In this compelling episode of Culture Stew, host Maria Morukian speaks with Dr. Carolyn Sufrin, medical anthropologist, obstetrician/gynecologist, and a leading advocate for the reproductive health and rights of incarcerated women. Dr. Sufrin shares her journey from delivering babies shackled to a bed as a young resident to leading groundbreaking research and advocacy for some of the most marginalized individuals in the healthcare system.

Dr. Sufrin reflects on how her early experiences shaped her commitment to systemic change and justice, emphasizing the need for compassionate healthcare, accurate data, and dismantling oppressive structures. Her team’s pivotal PIPS Project revealed staggering gaps in care and outcomes for pregnant individuals in carceral settings, highlighting the need for community-based alternatives and policy reform. Together, Maria and Dr. Sufrin explore how the intersection of race, gender, and reproductive justice underscores the urgency of reimagining healthcare for incarcerated individuals.

Key Topics:

• The story that inspired Dr. Sufrin’s advocacy journey

• Racial disparities in incarceration and reproductive healthcare

• Systemic challenges and reforms in carceral healthcare

• The power of reproductive justice as a framework for change

• Collaborative and abolitionist approaches to reimagine justice

Mentioned Resource: Belly of the Beast (documentary): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11454670/

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