By Emily Kestel, Fearless editor One year ago, vaccinations against COVID-19 were just becoming widely available. Health care workers were optimistic that the public would largely accept the vaccine and the light at the end of the tunnel was nearing. Close to 500,000 Americans had died from COVID-19 – 5,000 Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel Angie Chaplin is the founder and owner of Mindful Leadership, a consulting practice that works to build leadership capacity in individuals, groups, teams and companies. Chaplin started her business following a decadelong battle with alcohol addiction. The following story has been formatted to be entirely Read more…
Drinking is prevalent in American culture, even beyond tailgates, having a drink at dinner or going out with friends. Fancy wines and spirits are given to others as housewarming or holiday gifts. Alcohol is sold and served at hair salons, movie theaters and zoos. Type in “wine shirt” on Pinterest Read more…
Regional models for maternal health care can be successful, but Iowa doctors say an intentional effort is needed to reach the entire state By Sarah Bogaards, Business Record staff writer Editor’s note: This is part three of a three-part series focusing on the closure of birthing units in Iowa, the Read more…
By Sarah Bogaards, Business Record staff writer Editor’s note: This is a three-part series that focuses on the closure of birthing units in Iowa, the factors driving the trend and how it is changing maternal health care in Iowa. Part one looks at the overall problem, part two explores a Read more…
By Emily Barske, Business Record editor The idea to convert some in-person maternal and fetal medicine clinics to telehealth visits had been percolating for a while. But it was ultimately a blizzard in February that prompted the team at MercyOne Des Moines to put the idea into action. Dr. Neil Read more…
Two communities share the experience of closing their units and how they adapted By Sarah Bogaards, Business Record staff writer Editor’s note: This is part two of a three-part series focusing on the closure of birthing units in Iowa, the factors driving the trend and how it is changing maternal Read more…
Communities, hospitals and doctors seek solutions amid Iowa’s changing maternal health and economic landscapes that drove the loss of 40 birthing units since 2000. By Sarah Bogaards, staff writer Editor’s note: This is the first story in a three-part series focusing on the closure of birthing units in Iowa, the Read more…
By Emily Kestel, Fearless editor Period shaming is pervasive: A 2018 study by Thinx revealed that nearly 60% of menstruators have felt embarrassed simply because they were on their period. Additionally, 62% admit feeling that they feel uncomfortable using the word “period.” Before she created a planner to help menstruators Read more…
By Emily Blobaum, Fearless editor Last year, Olivia Samples had a dream of starting a conference around Black maternal health. Samples, a nonbinary Des Moines-based doula who serves Black and queer families, decided the conference would uplift the positive things happening in the community. It would center Black birthing people, and Read more…