MO PQC Maternal and Infant Symposium

7 a.m. — Registration Open | Concourse

7 – 8 a.m. — Breakfast | Concourse

8:30 a.m. – noon — AWHONN OPS Workshop (registration required) | Cooper Creek 1

9 a.m. – noon — The Infant Neurologic Exam: Practical Skills for Clinicians (morning session) | Cooper Creek 2

This workshop provides clinicians with the opportunity to collaborate with neonatal providers while reviewing the neurological examination of the newborn. This session directly supports the upcoming statewide quality improvement initiative centered on improving screening and treatment for neonatal encephalopathy. Participants will sharpen their assessment skills, working to accurately identify and interpret key normal and abnormal neurologic findings, and apply clinical reasoning to recognize early signs of neonatal encephalopathy. By standardizing the approach to neonatal neurologic examinations and improving clinicians’ ability to recognize early signs of encephalopathy, the session promotes earlier diagnosis, timely intervention and more consistent care across care settings.

9 a.m. – noon — How to Engage Patients and Family Into Quality Improvement Strategy | Cooper Creek 3

This workshop provides practical guidance on meaningfully engaging patients and families as partners in quality improvement efforts to enhance safety, outcomes and person-centered care. Through examples and discussion, participants will learn how to move from provider-driven approaches to collaborative models, build trust, and incorporate patient and family perspectives into decision-making. The session highlights strategies such as co-design, advisory councils, and tools to overcome barriers and measure impact, equipping attendees with actionable steps to integrate patient and family voices into their QI strategies.

9 a.m. – noon — MoC3 Update: Integrating Mental Maternal Health (invite only) | Compton Ferry

12 – 1 p.m. — Lunch | Concourse

1 – 4 p.m. — AWHONN OPS Workshop (continued; registration required) | Cooper Creek 1

1 – 4 p.m. — The Infant Neurologic Exam: Practical Skills for Clinicians (afternoon session) | Copper Creek 2

1 – 4 p.m. — Bridging the Gaps: Strengthening Care Coordination Across Systems in the Year Following Delivery (afternoon only) | Roark Creek

This workshop dives into the “One-year Postpartum Pathway” recommendations, providing practical guidance for anyone involved in care in the year after birth. Participants will better understand key risks and disparities in the first year postpartum, gaps in current care systems and build skills for integrated, cross-sector postpartum care, with a focus on handoffs, referrals and continuity of care across organizations and care settings.

1 – 4 p.m. — Ask Me Five: Gaining Competency and Addressing the Five Leading Causes of Harm to Mothers in Missouri (afternoon only) | Short Creek 1

This workshop focuses on building competency among health care professionals to address the five leading causes of maternal harm in Missouri using the “Ask Me Five” approach. Participants will gain insight into key drivers of maternal morbidity, including clinical and systemic factors, while learning practical strategies to improve identification, prevention and response to high-risk situations. Through case-based learning and discussion, the session emphasizes effective communication, patient engagement and evidence-based interventions that support safer maternal care. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and increased confidence to implement targeted quality improvement efforts that reduce harm and improve outcomes for mothers. This workshop focuses on building competency among health care professionals to address the five leading causes of maternal harm in Missouri using the “Ask Me Five” approach. Participants will gain insight into key drivers of maternal morbidity, including clinical and systemic factors, while learning practical strategies to improve identification, prevention and response to high-risk situations. Through case-based learning and discussion, the session emphasizes effective communication, patient engagement and evidence-based interventions that support safer maternal care. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and increased confidence to implement targeted quality improvement efforts that reduce harm and improve outcomes for mothers.

