Rachel Robins represents the next generation of maternal health equity champions, combining frontline clinical practice with groundbreaking research to address the crisis of Black maternal mental health. As a nurse midwife at NYU Langone Health and PhD candidate at Pace University, Robins is filling critical gaps in understanding and treating postpartum depression among Black women in New York City.
Robins recognized a disturbing pattern: while Black women face dramatically higher rates of preterm birth, preeclampsia, and other adverse birth outcomes—factors known to increase postpartum depression risk—research specific to their postpartum mental health experiences remains woefully limited. In New York City, Black women experience pregnancy-related mortality rates four to six times higher than white women. Yet survivors of traumatic births receive insufficient attention in research and clinical interventions during the critical postpartum period.
Her research focuses on developing culturally tailored screening protocols and interventions specifically designed for Black mothers who have endured traumatic births. Named a 2024 Jonas Scholar, Robins aims to ensure early detection of postpartum depression through screening tools attuned to risk factors prevalent among Black women, addressing systemic gaps that leave these mothers vulnerable.
Robins brings extensive clinical experience from labor and delivery at NYU Langone, a Brooklyn walk-in gynecology clinic, and fertility services. Her dual role as practitioner and researcher allows her to witness disparities firsthand and translate those observations into evidence-based solutions. She envisions establishing a dedicated New York City research team focused on Black maternal health, developing standardized hospital interventions, and influencing policy changes to ensure equitable care. Her work extends beyond survival metrics toward holistic wellbeing, addressing both physical recovery and emotional healing after childbirth.
Learn more:
– Pace University profile and interview: https://www.pace.edu/news/phd-nursing-student-rachel-robins-msn-dive-maternal-health-marginalized-communities
– Jonas Scholar announcement: https://www.pace.edu/news/phd-nursing-student-rachel-robins-selected-jonas-scholar
– NYC maternal mortality data: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/data/data-sets/maternal-morbidity-mortality-surveillance.page
