Dr. Crista Johnson-Agbakwu, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist at Valleywise Health (VH), is the Founding Director of the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic (RWHC), and Director of the Office of Refugee Health in the Southwest Interdisciplinary Center at Arizona State University. Her research investigates strategies to advance sexual and reproductive health equity for migrant women of color, intending to improve health care access and utilization, sexual and reproductive health education, counseling, community engagement, as well as enhance health care provider cultural competency.
The RWHC is the first of its kind in the state of Arizona and is nationally recognized as an innovative best practice model of care wherein she has spearheaded a unique patient-centered medical home for over 16,000 migrants hailing from 65 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia, and the Middle East.
She has led a federally funded effort to improve health care services, community engagement, and provider cultural competency on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), and gender-based violence, and has provided consultative expertise to the CDC and WHO on Refugee Women’s Health and FGM/C.
Dr. Johnson-Agbakwu has garnered numerous awards including The University of Minnesota Medical School’s Program in Human Sexuality Inaugural 50 Distinguished Sexual and Gender Health Revolutionaries Award, The 2021 ISSWSH Humanitarian Service Award, the 2018 ACOG CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education, the 2018 Arizona Business Journal Health Care Leadership Award, the 2017 Jacque Steiner Public Leadership Award, the Arizona Business Journal 2010 Health Care Heroes Award, and the 2009 State of Black Arizona Community Luminary Award.
Toxic: A Black Woman's Story
Thursday, Sept. 22, │ 10:50 a.m.
Facilitated by Rhonda Anderson, RN, BS, MPA, DNSc(h), FAAN, LFACHE, FAHCT, and Shadie Tofigh, MIPH, with co-presenters Sharon Thompson, M.D., MPH, FACOG
Black women are three to four times more likely to suffer a pregnancy-related death than white women. The Black infant mortality rate is more than double when compared to other races. In this session, attendees will watch Toxic: A Black Woman’s Story, a film that explores stress, racism, microaggressions, and other factors that impact the lives of Black communities and Black women’s experiences during pregnancy. The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association and healthcare leaders will engage attendees in a discussion to further understand the negative impact of racial inequities on people of color, their families, and birth outcomes. The session will conclude with action steps hospitals can take to improve health equity.
Please note: We advise you to watch the trailer of the film before attending the screening. This film includes a discussion of infant mortality, toxic stress, and racism. It may evoke strong and sensitive emotions. If these topics are difficult for you, we encourage you to opt-out of this session to care for your safety and well-being.