Jennifer was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome in 2015. One week after having her daughter, she was re-hospitalized due to the diagnoses and spent a week in the hospital fighting to make sure that she would be here for her newborn daughter and husband. Jennifer had all the classic signs of preeclampsia before birth, but feels that these symptoms were overlooked, until Jennifer advocated for herself, and her doctors finally investigated it.

In 2016, Jennifer attended the first Patient Advocate training held by the Preeclampsia Foundation in Orlando, Florida. Jennifer learned the skills needed to be a patient advocate and tell her story to others. Since attending the training, Jennifer has worked with Baby Cafes in Buffalo, NY to work with expecting and new mothers to help them identify any signs and symptoms of hypertensive emergencies in pregnancy or the postpartum period.

In 2018, Jennifer attended the HAPPEN workshop held by the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard in Boston, MA. Jennifer met with survivors and practitioners to discuss heart health and what happens after preeclampsia. Jennifer was a co-author of a published white paper discussing what the HAPPEN workshop was, the outcomes, and what practitioners providing services to women who had a hypertensive emergency in pregnancy need to know and look for.

Jennifer has a master’s degree in Counseling and is about to become a Certified Paralegal. She currently works in the Juvenile Justice system, specifically in the family courts. She also is a leader in her Union, being a member of the Executive Board. Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her daughter, husband, and 4 fur babies! Jennifer volunteers for an animal rescue and fosters puppies until they can find their forever home. Jennifer also strives to make sure that women and their families know about the symptoms of hypertensive emergencies, as well as advocating for women’s health after preeclampsia.

Jennifer Voelker has been a member of the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Board since September 2021.

Quantrilla Ard, PhD, MPH is a passionate behavioral scientist and Black maternal and infant health advocate. Currently, she uses her social media platforms to engage, educate, and inform others on her doctoral research and personal experience with preeclampsia. Dr. Ard is a champion of reproductive justice and maternal health disparities and serves as a Certified Patient Family Partner with MoMMA’s Voices through the Preeclampsia Foundation, and a Family Health Advocate through the H.E.A.R.T for Georgia program. She is an engaged member of the Healthier Generations Community Action Network and also volunteers with the March of Dimes Atlanta Collective Impact as Co-chair of the Dismantle Racism Workgroup and steering committee member. Quantrilla is also an accomplished, faith-based personal development author and dynamic speaker who has been a guest on several podcasts discussing the topics of Black maternal and infant health. In addition, she often provides expert opinion on maternal health in various print and online media outlets. Lastly, Quanny humbly stewards a grief and loss community and podcast, both entitled It’s All Grief to Me, as a coach and liason for individuals navigating their journeys.  

You can follow her and the work she is involved in at https://www.thephdmamma.com She joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in May 2023.

Starlita Kilpatrick is a postpartum preeclampsia survivor, which she experienced one week after the birth of her third child in 2017. Her traumatic birth experience has had lingering physical and mental health effects. While in the throes of motherhood with a then 4-year-old, 1-year-old, and newborn, a random blood pressure self-check warranted a call to her midwife and trip to the local hospital. Because they lacked a maternity unit, the doctors would not admit or stabilize her. After having her supportive husband drive another 20 minutes into town to a full-range hospital, Starlita was ultimately admitted with blood pressure over 200/100 and without other preeclampsia signs. Two days later, she was discharged home on blood pressure medication, only to return to the ER three hours later and readmitted for an additional 3-day stay. It was not until she later followed up with her midwife, post-hospital discharge, that she learned of her preeclampsia diagnosis. 

Starlita uses her voice to raise awareness of postpartum preeclampsia and improve the outcomes of all perinatal hypertensive disorders, highlighting Black Maternal Health. She is also passionate about supporting, empowering, and mentoring other mothers with similar experiences. She believes all mothers should receive proper and adequate information and perinatal care regardless of race, ethnicity, or zip code.

