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In the wake of COVID-19 and the overturn of Roe v Wade, medical residents—in particular OB/GYNs—are advocating for more family-friendly workplaces and reproductive choice. In this interview, Managing Editor Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips talks with Duke OB/GYN Residency Director Dr. Beverly Gray about the need for policy changes in medical education to improve workforce well-being and cultural competence.

As a Lactation Consultant and child birth educator with Novant Health in Charlotte, Elizabeth Star-Winer worked with hundreds of families, both in a hospital setting and in the community. Those experiences instilled in her a desire to focus her philanthropy on addressing the root causes of the challenges and disparities she observed, particularly the high rates of maternal and infant mortality across the state.1 “Because of my hands-on career experiences, I wanted our foundation to focus on improving outcomes in two areas: maternal and infant health and creating awareness of the long-term effects of trauma and toxic stress on families,” Star-Winer told the NCMJ. “We are intentional on focusing our work upstream with the understanding that systems change takes time and investment in cross-sector partnerships and strong leadership.” NCMJ Managing Editor Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips spoke with Star-Winer about how she transitioned from working directly with families to running her family’s foundation with a mission of building capacity and aligning systems to ensure all families with children, from prenatal to age five, thrive across our state.

The following is a review of current policy and proposed legislation related to physical environment indicators in North Carolina. It is not an endorsement of any policy or bill; it is meant to serve as a resource for policy makers, health care stakeholders, and other readers of the NCMJ.

Childhood trauma can have lasting impact throughout the life course, affecting both physical and mental health. But it doesn't have to be this way. To better understand the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as indicators of health, the

The following is a review of current policy and proposed legislation related to the health of American Indians in North Carolina. It is not an endorsement of any policy or bill; it is meant to serve as a resource for policy makers, health care stakeholders, and other readers of the NCMJ.

Housing's impact on health goes beyond the need for a roof over one's head. Severe housing problems, such as overcrowding, high housing costs, or lack of plumbing or kitchen facilities, contribute to poor health outcomes ranging from asthma to heart disease. Michelle Kennedy, Greensboro's neighborhood development director, discusses policies to improve housing quality in North Carolina.

North Carolina's health care workforce is evolving quickly as the demographics of the state's broader population change. There are many initiatives aimed at addressing this evolution, but educators, practitioners, policymakers, and the broader health care community must leverage resources to ensure the future workforce reflects the state's population and needs.