Dr. Holly Horan, PhD: Chair 
Dr. Holly Horan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Global and Rural Women’s Health in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her research foci and service projects focus on maternal stress and wellness, collaborative perinatal healthcare, and access and utilization of quality maternity care. Holly’s work prioritizes the use of community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. She holds several leadership positions for maternal health organizations within the state of Alabama and beyond. Holly is the Director of the Collaborative Perinatal Care Lab (Co-Care Lab).
Renee N. Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): Liaison 
Renee N. Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with a profound dedication to empowering vulnerable populations, especially mothers navigating the complexities of the perinatal and postpartum periods. With over a decade of experience working with women and families in various capacities. Renee has become a trusted advocate and a beacon of support for those in need.
In her current role as a perinatal therapist, Renee fosters a safe and trusting environment where patients feel heard and understood. She loves empowering people to tell their story and knows it is a privilege when her clients trust her enough to share their lives. She believes in community and knows when we heal ourselves, we begin to heal our community. Therapy is one of many tools you can utilize for healing and is a sacred, safe space that she honors. Renee’s commitment extends to connecting her clients with vital external specialists and agencies, ensuring comprehensive care.
L.B. Brown, LCSW, PMH-C, CFSW: Treasurer 
L.B. Brown, LCSW, PMH-C, CFSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Financial Social Worker and Perinatal Mental Health–Certified clinician. She is the founder of Happy Moms, LLC, a business dedicated to supporting maternal mental health and wellness. She is also the co-founder of the Financial Social Work Collaborative, which promotes financial literacy in professional practice, and Back 2 BASICS, a community breastfeeding support initiative at University of Alabama home football games. In addition to her private practice, L.B. teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Alabama School of Social Work and volunteers extensively in her community. Each June, she serves as a Climb Leader through Postpartum Support International.
Emily Locke is a PhD candidate: Secretary 
Emily Locke is a PhD candidate in medical anthropology and a birth and postpartum doula. She is the co-director of an on-campus research lab (the “Collaborative Care Lab”), where she assists with identifying strategies for increasing access to doula care and improving collaboration between doulas, clinicians, and pregnant people in Alabama. Her experiences helping clients navigate the healthcare system in Alabama have informed her research as an anthropologist, through which she prioritizes long-term partnership-building and reciprocity. She is now collecting data for her dissertation that explores how the integration of doulas into hospitals affects interprofessional collaboration and client experiences of care.
Katrese King: Alliance Rep 
Katrese has served in women’s health for 26 years. She is the current Nursing Supervisor in the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine at UAB. She has been a part of the Maternal Fetal Medicine nursing staff for the last 19 ½ years. She currently holds certification in Perinatal Mental Health and is responsible for the development and protocols for the Perinatal Bereavement and Palliative Care Program. She serves as a nursing mentor and preceptor and is also part of the UAB Addiction Scholar Program. She is an active participant on several committees and is also a part of the Minority Mentoring Circle.
Xaviera “Zay” Bell: Advocacy Rep 
Xaviera “Zay” Bell is a TEDx Speaker, trainer, facilitator, author, and nationally recognized maternal health advocate committed to advancing birth equity and improving outcomes for Black mothers and infants. After the loss of her son, Xander, she transformed her grief into purpose by founding Zeal of Xander, Inc. and The Black Birth Institute, organizations dedicated to education, advocacy, workforce development, and culturally responsive maternal health care.
Zay is the creator of The Mourning After, the first-ever anthology focused on Black Infant Mortality, and the author of Black Womb Disorder, which explores systemic inequities affecting Black maternal health. In recognition of her leadership and impact, she was named the 2025 recipient of the John C. McQueen Lecturer Award by the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP).
She holds a Master of Science degree and is a certified full-spectrum and community-based doula with specialized training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
As a dynamic speaker and educator, Zay equips healthcare professionals, community leaders, policymakers, and advocates with practical strategies to address maternal health disparities, strengthen organizational leadership, and build equitable systems of care that improve outcomes for families and communities.
Dr. Madalyn Caldwell: At-Large 
Dr. Madalyn Caldwell is a board member and former Chairperson of Postpartum Support International–Alabama (PSI-AL). Dr. Caldwell works as a Counselor Educator and is the owner of Transformative Solutions, LLC, a counseling and training practice dedicated to advancing trauma-informed, perinatal mental health care. She brings extensive clinical and leadership experience in supporting individuals and families impacted by perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, with a strong commitment to education, advocacy, and systems-level change. Through her work with PSI-AL, Madalyn has helped expand awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen access to perinatal mental health resources across Alabama. She is deeply passionate about empowering both families and professionals with the tools, compassion, and knowledge needed to support healing during the perinatal period.
