Shalon Irving: A legacy of advocacy

Shalon Irving, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dedicated herself to understanding and reducing inequities in healthcare. Ultimately, the system of healthcare that Irving worked tirelessly to fix was the same one that failed her, as it has failed countless Black mothers. 

Irving died in cardiac arrest due to high blood pressure three weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Soleil. 

In the weeks following her pregnancy, Irving had experienced extreme pain, from swelling legs to extreme high blood pressure. She knew something was wrong, so she visited countless doctors, all of whom dismissed her complaints. Only six hours before she passed away, Irving had seen yet another medical provider, only to be turned away once again. Doctors ignored the health concerns of Irving, a lieutenant commander in the US Public Health Service, an officer of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, and a dual PhD holder, simply because of her race. 

(Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health)

Structural racism is one of the biggest factors of the Black maternal health crisis. Due to bias and prejudice, it is common for medical professionals to downplay pain that Black mothers express, which leads to Black mothers not receiving proper treatment for their symptoms. Black women often report feeling disrespected and belittled by their healthcare providers. Discrimination in healthcare is unacceptable, and has cost too many mothers their lives.

Irving’s death inspired her friend, Illinois Representative Lauren Underwood, to co-found the Black Maternal Health Caucus of the House of Representatives. Members of this Caucus created the Momnibus Act of 2021, which ultimately aims to reduce ethnic disparities in maternal health. The Act has contributed to diversifying the healthcare industry, improving data collection and research on maternal health, and 

Irving’s passing was an immensely tragic loss. She was a hardworking, intelligent and well-respected woman with an irreplaceable presence, and she left a profound impact on not just the healthcare industry but the world at large. It is crucial that we honor her by continuing to spread awareness for the Black maternal mortality crisis and advocate for real policy change. Every mother deserves to feel safe, supported and secure before, during and after their pregnancies.