EBB 371 - Reclaiming Black Midwifery in the South with Dr. Nikia Grayson, Chief Clinical Officer of CHOICES in Memphis
Evidence Based Birth®
Rebecca Dekker
4.6 • 978 Ratings
🗓️ 10 September 2025
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Dr. Nikia Grayson, nurse midwife, family nurse practitioner, and anthropologist, joins us to share how she's helping reclaim and restore Black midwifery in the South. As Chief Clinical Officer at CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health in Memphis, TN, Dr. Grayson has led groundbreaking efforts to open Memphis’ first and only birth center, launch the nation’s first Black Midwifery Fellowship, and provide full-spectrum, justice-centered reproductive care. In this episode, Dr. Grayson reflects on the challenges of dismantling systemic racism in health care, the impact of the Dobbs decision on abortion access in the South, and the importance of investing in doulas, midwives, and community-based care. Dr. Grayson also offers advice for birth workers on building new systems rooted in justice, joy, and liberation.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, everyone. On today's podcast, we're going to talk with Dr. Nakia Grayson about her work at |
| 0:05.8 | Choices Center for Reproductive Health in Memphis and how they're expanding access to |
| 0:11.5 | midwifery-led community-centered reproductive care. |
| 0:18.0 | Welcome to the evidence-based birth podcast. My name is Rebecca Decker, and I'm a nurse with my PhD and the founder of evidence-based birth. |
| 0:26.6 | Join me each week as we work together to get evidence-based information into the hands of families and professionals around the world. |
| 0:34.5 | As a reminder, this information is not medical advice. See eBbirth.com |
| 0:39.5 | slash disclaimer for more details. |
| 0:43.9 | Hi, everyone, and welcome to today's episode of the evidence-based birth podcast. Today, I'm so |
| 0:49.7 | excited to talk with Dr. Nakia Grayson. Dr.icaa Grayson is a nurse midwife, family nurse practitioner, |
| 0:56.9 | and anthropologist advancing reproductive justice and health equity. As chief clinical officer at |
| 1:03.4 | Choices Center for Reproductive Health in Memphis, Tennessee, Nikia leads efforts to diversify |
| 1:09.1 | midwifery and expand access to community-based, full-spectrum |
| 1:13.1 | reproductive care, particularly for black and brown communities. With advanced degrees in public |
| 1:19.0 | health, nursing, and anthropology, Dr. Grayson brings a unique, justice-centered approach to health |
| 1:25.4 | care. Under her leadership, Choices has opened Memphis's |
| 1:29.1 | first and only birth center and launched the nation's first Black Midwifery Fellowship. |
| 1:35.2 | A disruptor of traditional health care systems, Dr. Grayson also serves as associate clinical |
| 1:41.1 | professor at UCSF, where she works to transform midwifery education |
| 1:46.0 | through culturally responsive and community center training. |
| 1:49.7 | Dr. Grayson is committed to equipping future providers to practice at their full scope |
| 1:54.6 | and meet the needs of underserved communities across the south of the United States and beyond. |
| 2:00.7 | Dr. Grayson, welcome to the |
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