Starlita's advocacy work began in 2021 with a forum she organized and moderated through her platform, The Mama Connect: All Things Mommyhood, for Black Maternal Health Week. She is a Certified Patient Family Partner with the Preeclampsia Foundation's MoMMA’s Voices program, where she received training on effectively sharing her story as a maternal health advocate and collaborating agent of change. She provided the patient's perspective on an interdisciplinary panel for peripartum postoperative and postpartum pain management led by the University of Michigan and sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Starlita has also served on the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) coalition to update the Postpartum Discharge Transition Care patient safety bundle. As a Preeclampsia Foundation volunteer, she has helped to organize and fundraise for the Philadelphia/South Jersey Promise Walk for Preeclampsia and actively shares her story with national publications and organizations through interviews and guest speaking opportunities.

Starlita has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology-Anthropology from Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a Certified Babywearing Consultant, Birth and Postpartum Doula, Lactation Educator, Published Writer, and Homeschool Coach. She is a member and volunteer with other various local and national organizations. Starlita resides in South Jersey—just outside Philadelphia, PA—with her husband and three children.

She joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in May 2023.

Laura Miller  became a passionate advocate for maternal health after surviving a near-miss related to the birth of her first child in January 2021 due to Preeclampsia with Severe Features occurring Postpartum after being discharged. She experienced a Hypertensive Crisis multiple times with organ involvement requiring several readmissions. Laura experienced Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) as a result. She is especially interested in dispelling the myth that, “delivery is the cure” and raising awareness about the long-term risks and complications that exist for women who are fortunate to survive.

Laura is also currently in remission after suffering from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, that was caused by a surgery gone wrong and is a well-known advocate for patients in the chronic pain community.

She is a licensed Special Education Teacher for grades K-12 and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst specializing in Autism. Laura enjoys using the skills she learned through her educational background to connect with others and promote change.

Laura is passionate about using her lived experience to improve maternal health outcomes. Whether it's a speaking engagement or focus group, Laura champions integrating diverse patient perspectives into education and quality improvement.

Laura is a MoMMAs Voices certified patient family partner. She joined the Patient Advisory Council in December 2023.

Jamie Moyer is a patient family partner and maternal health advocate located in central Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband of 14 years, Adam, and their son, who is an active baseball player. She also serves as the co-chair for the Harrisburg Hershey Promise Walk. 

In 2012, Jamie delivered her son at 34 weeks due to severe onset preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. She felt "blah" for a few days with some pain, but assumed it was normal pregnancy symptoms and waited until her regularly scheduled Ob appointment. A routine blood pressure check by the nurse revealed dangerously high blood pressure readings, so much so that the medical providers sent Jamie straight to labor and delivery at the hospital. She was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and induced. Her son was born at 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and Jamie spent three more days in the hospital, waiting for her bloodwork and pressure to return to safe levels.

Jamie considers it a huge honor to serve on the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council and represent other patients with similar experiences. She wants everyone to know the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, and be empowered to use their voice when something doesn't feel right. Her hope is that every educated patient is an empowered one.

Jamie joined the Patient Advisory Council in September 2023.

Trashaun Powell is a leader in human fundamental rights having over two decades of experience in State government and Nonprofit organizations. Through her near-death pregnancy experience she has been a long-standing advocate for equitable and quality maternal health for birthing people of color nationwide. Currently, Trashaun is the Vice President of Programs with the New Jersey Family Planning League, a non-profit organization committed to providing access to quality reproductive and sexual health services for all residents of New Jersey who need them, regardless of identity, income, and/or insurance status. Trashaun is passionate about issues impacting women with a primary emphasis on Black maternal health. Trashaun has advocated, amplified,
and illustrated these issues within New Jersey through the National Preeclampsia Foundation’s signature event “The Promise Walk” since 2013 raising over $25,000 in hosting fundraising events. She is currently a member of the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Racial Disparities Taskforce, Certified Patient Family Partner and Faculty with MoMMA’s Voices and uses her lived experience to move the work forward to improve outcomes of the maternal mortality health crisis.

A New Jersey native, Trashaun earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stockton University and Master of Arts degree from Thomas Edison University. Trashaun is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. She is a long-standing Girl Scout and Dedicated Troop Leader. She is happily married to her wonderful husband of over 10 years, and they are the proud parents of two wonderful and energetic children. Trashaun is a proven leader who is committed to the vision that social
equity and liberation must align.

She joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in September 2023.

Courtney Manthey is a PhD student in Molecular Biological Anthropology at the University of Montana. Her research sits at the intersection of maternal-fetal genetics, evolutionary medicine, and reproductive health, with a strong regional focus on the Pacific. Much of her work has examined polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a potential evolutionary mismatch condition.

Currently, her dissertation investigates single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with PCOS and preeclampsia in an ancient population dating to approximately 700 AD. Through this research, she aims to advance awareness of preeclampsia and contribute to the identification of genetic factors that may inform future treatment strategies. Courtney has conducted fieldwork across the Pacific, including in Samoa, where she studied female health and biomarkers. She has led multiple research projects on pregnancy and reproductive health, with her findings published in both national and international peer-reviewed journals.

Beyond academia, Courtney is a passionate advocate for reproductive and maternal health. She in a MoMMAs Voices certified Patient Family Partner. Courntey also works closely with PCOS Challenge and serves on the Community Advisory Board for the PCOS Multidisciplinary Clinic at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She also holds an elected position as Student Representative and Executive Committee Member of the Human Biology Association, where she is also a Junior Service Fellow. Additionally, she co-hosts The Sausage of Science, the official podcast of the Human Biology Association. Courtney is deeply committed to increasing public understanding of preeclampsia and continues to champion research and advocacy efforts in this area. Her lived experience struggling with infertility, miscarriages, traumatic childbirths, and NICU stays has fueled her advocacy.

Courtney joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in January 2025.

Portia L. Williams, RN BSN IBCLC, RLC.  A Maternal Child Health Quality Improvement Advocate, RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Preeclampsia and NICU survivor, with 21 years of Maternal Child experience located in New Orleans, La. 

Portia currently serves as the  Director of Clinical Lactation for HER Institute,  Regional Coordinator for Baby Cafe’ USA, and  Chair of IBLCE Commission on Practice. More importantly, proudly tandem nurse and breastfeed both sons well beyond infancy.  Her personal experience as a NICU & PreEclampsia survivor fuels her passion for supporting families. She is a proud graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette & an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Her career goal is to increase the number of minority Lactation Consultant and increase breastfeeding rates by mentoring future birthing and breastfeeding professionals of color, decreasing breastfeeding disparities, empowering moms with love, support, and education by providing culturally relevant care.

In 2018 Portia was featured in Medela’s monthly journal,  became a member of the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiner Practice Analysis Task Force, and became a member of International Lactation Consultants Association.  In September of 2019, Portia was appointed RN Community Maternal Child Manager by Touro LCMC Health.  A position designed to establish relevant community partnerships, increase breastfeeding rates, and decrease Infant & Maternal Mortality. Portia served as Board Member for Saul’s Light 2019-2022.  Most recently became Senior Subject Matter Expert for PCORI~Initiative with The National Birth Equity Collaborative and Senior Subject Matter Expert for University of California at San Francisco MILK Lab. In 2023 Portia became an inaugural Vice Chair of the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners Commission on Practice and is currently employed as the Manager of Maternity Care Management for Humana’s Healthy Horizons. 

Portia joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in January 2025.

Julia James is a full-spectrum doula, educator, and advocate who creates space for moms and birthing people to feel seen, supported, and sovereign in their journeys. She founded Good JuJu Birth + Wellness, a practice where birthwork meets spiritwork and ancestral care is honored as both a birthright and a radical act of resistance.

With over five years of experience supporting families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond, Julia offers a trauma-informed, spiritually grounded approach rooted in dignity, community, and deep cultural wisdom.

Her survival shapes her calling. Early in her pregnancy, Julia was diagnosed with a severe case of hyperemesis gravidarum and spent weeks enduring debilitating illness. At 38 weeks, she showed clear signs of preeclampsia: nausea, headaches, and confusion, but was repeatedly dismissed by providers. She was eventually induced due to extreme swelling. After giving birth, she experienced a severe postpartum hemorrhage and became a maternal near miss. The weeks that followed brought intense anxiety and dangerously high blood pressure caused by undiagnosed eclampsia. Like so many others, she had to navigate healing and recovery with little support.

