Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett has spent over two decades combating health disparities from her Augusta, Georgia practice, driven by profound personal loss. Her paternal grandmother died during childbirth when her father was twelve, a tragedy that shaped her commitment to women’s healthcare. As both a physician and scientist with a PhD in microbiology and immunology from Howard University, she brings dual expertise to addressing the crisis of Black maternal mortality.
At Augusta Women’s Health and Wellness Center, Dr. Adams-Pickett tackles a critical barrier: the historic distrust between Black communities and the medical establishment. Rather than dismissing patient concerns, she conducts what she calls “mini GYN university” sessions, explaining medication mechanisms, benefits, and side effects to empower informed decision-making. This approach directly addresses a systemic problem where Black women report being ignored when raising legitimate health concerns during pregnancy.
Her advocacy extends beyond individual patient care. Featured prominently in the PBS documentary “Birthing Justice,” Dr. Adams-Pickett exposes how Georgia’s maternal care deserts force some women into conditions where they would receive safer care in developing nations. She has appeared in Essence magazine, on PBS NewsHour, and contributed to white papers combating misinformation in sexual and reproductive health. Her work emphasizes that Black women face three to four times higher maternal mortality rates regardless of education or income—a disparity rooted in systemic racism rather than individual choices. Through media appearances and patient education, she continues amplifying voices demanding equitable, respectful maternal healthcare.
- PBS NewsHour – Brief but Spectacular: Dr. Donna Adams-Pickett on being a women’s healthcare warrior
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/brief/436653/dr-donna-adams-pickett - PBS Documentary: “Birthing Justice” (full film featuring Dr. Adams-Pickett)
https://www.pbs.org/video/birthing-justice-pxaxav/ - WJBF News: Augusta OB-GYN fights for Black women’s health equity
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/augusta-ob-gyn-fights-black-225530244.html
