Bethany Golden

Examines how midwives experience providing care through telehealth and remote technologies. Finds that while telehealth increased access to care and offered important benefits during the pandemic, many midwives felt it made it harder to build relationships with patients and provide some aspects of high-quality midwifery care

Examines how racism influences the experiences of people of color who pursue careers in midwifery. Finds that many participants are motivated to enter the profession to address racial inequities in maternal healthcare, yet they also faced significant barriers—including discrimination, financial obstacles, and exclusion within educational and professional settings—that make entering and remaining in the field more difficult.

Examines how the COVID-19 pandemic triggered rapid changes in Medicare telehealth reimbursement policy after years of limited reform. Argues that the public health emergency created a policy window that enabled large-scale expansion of telehealth access and reimbursement, illustrating how major crises can drive sudden policy change.

Examines how racism operating at societal, community, and individual levels contributes to persistent racial disparities in reproductive and maternal health outcomes in the United States. Argues that meaningful progress requires addressing structural racism through coordinated policy reforms, healthcare system changes, and community-led approaches that improve access to equitable, culturally responsive reproductive care.