Today, Julia uses both her lived experience and professional training to advocate for systemic change and empower families with knowledge and tools to reclaim their care. She mentors doulas, leads community-centered childbirth and postpartum education, and calls for expanded Medicaid coverage, investment in community-based birthworkers, and culturally responsive postpartum care that meets the real needs of our people.

Her mission is rooted in this truth: survival is not the goal. Thriving is.

Julia joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in Jaunuary 2025.

Haley Clemens, MA, LPC resides in a small town just outside of Flint, Michigan. During her pregnancies this was considered a maternal health desert. Haley is a two time survivor of postpartum preeclampsia and a NICU parent.

Haley received her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Community Services from Michigan State University in May, 2013 and her Master of Arts degree in Counseling in May, 2016. She currently serves as a Mental Health Specialist based in an after-school program for youth in underserved communities. She is also provides supervision for Limited Licensed Professional Counselors.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor and a survivor of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Haley is passionate about improving outcomes for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and maternal mental health. She desires to help integrate patient and family voices to improve healthcare practices and patient education.

Haley is a MoMMAs Voices certified patient family partner and joined the Preeclampsia Foundation Patient Advisory Council in January 2025.

Samantha Reyes is a maternal health advocate and a biopharma professional, dedicated to advancing clinical research through patient and care partner advocacy. 

Crystal Jackson, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, PMH-C is a women's health nurse practitioner, lactation counselor, perinatal mental health specialist and a maternal health advocate based in South Florida. She is a mother of four living children and a survivor of severe preeclampsia, postpartum preeclampsia, hemorrhage, and sepsis, each pregnancy more complicated than the last. These lived experiences forever changed the way that she thought about pregnancy, birth, and women’s health. She serves her community by providing compassionate, equitable, empowering, and transformative reproductive healthcare to low-income women and girls.

Crystals interests include all things sexual & reproductive health, early pregnancy loss, postpartum care, preeclampsia, maternal mental health, and menstrual hygiene. She is passionate about eradicating health disparities that affect Black women while promoting fertility, maternity, health literacy, and self-advocacy.

Her passions include raising awareness on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and maternal mental health. Crystal aims to use her voice to help other women navigate the healthcare system and prevent postpartum complications and deaths.

Crystal is a MoMMAs Voices certified patient family partner, a Take10 ambassador, and joined the Patient Advisory Council in January 2025.

Miasha Gilliam-El is the CEO/Founder of PPCM Healthy Hearts LLC, a Registered Nurse, Maternal Health Advocate and MoMMAs Voices certified patient family partner based in Virginia. She survived a near-miss related to the birth of her sixth child and was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy requiring a fast delivery at 37 weeks due to elevated blood pressure, multiple blood transfusions, life support for 3 days after suffering Cardiac Arrest for 10 minutes and admission to the ICU. She experienced post-partum depression and long-term heart complications.

Miasha now shares her story to raise awareness about BNP testing (to help diagnose and monitor the severity of heart failure) and about the maternal health crisis. She spends time educating nursing students and healthcare workers on trauma-informed maternal care. Miasha is passionate about educating the community on maternal health issues and being a voice for those who don't have one including fighting for proper health care to be administered to all - regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

Miasha joined the Patient Advisory Council in January 2025.

Natalie Crane is a maternal health advocate and MoMMAs Voices certified patient family partner based in Florida. She has survived a number of maternal traumas – preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome, postpartum preeclampsia, paralytic ileus, postpartum anxiety and depression, and infant loss. She learned her baby, in 2022, was affected by preeclampsia resulting in fetal growth restrictions. After the emergency c-section her baby lived for five days in the NICU. Natalie now shares her story to honor her baby, and hopes to strengthen the voices of mothers to receive more testing during pregnancy. She hopes to share her story on a state and national level to patients and providers. She desires to help integrate patient perspectives to improve outcomes for moms and babies. Natalie wants to spread awareness about how important the recovery stage is, to find a way for mothers to receive more time off and pay. It’s to not only advocate for moms but to offer assistance where it is needed most.

Natalie joined the Patient Advisory Council in January 2025.