Phyllis Leppert
Phyllis C. Leppert, CNM, MD, PhD, is a physician, researcher, and advocate for women's health. She has dedicated her career and life to improving reproductive healthcare outcomes and abortion rights for women of all backgrounds. Dr. Leppert came from a family that “was very concerned about social justice” which impacted the trajectory of her advocacy. She states, “I always had the sense that whatever I did with my life [that] I should be useful and useful to society.” Dr. Leppert's career in women's health began in nursing and midwifery. In 1973, Dr. Leppert graduated from Duke University School of Medicine. As a medical student, she actively participated in legislative advocacy. While attending Duke University School of Medicine, Leppert's interest grew, and she realized that the health of parents before conception was an important part of both the mother’s and babies’ health. She observed the disparities in access to and outcomes for women's healthcare among mothers and infants of color and states, “I perceive[d] that maternity care in this country [needed] a lot of help, especially among underserved people.” Her PH.D. from Columbia University in 1986 was on the extracellular matrix of the uterine cervix and its roles during pregnancy and childbirth. During her medical career, her research focused on the role of the cervix during pregnancy/birth and uterine fibroids. She worked as the chief of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Reproductive Branch and began the first national Clinical Reproductive Endocrinology Scientist Training Program in conjunction with Duke University. Soon after in 2006, she joined Duke’s faculty. After retirement, Dr. Leppert continued her advocacy for women’s reproductive health. By co-founding the Phyllis and Mark Leppert Foundation, she established a platform to support research on reproductive health and educate the public on fundamental reproductive sciences. The alarming rise in maternal death rates in the United States is something that Dr. Leppert is very passionate about. She states that, “our maternal mortality in this country is an absolute scandal” She is a strong advocate of creating a comprehensive maternal healthcare team that includes doctors for high-risk cases and midwives for routine deliveries. Through her advocacy, she is drawing attention to how important having strong postpartum support is to ensure that mothers receive the necessary care at every stage. Throughout her career Dr. Leppert has supported women’s health. “I felt it was important to support pregnant families… I also helped establish the whole idea of prenatal education [and] more personal care for patients…So, I am proud of the fact that a lot of the things I did [were] effective in helping to change the practice of obstetrics in this country.”
Full Interview Audio:
Interview Topic Log
0:00 Introductions 0:39 Childhood, upbringing, and family's advocacy work 1:44 Influence of advocacy in life and its impact on career path 2:17 Impact of advocacy in high school and college experiences 3:46 Establishment of programs and involvement in promoting nurse-midwifery 7:25 Transition from nursing and midwifery to medical school 10:06 Differences in reproductive health and abortion advocacy between New York and Durham, North Carolina 15:12 Opposition faced during advocacy efforts from legislators and medical faculty 16:48 Lack of collaboration with community organizations during advocacy work 17:09 Continued advocacy for reproductive rights and abortion rights after medical school 20:06 Involvement in advocacy efforts and research during residency and faculty positions 31:46 Leadership role at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) 32:54 Responsibilities and challenges faced as Chief of the Reproductive Sciences Branch at NICHD 38:10 Research on uterine fibroids and collaboration with Duke University 42:56 Continued involvement in research and advocacy for women's health post-retirement 48:06 Advocacy and research efforts also directed towards men's health 50:37 Accomplishments in promoting family-centered care in obstetrics 56:01 Advice for aspiring healthcare professionals 1:01:20 Vision for the future of reproductive sciences 1:03:00 Reflection on career 1:04:33 Closing remarks and thanks for participating in the oral history project 1:05:00 Closing Interview Tasks 1:06:01 Goodbyes 1:06:11 Introductions 1:07:01 Interest in nurse-midwifery 1:08:03 Explains her decision to pursue nursing school, reflecting on societal expectations for women during that time 1:10:52 Discussion on the societal perceptions of nursing and midwifery 1:11:07 Exploration of the stigma surrounding midwifery and the challenges faced by nurse-midwives 1:12:28 Reflects on how societal attitudes impacted her career and addresses the stigma around midwifery 1:13:36 Duration of work in nurse-midwifery before transitioning to medical school 1:14:29 Discusses how her background in nurse-midwifery facilitated her medical school journey 1:15:08 Reflections on patient care approaches and interactions influenced by nursing education and clinical experience 1:18:09 Shares her experiences transitioning from a predominantly female to a male-dominated environment 1:20:26 Discussion on gender dynamics and sexual innuendos in her medical education 1:21:44 Advocacy efforts for women in healthcare and the challenges faced in addressing gender inequalities 1:26:11 Exploration of role models and influential women in Dr. Leppert's medical school class at Duke University 1:26:29 Outstanding women faculty members at Duke University 1:28:16 Decision to pursue a Ph.D. during her residency and the influence of her research interests on her career trajectory 1:34:05 Elaborates on how her medical and Ph.D. training complement each other 1:36:38 Reflections on the integration of clinical and research aspects in Dr. Leppert's career trajectory 1:39:17 Return to Duke University from NIH and her research focus on uterine fibroids 1:40:21 Status of Professor Emerita and Dr. Leppert's ongoing involvement with Duke University 1:42:08 Elaboration on DREAM team and its mission 1:43:55 Campion Fund's objectives and focus areas 1:47:20 Advice to students exploring careers in healthcare 1:53:24 Enacting change on both large and small scales, emphasizing individual responsibility in activism. 1:53:50 Closing interview tasks and goodbyes
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