The Rainbow Clinic at Columbia University Holds Training on Supporting Patients Through Pregnancy After Loss
On April 26th, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) hosted the final session of a two-part training series preceding the official launch of the Rainbow Clinic at Columbia University.
The Rainbow Clinic is a program designed to support families who have experienced a recent stillbirth or pregnancy after loss. To meet the unique needs of this patient population, all healthcare providers and staff at the clinic were requested to participate in a virtual training hosted by PUSH or Natalie Foundation. Building on the first part of this training series, Friday’s event featured discussions on patient experience, trauma, continuity of care, joint decision making, and specialist care for pregnancy after loss.
Hosted by Rainbow Clinic Director and Maternal-Fetal Medicine clinician, Dr. Aleha Aziz and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Ob/Gyn, Dr. Uma Reddy, this training brought together healthcare professionals from various backgrounds: maternal-fetal medicine attendings and fellows, OB anesthesiologists, perinatal palliative care neonatologists, OB nurses, women’s mental health providers, social workers, genetic counsellors, sonographers, administrators, staff and more.
Guest speakers included Brittney Crystal, founder of the Iris Fund, Fernanda Sheridan, founder of Natalie Foundation, and Dr. Alexander Heazell, Clinical Director of Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Center at St. Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, England and founder of the Rainbow Clinics.
Friday’s engaging event marks the official launch of the Rainbow Clinic and the beginning of a new chapter of care for patients experiencing stillbirth and pregnancy after loss at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.