Keema Wiley were seemingly destined for the frontlines of early intervention and perinatal mental health advocacy.

Gooden moved to Brooklyn from Jamaica in 2015 to be closer to family. She had her son in 2018, and while living in Brownsville, she began paying closer attention to the struggles that mothers, including herself, and their families faced. She started volunteering, first as a community member, and then as a dedicated advocate.

As an Early Intervention Ambassador Assistant with United for Brownsville, Gooden found a platform to address early childhood disparities, particularly in accessing early intervention services for Black and Brown children. Her firsthand experience with the PMH issues in the New York City health system led her to enroll in the pilot courses offered in 可乐视频鈥檚 PMH program.

鈥淚 realized our voices, our lived experiences, could drive real change. The data supported what we already knew鈥攐ur communities weren鈥檛 getting the same access to mental health resources,鈥� Gooden said. 鈥淭his is a crisis, and yet, until now, there were no structured graduate-level programs dedicated to tackling it. 可乐视频 changed that.鈥�

Now, as she also pursues her master鈥檚 degree in early childhood education from 可乐视频, Gooden is seeing the direct impact of her work. She follows expectant mothers through their pregnancies, gaining hands-on experience that connects research with reality.

鈥淥ne of the most heartbreaking things is that many mothers are afraid to admit they鈥檙e struggling. They fear being judged because of the stigma, or worse, having their children taken away. The system isn鈥檛 built to support them鈥攊t鈥檚 built to punish them.鈥�

A Different Kind of Front Line

Working as a trained doula, Wiley offers emotional, physical, and informational support to mothers and their families before, during, and after childbirth. She also works at United for Brownsville, serving as the Strategy and Improvement Manager and leading the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Equity Initiative while enrolled in 可乐视频鈥檚 PMH courses.

Wiley鈥檚 journey into maternal and infant health has been anything but conventional.

After graduating high school in 2009, she initially pursued college but was deterred by the financial burden. Instead, she enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2010. Over time, her interest in health care grew, leading her to explore midwifery. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she realized that becoming a nurse-midwife would place her on the front lines as both a soldier and a civilian鈥攁 challenge she wasn鈥檛 ready to undertake.

Instead, she discovered that the nursing prerequisites overlapped with public health, and she pivoted her focus.

Through her studies at Hunter College, she quickly honed in on maternal and child health. Her research was deeply personal鈥攕he had a smooth, uncomplicated birth experience in 2015, but many of her friends did not.

This stark contrast drove her to investigate how to improve birth outcomes for women who looked like her and shared her background. She recognized that too many mothers and babies in her community were suffering preventable complications, and she became determined to be part of the solution.

Wiley was introduced to the program at 可乐视频 through a professional connection at United for Brownsville. Recognizing the importance of mental well-being during and after pregnancy, she eagerly enrolled.

Through her doula practice and public health initiatives, Wiley is working to normalize conversations about mental well-being during pregnancy and postpartum.

鈥淭here鈥檚 this expectation that pregnancy and new motherhood should be the happiest time of your life,鈥� she says. 鈥淏ut for so many women, that鈥檚 just not the case. And if they feel like they can鈥檛 talk about it, they suffer in silence.鈥�

A Summit for Innovation and Impact

Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean

To spark real change and elevate awareness around the PMH crisis, 可乐视频鈥攁longside Borough President Reynoso, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and United for Brownsville鈥攈osted the college鈥檚 first Perinatal Mental Health Summit on April 4.

The groundbreaking event brought together over 200 attendees and a dozen leading voices in health and mental health, forming a powerful coalition to tackle one of the most urgent and overlooked issues in Brooklyn鈥攁nd across the country.

The audience filled the space, united by a shared mission: to confront the perinatal mental health crisis head-on. The event, driven by the leadership of Shannon and Ntalla, didn’t just highlight the problem鈥攊t delivered real talk, real solutions, and real resources for families and care providers navigating these challenges every day.

The summit featured bold, thought-provoking discussions led by a lineup of interdisciplinary experts. At the heart of it was keynote speaker Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean, M.D., a leader in the fight for maternal health equity. A board-certified OB/GYN, faculty member at New York Medical College, and a leader on both the New York City and New York State Maternal Mortality Review Boards, Dr. Saint-Jean brought her deep experience鈥攁nd even deeper passion鈥攖o the stage.

Among those helping to bring the summit to life were Gooden and Wiley, who took on vital roles in organizing, marketing, and presenting.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just an academic exercise,鈥� said Gooden. 鈥淭his is about life and death. Mothers are dying. Families are being broken apart. For children, that鈥檚 their whole world. We need systemic change鈥攁nd we need it now.鈥�

可乐视频鈥檚 PMH Program At a Glance
The full certificate program will launch in the 2025鈥�26 academic year.

