Research and Impact at Washington Hospital Center Matters to Moms and Babies in DC

Carol B. Davis, February 7, 2025.

I’m having a moment of reflection upon approaching an important milestone in our research with Safe Babies Safe Moms, in partnership between MedStar, Georgetown, and several community organizations, funded by the generosity of the Clark Foundation.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a vital resource for our community, especially as the birth site of an estimated 30% of District of Columbia resident births and over half the combined births to residents of Wards 5, 7, and 8*. That so many families rely on the hospital for high-quality maternity care makes it a key player in citywide efforts to improve maternal and infant health.

At the Health Care Financing Initiative (HCFI) at Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, we’re proud to collaborate with the MedStar Health Research Institute and a multidisciplinary team of experts and community-based providers to support the work of the Safe Babies Safe Moms program through our data collection and analysis. This ambitious, multi-year initiative aims to ensure healthier pregnancies, safer births, and stronger futures for moms and babies— and our work continues!

Building on the progress made since 2020, our research continues. We are analyzing not only the immediate economic impacts of maternal and infant health care within the health system—such as costs, access, and resource allocation—but also the broader, long-term effects on families and communities. Strengthening maternal and infant health anchored at MWHC leads to better lifelong health outcomes, economic stability for families, and a healthier, more resilient DC area. Understanding these impacts creates momentum for public policies and innovations that create lasting change in DC and elsewhere.

*Source: My Analysis of SBSM Health Econ Study Data and Kids Count Data Center (Annie E Casey Foundation) data on 2022 births.

Safe Babies Safe Moms research is made possible by the James & Alice Clark Foundation.

Carol B. Davis, PhD, MBA is an Assistant Research Professor and Associate Director of the Health Care Financing Initiative, McCourt School of Public Policy. She is also the Principal Investigator for Health Economics Research on Safe Babies Safe Moms.