Why are Black women in America still 2.6 times more likely to die during pregnancy than their white counterparts? In this episode of Black Scholars Speak, we sit down with powerhouse nurse and maternal health researcher Dr. Roseline Jean Louis to unpack the deep-rooted racism, provider bias, and lack of empathy that continue to put Black mothers at risk.

Born in Petit Goave, Haiti, and now a recent Nursing PhD graduate from Emory University, Roseline brings her lived experience as a first-generation Haitian American and labor & delivery nurse to the forefront of her advocacy. Her work through the National Birth Equity Collaborative and ACOG tackles the uncomfortable truth: maternal mortality isn’t just a medical issue—it’s a justice issue.

Together, we explore how research, representation, and radical empathy can challenge harmful stereotypes and transform how healthcare shows up for Black women. She also shares how she’s navigated fellowships, elevated her research voice, and what she wishes her younger self knew stepping into the PhD journey.

Tune in for truth, inspiration, and a call to action—we can’t afford to look away!

Connect:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roselinejlouis/

Email: [email protected]

Did you know it is projected that by 2030, 40% of those with a dementia diagnosis will be Black or Latino? Remember, this is just a STATISTIC, so WE have the POWER not to make this a reality!

Dr. Fayron Epp's episode of The Breakdown highlights the importance of uplifting our Black faith communities so they can better support and educate congregants concerning this disease. She developed a program called Alter Dementia that does just this by helping them- create dementia-friendly communities. She also talks about an 8-week education study (yes, you can participate in education, and it still be research!) called "Caregiving While Black," where caregivers can get all the tea on navigating the healthcare system as a Black caregiver (if all this isn't #BlackGirlMagic I don't know what is).

For more information on how to get involved in both programs click the links below:

Alter Dementia: https://alterdementia.com

Caregiving While Black: https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/epps-faithvillage/research-projects/care/

In this heartfelt, energetic, passionate, and wisdom-filled episode, Dr. Fayron Epps gets real about the ups and downs of her academic journey—from the hurdles she faced in school to the life challenges that followed. Whether you're just starting out or deep in your academic grind, this episode will have you laughing and inspired to keep going—because through it all, "it’s all good—we’re learning."

Connect with Dr. Fayron Epps:

X: @QOL4olderadults)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayron-epps-phd-rn-fgsa-faan-8164a07a/

Email: [email protected]

UT San Antonio Health: https://directory.uthscsa.edu/academics/profile/eppsf

Follow Dr. Epps Work:

Alter Dementia: https://alterdementia.com

Faith Village Research Lab: https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/epps-faithvillage/

Welcome to the very first episode of Black Scholars Speak! I’m your host, Janelle Gore, and I’m so excited to kick off this space where we’re connecting research, culture, and community—all to amplify Black voices. In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about my journey, from Texas Southern University to my PhD journey in clinical psychology, plus the life experiences that inspired me to start this podcast (including a few wild stories!). You’ll get a peek at what’s coming up: amazing guests, real talk about mental health, navigating academia, and how we can all better care for ourselves and each other. New episodes drop every two weeks, so subscribe, follow, and let’s build this community together!

Connect with Black Scholars Speak!

Instagram: @BlackScholarSpeak

Facebook: Black Scholars Speak

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13266038/

Introduction