About

The Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) at the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) continues and builds on the tradition of the MHTF in ensuring that front-line maternal health workers, policymakers, researchers, and advocates across the world have access to the most current and reliable evidence in the field.

Our vision for MHTF is a space that not only identifies and shares promising research, but serves as a catalyst for research improvement and innovation. In order to reach the Sustainable Development Goal 3 target to reduce maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 births we must invest heavily in research to ensure we are asking the right questions and prioritizing the right interventions.

Ongoing support for the MHTF at the Center of Excellence in MCH comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS) through the Training Grant in Maternal and Child Health. 

For more information, please contact us.

Leadership Board

Henning Tiemeier, MD, PhD – Director

Henning Tiemeier, MA, MD, PhD, is Professor of Social and Behavioral Science and the Sumner and Esther Feldberg Chair of Maternal and Child Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Tiemeier received both his medical and sociological degree from the University of Bonn, Germany, and his PhD from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Since 2018, he leads the Maternal and Child Center of Excellence at Harvard Chan. As one of just 13 HRSA-funded Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health in the United States, the center trains future leaders in the field. See full bio>>

Whitney Westhoff, SM – Team Lead

Whitney completed her Master’s of Science in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology. Her thesis focused on COVID-19 pharmacotherapy utilization patterns in a large, international cohort of pregnant women. Prior to joining the Maternal Health Task Force, Whitney studied Public Health at Brigham Young University with a minor in Chinese, during which she conducted a program evaluation of the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) program rollout in Hebei, China, and worked in data analysis in the Bariatric Surgery Department at Jiangsu Provincial Hospital in Nanjing, China. Her research interests lie at the intersection of pregnancy and pharmacoepidemiology, guided in part by her own experiences as a mother.

Lara Rostomian, SM, MD(c) – Team Lead

Lara is a recent alumnus of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health where she earned her Master’s of Science in Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology. Her previous research has centered family planning and sexual health in Middle Eastern and Transcaucasian populations. Her research interests include examining pediatric, perinatal, and maternal health disparities in conflict and crisis affected populations. During her graduate education she worked as a research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Department of Newborn Medicine, examining the effects of COVID-19 hospital practices on breastfeeding behaviors. She is currently working at the Maternal Health Task Force and is a first year Medical Student at Wayne State University School of Medicine, working towards becoming a researcher, advocate, and healthcare provider in the field of maternal and child health.

Team

Sonia Chang, SM(c) – Research Assistant

Sonia is a current Master of Science candidate in Global Health and Populations Studies at Harvard School of Public Health. Sonia is primarily interested in community program planning, implementation, and evaluation. She has previously worked at the Indiana Department of Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on their Title V Maternal and Child Health Services federal grant, supporting the evaluation and needs assessment processes. As the 2023-2024 recipient of the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Lab Fellowship, Sonia is currently working on an NIH-funded project on postpartum home visiting in collaboration with Harvard University, Mississippi State Department of Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Jackson State University. Interested in improving maternal health outcomes through community engagement and partnership, Sonia will be working with the San Antonio Black Doula Collective during the summer to evaluate their impact.

Daria Lisus, SM(c) – Research Assistant

Daria is a current Master of Science candidate in Global Health and Populations Studies at Harvard School T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  Daria is interested in advancing global health equity by integrating climate resilience, storytelling, and patient experiences to improve health outcomes and fostering community-driven solutions in the field of maternal and child health. Daria has previously served as one of the Directors at Medical Herstory, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating sexism, shame, and stigma from women’s healthcare experiences. As the 2024-2025 recipient of the Maternal and Child Health Leadership Lab Fellowship, Daria is currently working with SteelSky Ventures on a project looking at better understanding and improving funding opportunities for health startups focused on improving women’s and child health.