The Morehouse School of Medicine became a hub of inspiration and awareness on November 19, 2025, as The First Ladies Health Initiative (FLHI) hosted Born to Thrive: Maternal Health Panel & Resource Fair. The event drew celebrities, medical professionals, and community leaders to address the pressing maternal health challenges facing Black women today, blending star power with critical education.
The panels, expertly moderated by FLHI Co-Executive Director Marquise Allison-Alston, featured an impressive lineup of panelists. Reality TV star Shamea Morton (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) and actress Demetria McKinney (Tyler Perry’s House of Payne) shared personal perspectives, while board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Charis Chambers, known as “The Period Doctor,” offered expert insight on maternal health risks, prevention, and access to care.
Special awards punctuated the event, recognizing leaders making measurable impact in Black maternal wellness. Dr. Karri Bryant—author, entrepreneur, pastor, and wife of Dr. Jamal Bryant—was presented with the Light of Healing Award for her lifelong dedication to uplifting Black women worldwide. Dr. Debra Morton—author, entrepreneur, wife of Bishop Paul S. Morton, and mother of Grammy-winning musician PJ Morton—received the Lifetime Ministry Award for decades of service as pastor at both Changing a Generation in Atlanta and Greater St. Stephen in New Orleans. Their recognition highlighted both achievement and the critical link between faith, community, and health advocacy.
The program also included deeply personal stories, such as that of Wanda Irving, whose daughter Shalon—a summa cum laude scholar, dual PhD holder, and CDC epidemiologist—tragically passed away three weeks after giving birth despite her expertise. Allison-Alston described the impact: “If someone with Shalon’s brilliance and credentials wasn’t believed when she said something was wrong and died three weeks after giving birth, what does that mean for everyone else? This crisis requires all of us.”
Attendees engaged fully, sharing stories, asking questions, and forming connections that extended the conversation beyond the stage. “Each person who came up afterward saying, ‘I needed this,’ reminded me that although FLHI has done more than 700,000 screenings, there is still so much more to do,” Allison-Alston added.
Founded in 2008, FLHI has grown from a faith-based initiative led by pastors’ wives to a national movement addressing health disparities. With more than 700,000 screenings and over 100 church partnerships, the organization continues to advance health equity while earning national recognition, including honors from the White House Cancer Moonshot and the American Heart Association.