Wendy Bennett, MD, MPH, a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, is leading a study aimed at reducing health disparities among high-risk populations of women and their families, particularly focusing on obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Bennett’s current trial, Healthy for Two (H42-HV), is part of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Cardiometabolic Health Equity and targets primarily Black and Latinx women, who face higher risks for gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and acute cardiovascular events during labor and delivery due to higher prevalence of obesity.
The H42-HV study measures the effectiveness of a remote health coaching program tailored for pregnancy and postpartum care on postpartum weight. By partnering with prenatal care facilities and community-based initiatives, including early home visiting programs, Bennett’s team aims to democratize access to vital healthcare resources. The implications of this study extend beyond reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes, as Bennett believes her work has the capacity to impact individual patients, their families, larger communities, and even public policy.
Bennett hopes to identify health services and community-based solutions that address cardiometabolic risk at both the systems and patient levels while engaging patients and communities to make and sustain behavior changes for improved health outcomes. [1]
“Wendy Bennett Empowers Women and Families Through Research” (March 15, 2024)
