2026 Keynote Speaker

Founder & Director
National Birth Equity Collaborative

As the Founder & Director of the National Birth Equity Collaborative, Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, M.D., FACOG identifies & challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities.

She is a highly sought-after trainer & speaker who has been featured in national & international publications, including Essence & Ms. magazine. In 2020, Dr. Crear-Perry was honored by USA Today in its “Women of the Century” series & featured on ABC Nightline’s “Hear Her Voice.” Dr. Crear-Perry has twice addressed the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to elevate the cause of gender diversity & urge a human rights framework toward addressing maternal mortality.
Previously, she served as the executive director of the Birthing Project, director of women’s & children’s services at Jefferson Community Healthcare Center, & as the director of clinical services for the City of New Orleans Health Department.

Dr. Crear-Perry currently serves as a principal at Health Equity Cypher & on the Board of Trustees for Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Community Catalyst, National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning, & the University of California, San Francisco Preterm Birth Initiative.

She is an adjunct professor at Tulane School of Public Health. After completing undergraduate studies at Princeton University & Xavier University, Dr. Crear-Perry received her MD from Louisiana State University & completed her residency in obstetrics & gynecology at Tulane University’s School of Medicine. She is married to Dr. Andre Perry & has three children (Jade, Carlos, & Robeson) & one grandson (Quinn). Her love is her family; health equity is her passion; maternal & child health are her callings.