We are pleased to introduce this Special Edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology: Racism in Reproductive Health: Lighting a Path to Health Equity. A transdisciplinary Steering Committee of doulas, lawyers, midwives, nurses, obstetrician–gynecologists and subspecialists, patients-turned-partners, public health experts, Reproductive Health Equity Scholars-in-Training, and sociologists generously gave their time and talent to guide this effort and hold us accountable.

The Steering Committee met monthly and provided rich diversity of thought and expertise to make the Special Edition a reality. A few highlights of the Committee's work include:

A live webinar to introduce the purpose and aspirational goals of the Special Edition to readers and potential authors in October of 2022.1 Developing and disseminating an Equity Rubric as a systematic tool to help guide authors and reviewers to better design, execute, and evaluate science that promotes health equity. A descriptive article is included in this issue.2 Diligently increasing the depth, breadth, subject matter expertise, and diversity of the Green Journal reviewer pool to be better prepared to handle manuscripts for this issue and going forward. All Steering Committee members became Green Journal reviewers and served as peer reviewers for the Special Edition. Assuring the entire issue is Open Access and available to all people.

We received 120 submissions, and 27 of them are included in the following pages. The Special Edition would not have been possible without the unwavering support and dedication of the Steering Committee; Jason Wright, MD, Editor-in-Chief; and the editorial leadership team: Stephanie Casway, MA, Managing Editor, the Green Journal staff, and Jennifer Walsh, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, and her team at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and the Green Journal Social Media Committee. Thank you.

Green Journal, Racism in Reproductive Health: Lighting a Path to Health Equity—Special Edition Steering Committee Members

Sawsan As-Sanie, MD, MPH

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

University of Michigan

*†Samantha Batman, MD, MPH

Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship

MD Anderson Cancer Center

*Oluwateniola Brown, MD

Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery

Northwestern University

Amanda Bruegl, MD

Gynecologic Oncology

Oregon Health & Science University

Jessica Brumley, CNM, PhD

Midwifery

University of South Florida

Allison Bryant, MD, MPH

Maternal–Fetal Medicine

Massachusetts General Hospital

Joia Crear-Perry, MD

General Obstetrics and Gynecology

National Birth Equity Collaborative

Kemi Doll, MD, MS

Gynecologic Oncology

University of Washington

Cirila Estela Vasquez Guzman, PhD, MCR

Medical Sociology

Oregon Health & Science University

Shaconna Haley, MA, CHD

Holistic Doula, Sociology

InnerLight Holistic Doula & Perinatal Consulting

*Irene Headen, PhD, MS

Community Health and Prevention

Drexel University

Natalie D. Hernandez-Green, PhD, MPH

Public Health

Morehouse School of Medicine

Rose Horton, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Nursing

Emory Decatur Hospital

*Sascha James-Conterelli, DNP, CNM

Midwifery

Yale School of Nursing

Edwin Guillermo Lindo, JD

Critical Race Theory & Health Justice University of Washington School of Medicine

Erica E. Marsh, MD, MSCI

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

University of Michigan

Audra Meadows, MD, MPH

General Obstetrics and Gynecology

University of California San Diego

†Ticara Onyewuenyi, MD, MPH

Resident

Kaiser Oakland Medical Center

Jacqueline Parchem, MD

Maternal-Fetal Medicine

UTHealth Houston

Malavika Prabhu, MD

Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Massachusetts General Hospital

Michelle Pratt, RN Nursing Emory Decatur Hospital

*Katherine Rivlin, MD, MSc

Complex Family Planning University of Chicago

Whitney R. Robinson, PhD, MSPH

Epidemiology

Duke University School of Medicine

Karen A. Scott, MD, MPH

Obstetric Quality & Patient Safety Specialist

Birthing Cultural Rigor

*Sangini S. Sheth, MD, MPH

General Obstetrics and Gynecology

Yale University

Melissa Simon, MD, MPH

Complex Family Planning

Northwestern University

‡Richelle Smith

Patient-turned-partner St. Louis Integrated Health Network

Jennifer Tang, MD, MSCR

Complex Family Planning and Global Women's Health

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jennifer Whitehair, MD

General Obstetrics and Gynecology

Tuba City Regional Healthcare Corporation

*Equity Rubric Working Group

†Green Journal Reproductive Health Equity Scholar-in-Training

‡Patient-turned-partner

1. Green Journal. Webinar for O&G's special issue: racism in reproductive health: paving a path to health equity. Accessed July 24, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZV5yGdAuKo 2. Batman S, Rivlin K, Robinson W, Brown O, Carter EB, Lindo E. A rubric to center equity in obstetrics and gynecology research. Obstet Gynecol 2023;142:772–8. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005336