Bridging the Gap: Caring for Rural Georgia Moms

2025 CONFERENCE

Dates: October 23rd & 24th, 2025

Location: Phoebe Putney Simulation Center, MCG Southwest Campus, Albany, GA

Fairfield Inn & Suites Albany for $139.00 per night

Last Day to Book : Wednesday, October 01, 2025

Registration is $99. Maximum of 8 CME Credits

This conference addresses obstetric health disparities in rural Georgia by highlighting care gaps and offering targeted, evidence-based education and hands-on skills training. Many rural hospitals across the state lack access to obstetric physicians, contributing to preventable maternal deaths—80% of which could be avoided. These tragedies span the entire maternal health timeline: 22% occur during pregnancy, 25% around delivery, and 53% up to a year postpartum.

This program is designed for all frontline providers—physicians, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and others—who may be called to care for pregnant or postpartum patients in settings without on-site Obstetrical expertise. Whether you work in a critical access hospital, rural ED, or provide emergency medical services, this interprofessional training will empower your team to recognize, stabilize, and manage obstetric emergencies with confidence and coordination.

Speakers

Dr. Blessing Aroh, MD, MSC
Albany Area Primary Health Care

Dr. Kelli Braun, MD, FACOG
Associate Dean for Admissions, MCG

Jennifer Gillooly, RN
Wellstar MCG Health

Angie James, RRT, MSc
Respiratory Therapist, CHOG, Wellstar MCG Health

Cara Jones, RN
Director, Clinical Procedures, MCG

Dr. Michelle Krupp, EdD, MS
Associate Dean for Faculty Development, MCG

Dr. Matthew Lyon, MD
Associate Dean, Experiential Learning, MCG
Director, MCG Center for Telehealth

Dr. Kathryn Martin, PhD. MPH, MPA
Associate Dean for Regional Campuses, MCG

Dr. Douglas Patten, MD, FACS
Associate Dean, Southwest Regional Campus, MCG

Dr. Chadburn Ray, MD, RPh, FACOG
Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MCG

Kevin Weathersbee, AAS/EMS, NRP, FP-C
Teleflex Clinical Affairs Manager

Dr. Kristin Yates-Coleman, DO
OB Hospitalist Medical Director, Southwell Medical Clinic

Madison White, BS
Peach State Scholar for OB/GYN, MCG Class of 2027h

Procedure Lab Sponsors
- Sonosite
- Teleflex

Agenda

Thursday, October 23^rd, 2025

1:00 PM - 1:10 PM: Arrival and Registration

1:10 PM - 1:20 PM: Welcome and Overview

1:20 PM - 1:30 PM: Introduction of Speaker (Madison White)

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: When Access Is Limited: Confronting Maternal Health Disparities in Georgia (Dr. Blessing Aroh)

This session will examine the scope of maternal health disparities across Georgia, with a focus on rural and underserved communities where access to obstetric care is limited. Participants will explore how geographic, socioeconomic, and resource barriers contribute to adverse maternal outcomes and discuss the critical need for timely recognition and management of obstetric emergencies in these settings. The session will also highlight opportunities to improve maternal outcomes through interprofessional teamwork, early identification of high-risk conditions, and strategic partnerships with higher-level care facilities.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Rural Obstetrical Emergencies: Preparing for the Worst (Drs. Kelli Braun and Chad Ray)

This high-yield, case-based session will equip frontline providers with critical skills to recognize and respond to the most life-threatening obstetrical emergencies in rural and resource-limited settings. Topics will include management of imminent delivery in non-OB units, rapid response to postpartum hemorrhage, and early recognition and stabilization of placental abruption.

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM: Preparing for OB’s Not-So-Silent Killers (Jen Gillooly and Angie James)

This interdisciplinary session focuses on rapid identification and team-based management of high-risk obstetric scenarios that can quickly turn deadly. Through practical insights and real-world experience, speakers will cover the recognition and treatment of preeclampsia and eclampsia, emergency management of breech deliveries, and critical steps for newborn stabilization. Ideal for nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, paramedics, and frontline providers, this session prepares teams to act fast and save lives.

3:45 PM - 4:10 PM: OB POCUS: Ruling Out Badness Trimester by Trimester (Dr. Matt Lyon)

Practical ultrasound pearls for frontline providers. Learn how to apply POCUS across all three trimesters to rule out emergencies, avoid misses, and guide immediate care.

4:10 PM - 4:45 PM: Questions and Answer Panel Discussion (Drs. Kelli Braun and Chad Ray)

4:45 PM - 5:15 PM: Beyond the Baby Blues: Recognizing and Managing Postpartum Depression (Dr. Kristin Yates-Coleman)

This session explores the spectrum of postpartum mood disorders, with a focus on identifying postpartum depression early, differentiating it from normal adjustment, and applying evidence-based strategies for screening, treatment, and support. Emphasis will be on practical tools for frontline providers to improve maternal mental health outcomes.

5:15 PM - 5:45 PM: Digital Innovations - Emergency Hemorrhage Control (Kevin Weathersbee and Matt Riley)

Discover how cutting-edge digital tools are revolutionizing obstetric care for rural communities.

Friday, October 24^th, 2025

8:00 AM - 8:15 AM: Welcome

8:15 AM - 8:45 AM: Preparing Future MDs for Rural Practice (Dr. Michelle Krupp)

8:45 AM - 9:00 AM: Procedures Lab Instructions (Cara Jones)

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Hands on Interprofessional Skills Stations (Cara Jones)

*Participants will select multiple stations*

Imminent Delivery
- Description: In this high-fidelity simulation, you’ll take care of a mother in active labor as well as the newborn baby. Don’t worry – it's just a simulation!
Stop the Bleed: Hands on Techniques for Managing Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Description: In this interactive lab, you’ll practice manual techniques to stop uterine bleeding after imminent delivery.
Maternal Well-Being Techniques
- Description: Moms are important! In this lab, learn techniques to help mothers cope with their new baby and postpartum depression.
How Do you Treat That Pregnant Mom Who Just Fell?
- Description: Learn to place non-invasive fetal monitoring equipment and receive expert advice on interpreting the results.
Emergency Vascular Access – Teleflex
- Description: In this hands-on interactive lab, you’ll practice IO access and ultrasound-guided vascular access for both a mother and her baby.
Mom’s Not Breathing, Now What? Uh-Oh Baby’s Not Breathing Either, Now What?
- Description: Participate in hands-on practice with experts for both adult and neonatal intubation.
Point of Care Obstetrics Ultrasound - Sonosite
- Description: This hands-on session focuses on practical, bedside ultrasound skills essential for evaluating third trimester pregnancies in urgent and resource-limited settings. Learn to assess fetal position, amniotic fluid volume, placental location, and fetal heart activity using point-of-care ultrasound.