Data to Action Training and Activation (DATA) Academy 

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine is proud to offer a new program, the Data to Action Training and Activation (DATA) Academy, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The DATA Academy seeks to bridge the gap between maternal mortality review committee (MMRC) data and stakeholder action to reduce maternal deaths and improve health equity.  

Participants will first learn about the importance of MMRCs and their role in a larger system to improve equitable maternal health outcomes. Then, participants will focus on leading efforts to turn MMRC findings and recommendations into action at various intervention levels (i.e., departmental, institutional, legislative). Programming for the DATA Academy will focus on four topics:

• MMRC data review and translation
• Identifying thematic areas and creating action plans
• Stakeholder mapping and relationship building
• Action plan implementation and sustainability 

Activities will include training in communicating with varied stakeholders, centering health equity, building coalitions, examining existing and promising health policies, developing strategies to implement data-informed solutions, and more. Year 1 will culminate in creating a plan for DATA Academy participants to move MMRC recommendations to action. Year 2 will be devoted to relationship building and plan implementation at determined levels.  

The first cohort of the DATA Academy will begin in Fall 2024, with in-person and virtual programming running through Spring 2026. Participants will leave the program with not only a more robust understanding of the factors impacting pregnancy-related deaths in their communities but also the skills and connections to make positive change.

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Resources for Applicants 

To be eligible for the program, applicants must:

• Be a current member of SMFM practicing in the United States
• Be a physician who is in or has completed their MFM fellowship training 
• Complete a brief application 

Cost: The program is free to participants. All travel, meals, and lodging for in-person meetings will be reimbursed. 

Who should apply: This program is for SMFM members committed to advancing system-level changes to improve maternal health and reduce inequities. This could include members active in their state maternal health initiatives (MMRCs, PQCs) or professional societies, those interested in developing or strengthening relationships with policymakers and community leaders, and/or those passionate about maternal mortality prevention efforts.   

Application Process: Applications are open and are due by September 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. Notifications to applicants will be sent by the end of November.