Assistant Professor & BIRCWH Scholar
North Carolina Central University & Duke University
Durham, NC
Dr. Charity S. Watkins is a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at North Carolina Central University, holding a BA in Sociology, an MSW, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her research is personally driven, inspired by her battle with peripartum cardiomyopathy, and seeks to address racial disparities in cardiac-related maternal health issues, including improved diagnostic, treatment, and support systems for Black women facing severe maternal morbidity. With her research, advocacy, and professional training as a social worker, Dr. Watkins is committed to enhancing health outcomes for mothers and babies, especially in racially marginalized communities.
As a 2022 Duke-NCCU Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) K12 NIH Career Development award recipient, Dr. Watkins is conducting a mixed-methods study on Black women’s experiences with severe cardiovascular maternal morbidity. Her research aims to uncover the long-term psychosocial effects of facing life-threatening health events while giving birth. Dr. Watkins also seeks to examine and expand the role of social workers in maternal healthcare delivery and health equity research. In addition to her academic roles, she is involved in maternal health care, research, and policy, serving on various boards and as a consultant for national research projects funded by organizations like PCORI, NIH, and the American Heart Association.
Dr. Watkins also contributes to her community as a WomenHeart Champion with the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease and as the Board of Directors Chair for Equity Before Birth, which addresses barriers to vital resources for healthy maternal and infant outcomes. Her diverse roles underscore her dedication to tackling health disparities and advocating for equitable health care for Black women and their families
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Sunday, April 14, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM PT