Recognition and Action: HCA Virginia Marks Black Maternal Health Week with Awards and Outreach
HCA Virginia marked Black Maternal Health Week with both recognition and action — highlighted by top honors from Birth in Color RVA and a series of initiatives supporting mothers and families across the Commonwealth.
At Birth in Color’s annual Black Maternal Health Summit, HCA Virginia joined community leaders and healthcare providers to raise awareness and advance solutions to improve outcomes for Black mothers.
During the summit, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital’s labor and delivery program received The Black House Presidential Medal for Institutional Transformation Award, recognizing its commitment to advancing equitable maternal care. In addition, certified nurse midwife Barbara Dudley was named Birth in Color’s Midwife of the Year, honoring her leadership and dedication to patient-centered care.
Birth in Color, a nonprofit that trains birth workers and doulas and advocates for policies to address disparities in Virginia, also recognized HCA Virginia for its ongoing efforts to support families and improve maternal health outcomes.
In tandem with the summit, HCA Virginia colleagues partnered with the American Heart Association to deliver 25 new mom kits to Urban Baby Beginnings’ Maternal Hub in Petersburg. Volunteers also assembled diaper bundles and supported operational needs, helping ensure mothers and babies have essential resources.
These efforts are part of HCA Healthcare’s “We Show Up for Our Communities” initiative, a national days-of-service campaign held each April during National Volunteer Month. Across Virginia, hundreds of HCA colleagues contributed over 1,000 volunteer hours at 28 events.
Together, these efforts reflect HCA Virginia’s continued commitment to advancing maternal health — both inside hospital walls and throughout the communities it serves.
“Being recognized by Birth in Color is a meaningful honor because it reflects the progress we’re making alongside our community partners to improve maternal health outcomes for Black mothers,” said Jennie Whitaker, chief nursing officer for Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. “At HCA Virginia, this work is both a responsibility and a priority. From advancing equitable care in our hospitals to supporting organizations like Urban Baby Beginnings, we are committed to listening, learning and taking action to ensure every mother and baby has the opportunity to thrive.”
In HCA Virginia’s Richmond-area hospitals, which include Henrico, Parham and Retreat Doctors’, Chippenham and Johnston-Willis Hospitals, there were more than 6,600 baby deliveries last year.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a 2026 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care — the highest rating awarded in the publication’s annual Best Hospitals for Maternity Care study.