April 17, 2025

By Catherine Turner, MCHSO Secretary, 1st year MPH Student, Department of Community Health and Prevention

The impact of resilience and continued strength was seen this past week when the Maternal and Child Health Student Organization (MCHSO) came together for a film screening held in honor of National Public Health Week. Students selected to view If Everyone Knew and Winn, two documentaries focused on reproductive justice. Following the screening, students participated in a discussion led by Dr. Aasta Mehta, Director of the Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

If Everyone Knew follows three women who experienced miscarriages and aims to de-stigmatize baby loss and miscarriages. 1 in 4 pregnancies end in a miscarriage, but many women who have gone through a miscarriage feel isolated and alone (World Health Organization). By being open about their feelings, this documentary served as a powerful tool to validate women’s experiences.

Winn followed Pamela Winn, a formally incarcerated woman, who was a victim of shackling while pregnant and in prison. The documentary focuses on Pamela’s activism and success in having Georgia eliminate the ability to shackle their pregnant prisoners. Currently, 40 states have banned the usage of shackling for incarcerated pregnant individuals, but some states have chosen to not enforce this ban.

Along with the film screening, students had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Mehta and hear about her work in maternal and child health. Questions asked ranged from how Pamela Winn’s advocacy led to the passage of the 2019 Georgia Dignity Act; what can we learn from her activism about advocating for policy change in maternal health; and what actions can we take—individually and collectively—to support those affected by pregnancy loss, maternal health inequities, and reproductive injustice. In addition to addressing these questions, Dr. Mehta also spoke about her professional experience assisting women who have miscarried and discussed Pennsylvania’s previous usage of shackling for incarcerated women.

Attendees discussed ways to de-stigmatize miscarriages and how to better support incarcerated women who are pregnant. Following the event, Bengucan Gunen, a fifth-year Community Health and Prevention PhD candidate and MCHSO President reflected on the importance of this event. “It was inspiring to learn from Dr. Mehta and to hear so many thoughtful reflections from my peers who care deeply about maternal health. The films sparked honest, vulnerable conversations—and reminded me how important it is to stand in solidarity with those affected by pregnancy loss and maternal health disparities. These are often stigmatized topics, but coming together as a community to learn, reflect, and support one another is how we begin to break that silence and drive change,” said Gunen.

The film screening was an opportunity for students to come together during National Public Health Week and discuss their passions and dedication to improving maternal health and reproductive justice.

To learn more about MCHSO or get involved, students can follow us on Instagram @Drexel_mchso or request to join via DragonLink. For any questions, reach out to President Bengucan Gunen (bg594@drexel.edu) or Vice President Allora Atiyeh (aaa629@drexel.edu).

MCHSO welcomes all Drexel University students passionate about maternal and child health to participate in future events!