FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health
(Jackson, MS) October 9, 2025 — Dr. Sandra Melvin, CEO and Founding President of the Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health, was among the featured presenters at the Rooted to Rise: Maternal Health Mississippi Convening Conference held October 8-9, 2025, in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Hosted by the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi and its partners, the conference brought together advocates, healthcare providers, policymakers, community leaders, and families to strengthen the state’s maternal health ecosystem and address critical issues impacting Mississippi mothers and families.
During her presentation, Addressing Structural and Policy Barriers to Maternal Health: Tackling the Hidden Challenges Mothers Face in Health Care, Dr. Melvin spoke on policies, systems, and structures that shape what care mothers can access and how they experience care. Institute Program Managers Shelethia Whistenson and Latasha Rice were in attendance and participated in sessions aimed at improving maternal health outcomes statewide.
The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health remains committed to advancing maternal health equity through education, advocacy, and community engagement. For more information about the Institute’s maternal and child health initiatives, visit www.minority-institute.org or follow the Institute on social media.
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The Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health was established in 2019 to reduce health disparities among disadvantaged and underserved minority populations in Mississippi through the development of collaborative partnerships with community stakeholders and the implementation of evidence-based public health interventions with a particular focus on health equity.