• Yearlong, online synchronous program that offers six interdisciplinary perinatal health and mental health courses.
• 120 in-person clinical hours in the PMH field, which include hours of individual and/or group work with diverse individuals, in addition to case presentations, reflective practice, and supervision by licensed professionals.
• Graduates will be competitive candidates for employment within the broad perinatal field and will be prepared to take Postpartum Support International鈥檚 perinatal mental health exam.
• The 可乐视频 curriculum team includes:
  • Associate Professor Rona Miles and Professor Laura Rabin
  • Assistant Professor Garumma Feyissa
  • Associate Professor Jacqueline Shannon
  • Clinical Professors Haroula Ntalla, Nina Newman, and Ira Glovinsky 鈥�68, 鈥�72 M.S.Ed.

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Tiana Rainford 鈥�19 grew up 10 blocks from East New York Farms, a community-based project that addresses food justice, promotes sustainable agriculture, and creates safe green spaces and income-generating opportunities for its surrounding working-class neighborhood.

But the former health and nutrition sciences major and daughter of a professionally trained chef didn鈥檛 really frequent the nearly 30-year-old organization. One fateful day, when checking out their farmers market, she stumbled into a full-time position that she would eventually parlay into a budding career as a nutritionist with an emphasis on non-Western perspectives on health and nutrition.

The self-described reformed picky eater recently stepped down from her role as the organization鈥檚 project director to prepare for a credentialing exam to become a licensed dietitian, and to plan her next move.

Here, she talks about her influences, her dream to take her work abroad, and the 可乐视频 class that brought it all together for her.

How did your background influence your career path?

Food was always at the center of our lives. My grandfather was a farmer, and my mom and her siblings all gardened in some capacity. My mom was also a trained chef in Jamaica, so our house was filled with the aroma of cooking. We always had gatherings that centered around food. And even though I wasn鈥檛 a gardening kid, I always loved food and being around nature.

What led you specifically to health and nutrition?

At first, I wasn鈥檛 sure what I wanted to do. I started at Baruch College studying public relations and marketing, then thought about becoming a vet. My sister, who works in health care, suggested nutrition, and that made sense to me.

I transferred to 可乐视频 to join the health and nutrition sciences program. It wasn鈥檛 an easy decision, though. There are many barriers for Black women in dietetics, including the cost of internships and low pay in the field. But I realized how flexible the career could be, and I was determined to make it work.

What barriers did you encounter as a Black woman in this industry?

Black and brown people make up only about 5% of registered dietitians. The biggest barrier is the cost. After finishing a bachelor’s degree, you have to pay for an additional dietetic internship, which can last from nine months to two years. Now, a master鈥檚 degree is also required. There鈥檚 also a lack of pay equity in the field, which made me question whether it was a smart financial choice. Coming from a low-income background, I had to be sure I was making the right investment in my future.

Was there a moment that reaffirmed your passion for this path?

During my final year at 可乐视频, I took a course called Foods of Diverse Populations. The professor was a food anthropologist. That class really reignited my passion by exploring the intersection of food, culture, and nutrition. It was one of the few spaces where we openly discussed why health education is so Western-centric and how important it is to have Black and brown professionals in health care.

How did you start working at East New York Farms?

After graduation, I was looking for a full-time job and came across the farmers market here. I was with my mom, and someone assumed I was looking for a job. I went with it, and a week later, I was hired as a farmers market manager. From there, I worked my way up鈥攂ecoming a youth program coordinator, then co-director, and eventually the director.

What does an average day as director look like?

It changes with the season. Early in the year, we plan out the upcoming season, connect with stakeholders, and hire youth interns. In spring, we train our interns and start our seed distribution, plant sales, and food scrap drop-offs. From March to October, we collect food scraps from local businesses using e-bikes. In summer, we run our farmers market and food distribution programs. In the fall, we wrap up programs and host annual events. It’s a full cycle of planning, growing, educating, and engaging with the community.

How has the farm impacted the community and your own career path?

East New York Farms is one of the few places in the city that grows directly in the ground. We grow culturally relevant crops based on community needs鈥攖hings like bitter melon, Malabar spinach, hot peppers, okra, callaloo, Caribbean squashes, and African eggplant. This work has deepened my understanding of food sovereignty and sustainability. It also shaped my goal of building nutrition programs that serve diverse populations.

You鈥檙e also interested in maternal and prenatal health. How does that connect to your future plans?

During my dietetic internship, I worked on a research project with Assistant Professor Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky developing nutrition education programs for diabetes prevention in the African diaspora. That was really inspiring. Now, I want to build programs that support maternal and prenatal health, especially in Black and brown communities. Long-term, I hope to take this work international.

