Monroe loves teaching and is a lifelong learner. She holds a BA in sociology, a Master of Public Health, and an Independent Primary Midwife (IPM) certification from the Massachusetts Midwives Alliance (MMA). She is a member of multiple coalitions to improve maternity care, through continuing education and training.

Her work has made a significant impact in improving infant and maternal health through leadership development. As an influencer, her model for improving maternity care is being replicated both here and abroad and is featured in multiple publications. Monroe has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Midwives Alliance of North America and the Dr. Hildrus A. Poindexter of the Black Caucus of Health Workers of the American Public Health Association.

Samsarah is an Interfaith Minister and Counselor, a Family Life Coach, and Hypnotherapist. She is an author and published the “Birth Plan.” She attends The National School of Midwifery, and is apprenticing under two dynamic community licensed midwives. 

Samsarah is an advocate for the doula profession and was a major organizer to keep doulas in-hospitals as essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic for client safety. Learn more about about Samsarah.  

LaToshia Rouse is a certified birth and postpartum doula/ owner of Birth Sisters Doula Services as well as a Patient and Family Engagement Consultant. She contracts with several organizations to offer her expertise in patient engagement and equity such as Family Voices. Her journey began as a patient partner 9 years ago, after having triplets at 26 weeks gestation via an emergency vaginal delivery. Early on LaToshia’s work was focused on bringing the parent perspective to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and antepartum improvement committees at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, including serving as a member of the NICU’s Vermont Oxford Network (VON) team. LaToshia has served as a subject matter expert and expert team member for the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (NNPQC), American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and Cynosure Hospital Quality Improvement Collaborative (HQIC).

She is faculty at the Institute of Patient and Family Centered Care (IPFCC) and has partnered on several projects with the organization. LaToshia is a sought-after speaker and consultant on topics relating to doulas, patient engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion. Her work has spanned all levels of healthcare with work in research, policy, executive committee level, and board of directors with the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ). She worked on policy with the North Carolina Institute of Medicine’s (NCIOM) Maternal Health Taskforce and worked on policy as Co-Chair of the NCIOM’s Taskforce on the Perinatal System of Care in 2019. Her measurement work started in 2020, with the Maternal and Child Health- Measurement Research Network (MCH-MRN) where she Co-Chairs the Equity Committee for the project. She is also a Co-Chair of the (National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives) NNPQC’s Executive Committee. LaToshia completed her Diversity and Inclusion Certification at Cornell University to make more impact on equity for families, moms and babies. In reflecting on the work, she’s engaged in over the last number of years, LaToshia's passion is finding ways for clinicians and patients to have a true partnership and improve outcomes.