1 – 4 p.m. — How to Engage Patients and Family Into Quality Improvement Strategy (continued) | Cooper Creek 3

1 – 4 p.m. — MoC3 Update: Integrating Mental Maternal Health (continued; invite only) | Compton Ferry

7:30 – 9 a.m. — Registration Open, Resource Tables Open, Breakfast | Courtyard Concourse

9 – 9:30 a.m. — Welcome | Taneycomo Ballroom
Alison Williams, Division Vice President of Clinical Quality Affairs, Missouri Hospital Association

9:30 – 10:15 a.m. — Keynote: Implementing Collaborative Care for Maternal Mental Health: A Programmatic Approach | Taneycomo Ballroom
Emily Miller, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Division Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Women and Infants Hospital

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. — Break

10:30 a.m. – noon — Panel Session: Project STORK: Building Clinical-Community Pathways to Support Pregnant and Postpartum Families Impacted by Substance Use | Taneycomo Ballroom

• Facilitator: Lindsey VonDras, PQC Care Coordination Manager, Missouri Hospital Association 
• Stephanie Welch, MSN, R.N., Director of Obstetrics and Nursery, Phelps Health  
• Charisse Montgomery, Family Services Coordinator, Chestnut Health Systems 
• Miranda Hyde, Peer Specialist, Chestnut Health Systems 
• Cori Putz, Regional Operating Officer, Centerstone

noon – 1 p.m. — Lunch | Courtyard Concourse

1 – 1:45 p.m. — Breakout Session #1

Managing Blood Pressure With MO HealthNet | Compton Ferry
Amanda Fahrendorf, Education and Collaboration Manager, MO HealthNet

Decreasing Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy Through Implementation of a Category II Algorithm | Cooper Creek 1
Kristen Lynch, MSN, MBA, R.N., NPD-BC, RNC-OB, C-EFM, Advanced Clinical Nurse Educator, Mercy Hospital St. Louis

Postpartum Psychosis: Bridging Early Identification and Effective Care | Cooper Creek 2
Rebecca Preston, Clinical Lead, Early Psychosis Care Center, Missouri Institute of Mental Health

Collaborations Among Early Childhood Home Visitation and Health Care | Roark Creek
Sommer Rose, M.S., Manager, Promise 1000 & Child Adversity Research Program 

Plans of Safe Care: The What, The Why & The How | Cooper Creek 3
Margaret Sieger, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Kansas Medical Center

1:45 – 2 p.m. — Break

2 – 2:45 p.m. — Breakout Session #2

Improving Neonatal Outcomes Through Regional Outreach Simulation: Building Readiness, Revealing Risk and Strengthening Systems of Care | Compton Ferry

• Jenny Garst, MSN, R.N., C-NPT, Perinatal Outreach Education Coordinator, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital 
• Leslie Powell, MSN, RNC-NIC, Perinatal Outreach Education Coordinator-Neonatal, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital 
• Melissa Miller, MSN, R.N., RNC-NIC, C-ONQS, NICU R.N. Program Coordinator, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital 

Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR): Import to Action | Cooper Creek 1
Jon Ludwig, Public Health Specialist, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Postpartum Is Not a Hand-Off: Rethinking Collaborative Care | Cooper Creek 2

• Rebecca Wanosik, CPM, Midwife, Your Modern Midwife 
• Morgan Scarborough, IBCLC, CPPD, Lactation Consultant and Postpartum Doula, The Abeille Feeding Clinic

From Recognition to Response: Obstetric and Neonatal Emergency Preparedness in Rural and Community EDs | Cooper Creek 3

• Bree Fallon, MSN, RNC-OB, CEFM, Director of Perinatal Risk Management, BJC 
• Sarah Wells, MSN, RNC-OB, BJC West Region Clinical Education Specialist 
• Madeline Goodman, MSN, RN-OB, BJC West Region Clinical Education Specialist 

The Cost of Words: Rethinking Clinical Communication for ART and Loss OB Patients | Roark Creek
Amanda Wilkinson, PMH-C, CLS, MFA, Perinatal Peer Support Specialist, Owner of Weeding the Garden: Peer Support & Coaching for Perinatal Mood Disorders

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. — Break & Resource Tables

3:15 – 4:15 p.m. — Infant MO PQC Initiative: Improving Neonatal Encephalopathy Recognition and Management to Optimize Long-Term Outcomes | Taneycomo Ballroom