You鈥檙e stepping down as director. What鈥檚 next for you?

I鈥檓 still a resident and gardener here, but I鈥檓 taking time to sit for the dietitian exam and move into a role within nutrition and dietetics. My ultimate goal is to create international nutrition programs. Being at East New York Farms has shown me the importance of culturally relevant food and community health. There are so many traditional practices in Black and Indigenous cultures that are inherently healthy but overlooked in Western nutrition. I want to continue bridging that gap鈥攈elping people see the value in their own food traditions while also improving health outcomes.

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Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson at Borough Hall on April 3.

To raise public awareness and drive meaningful change, 可乐视频, in partnership with Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, the New York City Health Department, and United for Brownsville, hosted the Inaugural Perinatal Mental Health Summit on April 4. This landmark event featured more than a dozen interdisciplinary health and mental health experts and served as a crucial platform to address one of the most urgent health care challenges facing Brooklyn and the nation today.

The daylong event鈥攕pearheaded by 可乐视频 and led by Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education/Art Education Jacqueline Shannon and Clinical Professor Haroula Ntalla鈥攚as attended by more than 200 people and highlighted the growing crisis, discussed tangible solutions, and offered resources to support families and health care providers alike.

“The inaugural summit on perinatal mental health exemplifies the strength of partnerships united by a common cause,” said 可乐视频 President Michelle J. Anderson, who also participated in the event. 鈥淏rooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is a leader in tackling maternal health disparities and a vital ally in our mission to serve the community and improve health outcomes.”

可乐视频 Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education/Art Education Jacqueline Shannon.

鈥淲e were proud to host this important event and provide a platform for experts from Brooklyn鈥檚 diverse communities to share the latest research, best practices, and real-world experiences in perinatal mental health,鈥� Shannon said. 鈥淚t also served as a bridge, fostering crucial dialogue between academia and frontline community-based professionals to drive meaningful change through innovation and collaboration.鈥�

As one of the speakers, Ntalla emphasized the deeply troubling and tragic reality that each year, 700 women in the United States lose their lives due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. As alarmingly, around one in seven women experience postpartum depression鈥攁 condition that can have devastating consequences, not only for the mother鈥檚 health but also for her entire family, leaving enduring emotional and psychological scars that too often become intergenerational.

President Michelle J. Anderson and Summit keynote speaker Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean

The event was ignited by thought-provoking discussions, spearheaded by a distinguished panel of experts. Among them was keynote speaker, Dr. Ashanda Saint-Jean, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN, and Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Also a faculty member at New York Medical College’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-chair of the New York City Maternal Mortality Review Board, and appointed member of the New York State Maternal Mortality Review Board, Dr. Saint-Jean is known for her ground-breaking work as an advocate for equitable health care for underrepresented minority women that champions a holistic, patient-centered approach. During her lecture, she highlighted that perinatal mental health issues are now the leading cause of maternal deaths. She also emphasized the severe lack of support systems, particularly for women of color in Brooklyn, urging immediate action and a reevaluation of current approaches.

(Left to right) Two students who are enrolled in 可乐视频’s pilot Perinatal Mental Health program courses, Keema Wiley and Georgina Gooden, participated in the Summit.

A day earlier on April 3 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, President Anderson joined Reynoso to unveil New York State鈥檚 first 鈥攁n initiative overseen by Shannon and Ntalla 鈥攖o address the growing need for specialized training in perinatal mental health.

In collaboration with Reynoso鈥檚 Maternal Health Task Force and experts from the New York City Department of Health, a multidisciplinary team from 可乐视频 developed innovative coursework on perinatal mental health to ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to this important area of education.

The 可乐视频 team included:

• Associate Professor Rona Miles and Professor Laura Rabin, Psychology
• Assistant Professor Garumma Feyissa, Health and Nutrition Sciences
• Associate Professor Shannon and clinical professors Haroula Ntalla, Nina Newman, and Ira Glovinsky (鈥�68, 鈥�72 M.S.Ed.) Early Childhood Education/Art Education.聽

This spring, two pilot courses are underway, with the first full cohort set to launch in fall 2025.

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Titled 鈥淪ensory Properties and Acceptability of Fermented Pearl Millet, a Climate-Resistant and Nutritious Grain, Among Consumers in the United States,鈥� Cheung’s research, published by the journal Foods, sheds light on millet鈥檚 potential as a sustainable, nutrient-packed alternative to other grains. The study highlights an essential point: The key to successfully integrating millet into the American diet lies in striking the perfect balance between nutrition and sensory appeal.

Cheung, an expert in sensory nutrition, delves into the fascinating ways taste and smell shape our food choices and overall nutrition. Her research focuses on unraveling how personal preferences for flavors are developed and how they can influence healthier eating habits.

