Motherhood Center

Catherine Birndorf, MD, is a Reproductive Psychiatrist, the Co-Founder, CEO, and Medical Director of The Motherhood Center of New York. Dr. Birndorf is the Founding Director of the Payne Whitney Women’s Program at Weill Cornell Medicine – New York-Presbyterian Hospital. In addition, she is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology. A graduate of Smith College, Dr. Birndorf attended Brown University Medical School and did her Psychiatry Residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. A past Postpartum Support International board member, Dr. Birndorf now serves on the President’s Advisory Council. She currently serves on the board of Chamber of Mothers. For ten years, Dr. Birndorf was a regular mental health columnist for Self Magazine and has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, MSNBC, and CNN. She served as a consultant for NBC’s Law & Order to ensure an accurate, compassionate portrayal of postpartum psychosis in Season 24, Episode 17, “A Perfect Family”. Dr. Birndorf’s first book, The Nine Rooms of Happiness, was an NYTimes bestseller published in 2010. Her most recent book, published by Simon & Schuster in 2019, is entitled What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your Emotions from Pregnancy to Motherhood.

Inseperable

David is a nationally recognized expert on health insurance coverage, mental health parity laws and the barriers individuals and families face when seeking services. David was previously Chief Policy Officer at The Kennedy Forum, where he led successful state and federal policy initiatives, including the enactment of nation-leading insurance legislation in California and federal legislation that ended the ability of state and local governments to discriminate against their employees seeking mental health coverage.

David’s journey to mental health policy began in the U.S. Senate, where he served as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a longtime mental health champion. After the Senate, he served in leadership roles at an Illinois-based children’s advocacy organization, where he developed a deep interest in childhood trauma and its long-term effects on children, families, and communities. In Illinois, he helped secure major investments in early childhood education and expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit, which puts hundreds of millions of dollars back into the pocket of low-income working families.

David testifies regularly before state legislatures on mental health policy and has been quoted in outlets across the country, including major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and NPR.

Shades of Blue Project

Kay is the Founder and Executive Director of the Shades of Blue Project, a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing maternal mental health disparities, particularly within communities of color. With a deep commitment to transforming the maternal health landscape, Kay has spearheaded initiatives that provide critical education, support, and advocacy for mothers experiencing mental health challenges before, during, and after childbirth. Her work has been instrumental in raising awareness about the unique mental health needs of Black mothers, who often face higher rates of maternal mental health disorders and receive less adequate care.

Drawing from her own experiences with stillbirth and undiagnosed postpartum depression, Kay has made it her mission to break down the barriers that prevent women of color from receiving proper mental health care. A passionate advocate for systemic change working to ensure all birthing experiences are supported and respected.

Health Mothers Healthy Babies America

Robin leads the HMHBA a bipartisan national campaign, founded by Olivia Walton, working to make the United States the safest country in the world to give birth – with a goal of cutting the U.S. maternal mortality rate in half within five years.

Reck joins HMHBA after more than eight years at Emerson Collective, where she led strategic communications, cross-sector initiatives, and campaigns and served as a senior advisor to the organization’s founder. Throughout her career, she has specialized in building advocacy coalitions and shaping high-stakes campaigns that bring together partners who don’t always agree. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-created America’s Food Fund, partnering with World Central Kitchen, Feeding America, and No Kid Hungry to raise more than $44 million for families in crisis. Earlier in her career, she helped build the Compact of Mayors, uniting thousands of city leaders across the political spectrum ahead of the Paris climate talks.

She joins HMHBA as the organization expands its national coalition and deepens collaboration with healthcare systems, employers, policymakers, and community leaders to accelerate the adoption of proven maternal health solutions. Her appointment marks HMHBA's transition from building a movement to driving implementation — bringing together public and private sector leaders to scale solutions that can save mothers' lives