• Luke Viehl, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine – St. Louis Children’s Hospital 
• Anjali Anders, M.D., Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, MU Health Care

4:15 – 4:45 p.m. — Closing Remarks | Taneycomo Ballroom
Alison Williams, Division Vice President of Clinical Quality Affairs, Missouri Hospital Association

4:45 – 6:30 p.m. — Evening Reception & Resource Tables (heavy hors d’oeuvres and cash bar) | Courtyard Concourse

6:30 p.m. — Reception Closes

7:30 – 9 a.m. — Registration Open, Resource Tables Open, Breakfast | Courtyard Concourse

8 – 9:30 a.m. — Keynote: Rowing in the Same Direction: A Team-Based Approach to Cesarean Section Reduction | Taneycomo Ballroom
Elizabeth Bostock, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, Women’s Health Leader and Advocate, Elizabeth Bostock M.D. Consulting

9:30 – 9:45 a.m. — Break

9:45 – 10:30 a.m. — Breakout Session #3

Racing Against Time: A Multi-Hospital QI Project to Accelerate Therapeutic Hypothermia Delivery for Infants With Neonatal Encephalopathy | Compton Ferry

• Luke Viehl, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine – St. Louis Children’s Hospital 
• Kali Springer, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse, St. Louis Children’s Hospital 

From Pregnancy to Postpartum: Creating a Sustainable Community Model for Perinatal Substance Use Care in Central Missouri and Beyond | Cooper Creek 1

• Gaurav Kulkarni, M.D., FAPA, PMHC, FASAM, Psychiatrist, Medical Director, McCambridge Treatment Center, Compass Health Network 
• Shannon Crowley-Einspahr, LCSW, Compass Health Network

Building an Integrated Perinatal Mental Health Clinic in an OB–GYN Residency Practice: Lessons From a Maternal Health Innovation Grant | Cooper Creek 3

• Jen Lauck, M.A., P-LMFT, Behavioral Health Therapist, Ph.D. Candidate, SSM Health Women’s Wellness Center – PMH Clinic, Saint Louis University 
• Karyn Fowler, M.D., FACOG, MHCM, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, Division of Academic Generalists, Saint Louis University School of Medicine; Co-Principal Investigator, MO C3 Grant 
• Alicia B. Forinash, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCACP, Professor of Pharmacy Practice, St. Louis College of Pharmacy at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis; Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Maternal Fetal Care Center at SSM Health St. Mary’s 
• Elena Jenkins, BSN, R.N., R.N. Program Coordinator, Missouri Collaboration for Clinical Community Integration in Maternal Health, MO C3 Grant, SSM Health St. Louis 

Parental Mental Health: Expanding Care Through Peer-Led Support Groups | Roark Creek

• Kim Hawley, LMSW, President, Whole Parent Foundation 
• Emilia Mense Caby, Vice President of Programming & Community Engagement, Whole Parent Foundation

Holding the Unthinkable: Trauma-Informed Care Through Patient Stories in Perinatal Loss, Traumatic Birth and High-Risk Pregnancy | Cooper Creek 2
Cassandra Marsh, LPC, Executive Director, Supporting Empty Arms

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. — Break

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. — Panel Session: From Innovation to Impact: Missouri Models Advancing Care in the Year After Delivery | Taneycomo Ballroom

• Facilitator: Kaitlyn Thomas, Director of Maternal Special Projects, Missouri Hospital Association 
• Kim Costello, CEO, Doula Foundation 
• Allison Kolker, M.D., Family Medicine Physician, MU Health Care 
• Traci Johnson, M.D., FACOG, Director of Perinatal Safety and Quality Assurance, Director of Perinatal Services, EMBER Program, University of Missouri-Kansas City 

12:15 – 12:30 p.m. — Closing | Taneycomo Ballroom
Alison Williams, Division Vice President of Clinical Quality Affairs, Missouri Hospital Association