Publications & Dissemination
In alignment with our third specific aim, "Disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders and policy makers," ASCEND WI has shared our findings through scholarly publications, dissemination videos, and community-engaged events.
On this page, you will find select:
  • Scholarly publications directly connected to NIH 1U54HD113408-01
  • Relevant scholarly publications by our ASCEND WI team members 
  • Dissemination Videos
  • Photos from our community-engaged events

Publications

Implementation barriers to incorporating a community-based doula program to improve birth outcomes for Black patients in an academic medical center
Katherine G Quinn, Erica Marion, Joni S Williams, Dalvery Blackwell, Jessica Olson, Anna Palatnik
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities (2025) https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02444-3
Strengthening community‑based doula and clinician partnerships through implementation and dissemination science approaches: a mixed‑methods pilot study
Jessica Olson, Amber Chavez, Erica Marion, Katherine Quinn, Geraud Blanks, Maureen Post, Toni Whitaker, Juan Pablo Garnham, Camila Vallejo, Camille Johnson, Xavier Johnson, Dalvery Blackwell, Joni Williams and Anna Palatnik
Implementation Science Communications (2026) 7:108 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-026-00948-5
Exploring the Lived Experience of Healthcare Discrimination and Resilience among Postpartum African American Women: A Qualitative Study
Melissa Neal, Katherine Quinn, Anna Palatnik, Erica Marion, Kiarri N. Kershaw, Joanne Lagatta, Jennifer Walsh & Kirsten Beyer
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Vol.:(0123456789)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02620-5
Racial Discrimination, Stress, Resilience, and the Superwoman Schema: A Path Analysis of Factors Influencing Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Among African American Women
Melissa Neal, Katherine Quinn, Anna Palatnik, Erica Marion, Kiarri N. Kershaw, Joanne Lagatta, Jennifer Walsh & Kirsten Beyer
Poster Presentation. 2026 Annual Research Meeting. AcademyHealth.

Videos

MCW - Clinician and Client Conversation
Mentored by the AMETHIST@Penn Implementation Science Hub and guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we partnered with leaders in birth work, marketing, film, and policy change to develop a pilot vignette aimed at integrating implementation and dissemination science to produce scalable strategies. Please reach out to view the video.
MCW - Clinician and Doula Conversation
Community-based doulas are non-clinical birth workers who build trusting relationships with pregnant individuals well before labor begins, providing personalized education, advocacy, and emotional support throughout the perinatal period. Please reach out to view the video.

ASCEND WI Events

ASCEND WI 2025 Annual Retreat
Each year TEAM hosts an annual retreat aligned with AIM 2, "Facilitate engagement across all project components to ensure trusting relationships between all members of the Maternal Health Center of Excellence."

Members from each project, including research, clinical, and community partners share and connect about their work over the past year. U54 project members build connections, learn from each other, and data is collected to inform future projects and directions.
Download the Year 2 Retreat Report:
​
2025_ascend_wi_retreat_report.pdf
File Size: 51298 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Community Events

Doulas From the Community, For the Community: Leveraging Community Informed Research to Drive Systemic Change
Dr. Anna Palatnik (MCW), Dalvery Blackwell (AABN), 
Michelle Wilkins (AABN), Dr. Erica Marion (MCW)
This session explores how community informed research and academic partnerships can help to address systemic barriers and improve maternal health outcomes. Presenters will share 
lessons learned in building trust, establishing transparent communication, valuing frontline expertise, and creating sustainable collaborations. This work is part of a 7-year NIH funded community-academic partnership.
Proudly powered by Weebly