Keisha Whitely, NUR ’27, Brooklyn, NY
Over the summer, I had the privilege of volunteering with the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI), where my primary focus was on implementing and supporting their 12-step framework for safe and respectful Mother-Baby-Family maternity care. My initial tasks involved a comprehensive review of the framework, including detailed study of each step and viewing educational videos that highlighted the meticulous attention to detail aimed at ensuring the highest quality of care. This framework emphasizes compassionate and dignified care, affordability, midwifery and family-centered practices, continuous support during labor, and the appropriate use of both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain relief methods.
During my tenure, I engaged in weekly seminars with various ICI teams across the globe, which usually took place at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays to accommodate different time zones. These meetings provided insights into how different locations, such as hospitals, family birthing centers, and midwifery clinics, applied the ICI guidelines. I observed the processes and patient survey used to evaluate care quality, and noted the adaptability of the survey for various sites, such as a hospital in India, which customized the survey to address specific local concerns. This exposure allowed me to appreciate the diverse approaches within ICI and the continuous efforts to improve care standards worldwide.
A significant part of my role involved collaborating with the Japanese team, led by Reiko, to translate ICI documents and pilot the survey in Japanese. I attended a major meeting in Japan, which was conducted entirely in Japanese, and although I faced challenges in understanding the discussions, I valued the opportunity to connect with the team and familiarize them with my presence. Additionally, I worked on creating a Google Map to catalog ICI locations globally, which, despite initial difficulties, helped me enhance my skills in mapping and data organization. Seeing as the Japanese team is new to the ICI registry, I will be aiding them throughout the entire process, supporting their integration and ensuring smooth operations, virtually. My time with ICI was enriching, and I am eager to continue my involvement through the school year, particularly in supporting the Japanese team and contributing to ongoing projects.
This is part of a series of posts by recipients of the 2024 Career Services Summer Funding Grant. We’ve asked funding recipients to reflect on their summer experiences and talk about the industries in which they spent their summer. You can read the entire series here
