Dr. Sharla Smith, Ph.D.

Dr. Sharla A. Smith, PhD, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader in maternal and infant health and an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She also serves as Director of Birth Equity in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Associate Director of Policy in the Center for African American Health. With formal training in biology, health policy, and health services and systems research, her work spans clinical, community, and policy domains to address inequities in Black maternal and infant health. Dr. Smith leads systems-level transformation by integrating evidence-based interventions into healthcare delivery, shaping policy, and advancing implementation science approaches to improve outcomes.

 

She is the founder and executive director of the Kansas Birth Equity Network, a statewide collaborative that mobilizes community members, providers, and policymakers to co-develop solutions. She is also the creator of the Birth Equity Clinical Scholars Program, which trains future clinicians in equitable care. Grounded in authentic community engagement, her work prioritizes partnership, lived experience, and sustainable change to advance equity at scale.