Innovation and Addressing the Maternal Mortality Crisis in the U.S.

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report showing that the number of women who died from pregnancy or a pregnancy-related cause in the U.S. in 2021 increased by 40 percent from 2020. This rate of maternal mortality in the U.S. is now the highest since 1965, and the U.S. fares worse than any other industrialized nation.

While all ages and races saw an increase in maternal mortality in 2021, Black mothers remain the most affected. Black women are 2.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy or pregnancy-related causes than white women in the U.S.

In response, MATTER and 51 Labs partners Health Care Service Corporation, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, BayCare, Parkview Health, University of Chicago Medicine, Organon and Stryker launched the next iteration of 51 Labs to call on global innovators to submit applications with innovative healthcare solutions that prevent maternal mortality in the U.S. before, during and after birth.

Join MATTER for a panel discussion on this topic with panelists Colby Holtshouse, head of global MedTech commercial organization and the former US maternal health lead at Organon, and Dr. Ira Sites, OBGYN at BayCare.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Colby Holtshouse

Head of the Global MedTech Commercial Organization, Organon

Colby Holtshouse serves as the head of the global MedTech commercial organization at Organon, a life sciences company dedicated to improving the health of women. She brings deep experience in commercialization of groundbreaking medical technologies, with over a decade focused on women’s health.

Colby joined Organon via the acquisition of Alydia Health, developer of the Jada System for postpartum hemorrhage, where she served most recently as the chief operating officer. Prior to Alydia, Colby was vice president of marketing & business development at Pelvalon, developer of the Eclipse System for women suffering from loss of bowel control, acquired by Laborie. Colby previously held roles in marketing, sales and finance at Guidant, Medtronic, AccessClosure and Deutsche Bank. Colby has a B.A. in History from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two strong-willed daughters.

Dr. Ira Sites

OBGYN at BayCare

Dr. Ira Sites obtained his medical degree from the University of Florida, and completed residency training at the University of Florida Shands Jacksonville. After residency he worked as a private practice OB/GYN in Tampa, FL for three years before joining OB Hospitalist Group. For the past 13 years he has worked with BayCare health systems, and currently serves as the medical director of women’s services. He serves as a coach mentor for the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative and is a member of the ACOG District 12 Maternal Mortality Review Committee. He is passionate about modifying systems based care to improve outcomes for mothers and babies. He serves on the board of directors of the Palm Harbor little league, and is treasurer of Cub Scout pack 26. One of his favorite pastimes is racing, and he operates a nonprofit race team that helps children overcome anxiety through motorsports.