Virginia Union University is making history with the launch of its Doula Certification Program—the first of its kind at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). This pioneering initiative is designed to help close the gap in racial disparities surrounding maternal and infant health. In collaboration with Birth In Color and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), the six-month program equips students with the skills and training needed to become certified doulas, providing unbiased, culturally competent care to expectant families throughout the Commonwealth, according to a press release.
Now, in its second cohort since fall 2025, the program is a key part of Virginia Union University’s broader Health Equity Initiatives. By combining health equity with workforce development, Virginia Union is deepening its impact in public health and healthcare education, driving meaningful change in the lives of Black families and communities. Further updates on the program’s growth and future direction are expected soon.
Why do doulas matter?
A doula is a trained professional who provides not only assistance during birth, but emotional, physical, and informational support to individuals before, during, and after childbirth. Unlike doctors or midwives, doulas don’t offer medical care or deliver babies; instead, they focus on holistic support tailored to the birthing person’s needs. According to Planned Parenthood, there are several types of doulas, including birth doulas, who support individuals during labor delivery and after childbirth.
They provide comfort measures such as massage, breathing techniques, and position changes, while also offering educational support, helping with communication in the hospital setting, and offering guidance. Postpartum doulas support families in the early days after birth while antepartum doulas assist mothers during high-risk pregnancies. Overall, these crucial medical professionals serve as a calm, knowledgeable presence during what can be one of the most intense and transformative times in a person’s life.
Black women in Virginia are in desperate need of quality maternal care.
In Virginia, the need for doulas has become increasingly urgent as the maternal mortality crisis continues to disproportionately affect Black women, who are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to their white counterparts. According to the National Black Women’s Reproductive Agenda, Virginia ranked 12th in the nation for maternal mortality in 2024. Between 2018 and 2021, the state recorded 65 pregnancy-related deaths, with a maternal mortality rate of 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, higher than the national average of 20.4 per 100,000.
Racial bias in healthcare, limited access to quality prenatal care and higher rates of chronic underlying health conditions contribute to the growing disparity, but all of these factors are preventable. Felicia D. Cosby, Dean of Virginia Union Technical College, believes that the HBCU’s groundbreaking program is a vital first step toward ensuring Black women receive the holistic, culturally competent care they deserve.
“As we launch this pioneering Doula Certification Program, we are taking a bold step toward transforming Black maternal and infant healthcare in Virginia,” Cosby said in a statement. “This program is more than training—it is about saving lives, reducing disparities, and empowering communities.”
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