About Inas Khalidah Mahdi, DrPH(c)

What drives Inas-Khalidah Mahdi, DrPH(c) isn't just a career in public health—it's a deep, personal commitment to ensuring that every Black birthing person experiences the dignity, safety, and care they deserve. As Principal of Nzingha Maternal Health: Rights and Research, Inas brings her whole self to this work: a social epidemiologist with over 25 years of hands-on experience, a global health veteran who has responded to crises from Sierra Leone to Haiti, and most importantly, someone who understands that behind every statistic is a real person with hopes, fears, and dreams for their family.

Inas's doctoral research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health isn't just academic—it's deeply personal. Her work exploring how Black survivors of childhood sexual abuse experience perinatal care comes from knowing that healing trauma and transforming systems must happen together. This groundbreaking research, focused on Health Equity and Social Justice, represents her commitment to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us receive care that honors their full humanity. Through rigorous DrPH research methodology, she's building an evidence base that will fundamentally change how we understand and respond to trauma in maternal health settings. It's scholarly work with real-world impact—research that bridges the gap between what we know about trauma and what we do about it in healthcare systems everywhere.

Educational Background

  • Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Expected May 2026)

    • Concentration: Health Equity and Social Justice

    • Focus: Reproductive Justice, Trauma-Informed Care, Intersectional Frameworks

  • Master of Public Health (MPH) - University of Alabama Birmingham (2005)

    • Concentration: Epidemiology & Global Health

    • Honor: Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society

  • Bachelor of Science (BS) - University of Alabama Birmingham (2003)

    • Major: Biology | Minors: French, Africana Studies

Specialized Training & Certifications

  • Somatic Sexologist (In Training) - Amina Institute, formerly Atlanta Tantra Institute of Divine Sexuality

    • Specialization: EroSomatic Touch®, trauma-informed sexual and reproductive wellness

    • Focus: Healing justice through somatic sexology and embodiment practices

  • Erotic Embodiment Certified - Integrative approach to pleasure and healing

  • Authentic Consent Certified - Specialized training in consent facilitation and medical consent strategies for survivors

  • Holistic Intimacy Coach - Supporting individuals in reconnecting with their bodies and erotic power

  • Mindfulness and Yoga Practice - Over 10 years of practice integrating body-based healing modalities

Career Highlights

  • Principal & Founder, Nzingha Maternal Health: Rights and Research (2024-Present)

    • Leading consulting initiatives in reproductive justice and maternal health equity

    • Providing culturally responsive evaluation and technical assistance globally

  • Vice President, Equity-Centered Capacity Building, Reproductive Health Impact (2022-2024)

    • Directed national training, technical assistance, and community empowerment teams

    • Developed curricula on birth equity and trauma-informed care for health systems

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008-2020)

    • Public Health Advisor managing immunization programs across multiple states

    • International emergency response coordinator in Sierra Leone (Ebola) and Haiti (earthquake)

    • Leadership in vaccine trial implementation and disease surveillance systems

Global Experience

Inas-Khalidah Mahdi, DrPH(c)'s international expertise includes significant fieldwork across West Africa, the Caribbean, and throughout the African diaspora. Her emergency response leadership during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and post-earthquake health systems recovery in Haiti demonstrates exceptional capability in crisis situations while maintaining focus on equity and community-centered approaches.

Publications & Recognition

  • Author of peer-reviewed publications in Health Affairs, Harvard Law & Policy Review, and Seminars in Perinatology

  • Contributing author to The Practical Playbook III: Working Together to Improve Maternal Health (Oxford Academic, 2024)

  • CDC Honor Awards for Outstanding Leadership in Ebola Response (2015, 2016)

  • Outstanding Contribution Award, International Emergency & Refugee Health Branch, CDC (2009)