Preeclampsia Nearly Took My Life—Twice.

I’ve spent my career leading billion-dollar health systems, transforming care delivery, and advocating for purpose-driven leadership. But the most profound transformation I’ve ever experienced wasn’t in the boardroom—it was on the brink of life and death, in a hospital bed.

I am a two-time survivor of preeclampsia.

Twice, I faced a life-threatening condition that disproportionately affects Black women.

Twice, I feared I wouldn’t make it home to my family.

Twice, I lived—when so many others didn’t.

Those experiences didn’t just shape me as a mother—they gave my leadership new urgency. Because what nearly ended my life is ending far too many others. And not because we lack the science or technology—but because we haven’t had the courage to make maternal health equity a national priority.

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A Nation Failing Its Mothers—Still

The United States is the only developed country where maternal mortality is getting worse—not better.

📉 Black women are still 3–4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

📉 In some U.S. communities, maternal outcomes mirror those in developing nations.

📉 Over 80% of maternal deaths in this country are entirely preventable

Let that sink in: in 2025, childbirth in America is still a potential death sentence for far too many women—especially Black and Indigenous mothers.

And despite 50 years of medical advances in nearly every other category—from oncology to cardiology—we have made virtually no progress in protecting women during pregnancy and postpartum.

That’s not a gap in medicine.

That’s a gap in will.

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What American Delivery Reveals

That’s why I was honored to be featured in the documentary American Delivery, a powerful exposé on our country’s maternal health crisis.

This film doesn’t just present the data—it personalizes it. It brings forward the stories of:

• Mothers who died after being dismissed
• Families who never got answers
• Clinicians trying to fight injustice from within systems built on inequity

It’s raw, unfiltered, and devastatingly necessary.

As I shared my own story in the film, I saw the truth reflected in others: this crisis is systemic, and it demands systemic change. American Delivery is a wake-up call—not just for policymakers or hospitals, but for every one of us.

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From Survivor to Advocate

When I laid in a hospital bed fighting preeclampsia—twice—I had every possible advantage. I was an educated healthcare executive. I had access, resources, and support. And still, I almost didn’t survive.

Now imagine the risk for women without those resources.

For those living in rural areas with no OB care.

For those dismissed, unheard, or treated as afterthoughts.

That’s the true tragedy of maternal mortality in America. It’s not only about outcomes—it’s about whose lives are deemed valuable enough to save.

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Five Strategies to Change the System Now

As a former $2B health system CEO, a fourth-generation nurse, and a mother who survived, here’s what healthcare leaders must do now:

1. Address Social Drivers of Health Upstream

Food insecurity, housing instability, transportation gaps—these are clinical risks. Screen for them early. Partner with community organizations. Build wraparound care.

2. Elevate Community-Based Maternal Models

Invest in doulas, midwives, and perinatal health workers who reflect and represent the communities they serve. These models build trust—and save lives.

3. Operationalize Cultural Competency

Bias training is a start—but it’s not a solution. We need dashboards that track racial disparities in real time and hold systems accountable.

4. Center the Patient Voice

Healthcare must do more than document symptoms—we must believe women when they speak. Especially when they say something feels wrong.

5. Make Maternal Health a Board-Level Priority

This isn’t just a clinical issue. It’s a leadership mandate. Hospital boards must regularly review maternal outcomes, equity metrics, and culturally tailored initiatives.

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We Don’t Need More Proof. We Need More Action.

I didn’t survive preeclampsia twice just to tell a story. I survived to become part of the solution.

We’ve studied this crisis. We’ve tracked the disparities.

Now it’s time to lead differently.

We must see maternal health not as a women’s issue—but as a national, human, and social justice imperative.

No woman should die giving life.

No family should be left without answers.

And no healthcare system should be allowed to ignore what we already know how to fix.

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📩 Speaking & Advisory Inquiries

Dr. Airica Steed is available for keynote speaking, board advisory, strategic consulting, and executive coaching engagements.

To connect, please visit: www.airicasteed.com