Hadiya Severin is currently pursuing her DrPH from the University of Chicago with a concentration in Global Leadershio. She holds her MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine with a concentration in Behavioral Science and Health Communication and a BS from Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville, AL. She is also a certified doula and lactation specialist. These degrees and experiences have informed her research work on doula program implementation and black female equity. There is no better teacher than experience and Hadiya believes to become the mother she wants to be, she must help pave the way for those who also want to bring life into the world.

As a strong advocate for Black maternal health and public health disparities, Hadiya hopes to empower her community through proactive, integrative policies. She aspires to earn her doctorate in Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, with the ultimate goal of bringing her knowledge and skills to her home island, St. Lucia. As a first-generation American who loves her St. Lucian and Guyanese culture, she celebrates it any chance she gets and spends as much time with her family as possible. She loves educating young people and supporting black excellence through education and community engagement.

Joining the MOTHER lab has been a passion of Hadiya’s since starting her public health journey at Tufts’. Being under the leadership of Dr. Amutah-Onukagha has been and continues to be an irreplaceable experience for her. She believes this team is an amazing group of diverse powerhouses that are revolutionizing the world of black maternal health and reproductive justice as we speak, and she is honored to be a part of this amazing team.