Confronting the Global Crisis in Maternal Care & Children’s Health
Across the world, mothers and children are bearing the brunt of humanitarian catastrophe — from Gaza and Sudan to other conflict zones where medical systems are collapsing. And here in the U.S., maternal health inequities remain staggering, with Black women three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. This session brings together frontline medical workers responding to these crises both globally and locally. Hosted by Sandra Adler Killen,Emergency Room and Pediatric RN who has worked in underserved communities in the U.S. and internationally, including most recently in Gaza. With: Brandi Gates-Burgess, founder and Executive Director of Breast Friends Lactation and Support Services; Dr. Cindy Nelly.
March 26th | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm
Panelists
Sandra Adler Killen
Emergency Room and Pediatric RN
Sandra Adler Killen, an Emergency Room and Pediatric RN and Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), has, since 2009, dedicated her career to supporting underserved communities in the U.S. and internationally, with projects spanning Mexico, Syria, and Lebanon. In 2024, she deployed to Gaza as a trauma RN, providing frontline care for mass casualties with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and recently completed her third deployment with GINA—the Gaza Infant Nutritional Alliance—where she focused on pediatric care, lactation support, and capacity-building initiatives. Sandra is also part of an international telehealth lactation consultant team offering remote care and guidance to thousands of mothers and babies in Gaza.
Cindy Nelly
Faculty Member and Clinician
University of Florida
Dr. Cindy Nelly, DNP, APRN, CNM, is a faculty member and clinician at the University of Florida and a global health consultant with 25+ years’ experience delivering care and building health systems in austere environments affected by conflict, natural disasters, and large-scale displacement. Her work spans over 15 countries and focuses on emergency clinical care, workforce training, and operational leadership. Most recently, she has supported frontline health services in Gaza, strengthening emergency, maternal, and women’s health capacity while partnering with local and international teams to sustain care under extreme constraints.
Brandi Gates-Burgess
