After Birth - Navigating the Stress and Anxiety of Pregnancy and Postpartum

ADAA Member Since 2007

Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett is a national award-winning psychologist, professor, and leading expert on anxiety disorders among Black Americans. The first African American woman to be tenured and promoted to the rank of Full Professor in Kent State University’s Department of Psychological Sciences and in the College of Arts and Sciences, she directs the Program for Research on Anxiety Disorders among African Americans (PRADAA. Dr. Neal-Barnett’s current work focuses on Sisters Offering Support (SOS) sister circles for anxiety across the lifespan and the role of race and stress in Black infant mortality.

Dr. Neal-Barnett is the recipient of numerous federal, state, and foundation funding including grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, National Science Foundation, Women’s Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation, Ohio Commission on Minority Health, Sisters of Charity Foundation and the Mount Sinai HealthCare Foundation. She is the architect and developer of the Build Your Own Theme Song© App; mobile technology that assists middle school Black girls in reducing anxiety and the author of Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic and Fear (Fireside/Simon and Schuster). An international workshop presenter and speaker, Dr. Neal-Barnett’s work bridges the gap between academia and the real world. She has published in numerous psychological journals including Journal of the National Medical Association; Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, Clinical Psychology Science and Practice, Journal of Anxiety Disorders and the Journal of Affective Disorders. Her work has been featured on CNN, NBC, NPR, PBS, Fox News, The Blend, SIRUSXM Doctor’s Radio, BET, and the Harvard Business Review Podcast Series, as well as in O, The Oprah Magazine, Health Magazine, Working Mother, Essence, and the New York Times.

Birdie Gunyon Meyer is an RN with a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Counseling. She is the Founder of the Perinatal Mood Disorders Program at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. She is Certified in Perinatal Mental Health, and is an internationally known expert and speaker.

She is a Past-President and Past-Chair of Education and Training for Postpartum Support International and currently is the Director of Certification and Training. Birdie is also on the President’s Advisory Council for PSI and for the International Childbirth Education Association. Birdie specializes in the recognition and treatment of pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders. She is a childbirth educator and a lactation counselor.

Birdie has been interviewed frequently for radio, television, and print media.

Birdie is highlighted as a PMD expert in PSI’s video that is shown around the country. “Healthy Mom, Happy Family: Understanding Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders”. Birdie has been speaking to audiences for over 35 years and is an International Trainer for PSI’s 2-day “Perinatal Mood Disorders, Components of Care” and “Advanced Psychotherapy” 1-day training. She also speaks frequently to communities, nursing schools, grand rounds, and conferences.

Nicole Smith is a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist and Medical Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her overarching focus is in advancing health equity by decreasing stigma and bias, and more recently in building programs focused on optimizing health for historically marginalized populations, including pregnant persons with mental health disorders and substance use disorder.