Washington, DC —
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses is pleased to announce the 2024 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Leadership Award recipient. The award recognizes an AWHONN member who has exhibited strong leadership and commitment in advancing and advocating evidence-based protocols, research, or practices to combat maternal or newborn health outcome disparities to underserved or underrepresented populations in the US.
The 2024 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Leadership Award is presented to Nastassia K. Harris, DNP, RN, IBCLC.
Dr. Harris, a registered nurse and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), has dedicated over 19 years to supporting birthing and lactating families. Her work focuses on increasing access to qualified lactation support and improving breastfeeding rates among Black families.
In 2018, she founded The Perinatal Health Equity Initiative, a non-profit organization committed to addressing racial disparities in Black maternal and infant health through a reproductive justice framework. Her latest project, the Perinatal Health Equity Foundation, serves as a consulting and education firm specializing in postpartum and newborn care. Dr. Harris leverages her academic background through this initiative to provide community-level education and support.
“Dr. Harris is recognized for her visionary leadership and tireless advocacy in promoting maternal and infant health, particularly within the Black community. She brings creativity, resourcefulness, confidence, and passion to her work and embodies the values of accountability, belonging, and cultural change,” said AWHONN President Cheryl Bellamy, DNP, APRN, CNM, CNS-C, C-EFM, “She is representative of the mission and standards of AWHONN and has improved nursing practice through strong advocacy and leadership, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring practices within the nursing and healthcare sectors.”
“Nurses belong in every room. I never dreamed when I went to nursing school that eventually I would be a founder of a nonprofit organization focused on reproductive justice. We lead our work utilizing a nursing model of care combined with evidence-based practices and the scholarship of Black women researchers to reshape the narrative around Black maternal health. Every day we use our voice to call attention to inequities, fight for justice, accountability and joy for Black and brown families. Our mamas are worthy of this fight and we are honored to have the privilege to serve them,” said Dr. Harris.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Leadership Award is sponsored by Kenvue® and their iconic brands Johnson’s® and Aveeno Baby®.
About AWHONN
The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization. Our mission is to empower and support nurses caring for women, newborns, and their families through research, education, and advocacy. Learn more about us at awhonn.org.
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