This work not only brings attention to millet鈥檚 environmental benefits but also paves the way for making this climate-resilient grain a staple in U.S. households鈥攚ithout compromising on taste. Read the full study .

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We asked Feyissa why he chose 可乐视频 and why maternal health is such an area of interest for him.

What brought you to 可乐视频?

I joined 可乐视频 driven by my passion for research, education, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the community. It gives me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment to guide and support students on their educational journey. Brooklyn is an ideal setting to implement high-quality educational and mentoring strategies to support the career journeys of students.

I was also attracted to the diversity of students, staff, and faculty. I appreciate the college鈥檚 efforts to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion. I believe that diversity enriches the educational experience and promotes an atmosphere of respect and understanding. In addition, the college鈥檚 emphasis on community partnerships and services aligns with my desire to advance evidence-informed policy and practice through community-based research and community engagement. The college is also located in a vibrant and culturally diverse borough that offers unique opportunities for community engagement.

What got you interested in health-equity issues?

Health equity is all about reducing avoidable and unjust inequalities in health outcomes and access to health care. I grew up in a rural developing country where most morbidities and mortalities are attributable to preventable causes and unjust distribution of services. Every person, regardless of his or her background, deserves the same chance of enjoying a healthy life.

Imagine how it feels when you are told that the likelihood of your wife鈥檚 death during childbirth is threefold just because she is Black, or because she lives in a certain neighborhood, or because she is from a low-income household. Imagine being told that the likelihood that your newborn will die in its first year is twice that of other newborns just because his mother is Black. So, my deep commitment to addressing disparities in health outcomes and access to health care services among different populations motivated me to investigate health outcomes from a health equity lens, where we explore various social and structural determinants of health. This involves a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing health issues, and it will create an opportunity to collaborate with experts from multiple disciplines. This creates a conducive situation to explore complex and multifaceted issues that contribute to health disparities. It will also offer momentous opportunities for innovation in health care delivery, policy development, and intervention, and this is intellectually inspiring for me. Contributing to the knowledge base that improves the lives of underserved communities and individuals is a source of professional satisfaction for me.

You are a researcher on maternal health. What are the biggest issues you see in this area?

Generally, maternal health issues are diverse and are rooted in social, physical, and policy environments. The magnitude may vary from setting to setting. We may list the direct causes of maternal deaths as deaths from cardiovascular disorders, deaths due to the worsening of pre-existing conditions during pregnancy, and deaths related to newly developed conditions such as bleeding and infections, or to factors related to stress such as substance misuse and mental health conditions. Although there are complicated and diverse problems related to maternal health, most of the preventable issues are related to inequitable access to information and the lack of inclusive and culturally appropriate services. The sad news is that these deaths disproportionately affect underserved communities, but the good news is that most of those deaths are preventable. Approaching the problems from the perspective of their social determinants is more impactful and efficient than a disease-based approach.

What are some maternal health policies you would recommend be implemented?

The most efficient and effective way to address maternal health issues is through a multifaceted approach involving factors both within and outside health care systems. Recent efforts that focused on the engagement of the community, promotion of health equity, and approaching health issues holistically are promisingly effective. When I say approaching health issues holistically, I mean addressing not only the physical dimension of health but also the promotion of mental and social well-being. This is particularly important because recent data are showing increasing mental health problems, substance use, and suicide as causes of maternal deaths. While physical problems are still important, the consequences of mental health problems are substantial. Not only are these problems severe, but they also affect future generations, families, and society at large. And again, these mental health problems disproportionally affect underserved communities. While there are policies for each specific health issue, improving access to socially responsive high-quality services, and establishing health care navigation strategies tailored to the needs of the community are some crucial assignments toward which all of us should put our energy. This underscores the need to address the major issues from a health-equity lens. This also requires a continuous dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and the community.

What do you think 可乐视频 students and faculty can contribute to maternal health issues and health care disparities in general?

As faculty, along with our students, we conduct research to further understand these health issues and how to translate the evidence into policy and practice. We also engage and co-learn with our communities and work with them to design strategies to tackle health care disparities. Every party has a stake here. Nothing can be successful if one of the parties is missing or not discharging their responsibility to the extent that is required of them. So, my message is to remind each member of our community鈥攃ommunity-based organizations, city, state, and federal agencies, our students, staff, and faculty鈥攖hat their roles are crucial, and nothing will be achieved with the limited involvement of any party. With full engagement and commitment, we can bring impactful change and build a healthy society.

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The liking for sweets drives people to consume more added sugars. This 4-year project focuses on understanding the genetic and environmental influences on liking sweet tastes in two traditionally underrepresented populations in science, Black and Asian populations. Data from this research will help to devise more personalized nutrition strategies to lower added sugar intake.

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