Dr. Scott was a panelist for the Forum’s discussion on Deaths from Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Dr. Karen Scott is a board certified “recovering” Obstetrician Gynecologist with more than 20 years of experience in caring for persons across the sexual and reproductive life course in high need, low resource communities, across different practice types and locations throughout the Midwest and Northern and Central California. In Chicago, she founded and lead an urban community hospital-based initiative, Young Women’s Health Initiative (YWHI), the parent organization of multiple evidence based and informed programs and practices adapted into routine health care settings for first time low income pregnant and parenting persons on Chicago’s south side. With private and state funding, a community advisory of adults and youth of color, and a dynamic 100% Black women team including an ob-gyn, nurse supervisor, nurse home visitors, licensed clinical professional counselor, and program coordinator, YWHI offered free voluntary services such as nurse home visiting, group socialization, and infant mental health through a trauma informed, reproductive justice, and youth centered lens. Given the co-location of services and programs within a health care system, YWHI also provided full spectrum care for entire families beyond sexual and reproductive health.
