At Providence Swedish First Hill campus in Seattle, a bold initiative has erased a long-standing racial disparity in unnecessary cesarean deliveries. Just two years ago, low-risk Black patients were receiving C-sections at a rate of 44.7%, compared to 26.7% for white patients. Today, the rates are nearly identical—27% for Black patients and 27.6% for white patients.
The transformation is credited to the JUST Birth Network, launched in 2022 to provide culturally affirming care for patients of color. The program includes 72 birth and postpartum doulas, 45 of whom are people of color, along with cultural navigators and educators. “Giving birth can be empowering,” said doula LaShaye Stanton-Phillips, “but for many people of color, it can be traumatizing and dehumanizing.”
Doulas don’t provide medical care but offer emotional, physical, and educational support. They advocate for patients’ preferences and help navigate hospital systems. Their presence has led to higher satisfaction and fewer unnecessary surgeries.
The hospital’s culture shift wasn’t easy. “It was hard. There were tears,” said Tanya Sorensen, executive director of the Women’s and Children’s Institute. But the results speak volumes. Twice as many Black patients now receive doula support compared to white patients, and patients of all backgrounds report feeling respected and heard.
For patients like Rachia Moore, the impact is personal. “She was genuinely my breath of fresh air,” Moore said of her doula, who helped her avoid an unwanted C-section.
See: “How a Seattle hospital erased racial disparity in unnecessary C-sections” (May 6, 2025)
