4Kira4Moms
Presentation Abstract
Roundtable on Elevating Patient-Centered Strategies for Care
In this roundtable, we are elevating the voice of patients, families, and providers regarding patient-centered strategies for care. Patients who experience severe maternal morbidity are at greatest risk of mortality. Their personal experience of severe complications during pregnancy or postpartum may result in long-term suffering, which may be worsened by the care they received, especially when it was not centered on their needs and desires. Maternal morbidity and mortality also has a lasting effect on families, as alongside every individual who is severely affected or lost during or after pregnancy is a family unit.
About Mr. Johnson
Charles Johnson IV has dedicated his life to the pursuit of what his own family failed to receive—safe, respectful, and equitable maternal health outcomes in America. His passion for systemic change is driven by his love for his wife, Kira, who passed away following the birth of their second child. In April 2016, Kira underwent a routine C-section following an uncomplicated pregnancy. Hours later, she died from internal hemorrhaging despite adamant pleas for help from medical professionals by her husband and loved ones. Her story exemplifies the current crises happening in America—rising rates of maternal mortality and the silencing of Black voices.
After experiencing the unimaginable, Mr. Johnson harnessed his pain and used it to pursue the highest level of good. He channeled his grief into founding 4Kira4Moms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving birth outcomes in America. Mr. Johnson knows childbirth should be empowering and free of fear for all mothers. 4Kira4Moms advocates for improved maternal health policies and regulations, educates about the impact of maternal mortality in our communities, provides support to victims’ loved ones, and approaches maternal mortality as a human rights issue. Mothers are the very framework of our society. They teach us how to love unconditionally and are willing to protect the most vulnerable among us. The loss of even one at the hands of an unjust system robs our country of what it needs most.
Mr. Johnson has used his voice and story to advocate for change at countless events and media appearances all over the country. He is a board member of March for Moms and serves as Chairman of the Fairness for Injured Patients Act, which seeks to restore the rights of victims of medical negligence in California. Mr. Johnson has testified twice before Congress and helped pass key legislation including: the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2018, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021, and the California Momnibus Act. He is currently working with Congress to pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, an unprecedented set of bills addressing every aspect of the maternal health crisis happening in America. Mr. Johnson was also honored by Oprah Winfrey on OWN Spotlight’s 2020 fatherhood special entitled, “Honoring our Kings, Celebrating Black Fatherhood.”
In addition to his advocacy work, Mr. Johnson is busy raising his two beautiful boys, Charles V and Langston, who keep their mother’s spirit alive powerfully every day.
Mr. Johnson did not disclose any conflicts of interest for this workshop.