Dr. Leia Belt, a postdoctoral fellow in sociology at UC Merced, has been chosen as one of six inaugural Spark Scholars by the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity (CARHE) at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. This prestigious program, aims to empower interdisciplinary scholars tackling structural racism through innovative research and community engagement.
Dr. Belt's research focuses on the impact of structural racism on maternal health outcomes, particularly among Black birthing women in Iowa. Her dissertation utilizes historical artifacts, birth certificate data from the Iowa Department of Health, and digital mapping to highlight the enduring legacy of inequity that leads to disparities in adverse birth outcomes in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities
As a Spark Scholar, Dr. Belt will receive $72,000 in grant support to conduct a pilot study that uses archival data collection, oral histories, and photovoice—a method combining photography and storytelling—to empower marginalized birthing families and birth workers in Iowa. This approach aims to amplify the voices of BIPOC communities and advocate for policy changes that address data gaps and support for doula services.
