Symposium advances maternal, infant health initiatives across Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2025) — A group of health experts is focused on advancing maternal and infant health in Kentucky through collaboration and innovation.
That was the central theme of the 2025 Kentucky Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes, Aug. 27-28 in Pikeville, Kentucky. The symposium welcomed nearly 600 attendees.
Among other topics were critical priorities for Kentucky’s maternal health landscape, including the future of birth centers, the strategic use of the state’s abatement funds and “The Big 3” maternal health priorities — violence, substance use and anxiety or depression.
The group included physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners, public health officials, researchers, community health workers, behavioral health specialists, persons with lived experience and policymakers. This participation underscored the importance of team-based care in addressing health challenges.
“This gathering reflects the strength of Kentucky’s maternal health community. By bringing together clinical experts, community advocates and public health leaders, we’re building a resilient system that listens to mothers and responds with compassion and evidence-based care,” said Cynthia Cockerham, community program and research director for UK HealthCare’s Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine and one of the symposium’s operations leads.
The symposium was co-hosted by the Kentucky Maternal Morbidity & Mortality Task Force, Kentucky Perinatal Quality Collaborative, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Frontier Nursing University.
Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman was a keynote speaker, along with maternal health leaders Catherine Collins-Fulea, a certified nurse-midwife, and Monica Lee-Griffith, M.D., providing insights for participants. The agenda featured 60 sessions covering topics such as substance use disorders, maternal cardiac conditions, sepsis and trauma-informed care.
“This year’s Kentucky Symposium for Maternal and Infant Outcomes Conference brought together an extraordinary group of leaders and practitioners to discuss ways to improve the care and outcomes for mothers, babies and families across Kentucky’s rural and underserved communities,” said Frontier Nursing University President Brooke A. Flinders, D.N.P. “It was a true honor to hear from Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, whose dedication to this vital work is both inspiring and deeply appreciated. At Frontier Nursing University, we are proud to contribute to this powerful initiative.”
Sessions also presented innovative care models, including results from the PATH Home Trial and the KyCOMPASS initiative, which support pregnant women facing complex health and social challenges.
Attendees also had networking opportunities and contributed to future initiatives aimed at enhancing outcomes for mothers and infants in communities across Kentucky.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.