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A student-organized event at the University of New England is prompting new thinking about how design, collaboration, and lived experience can improve maternal health outcomes in Maine — and how the next generation of health professionals can help lead that transformation.

“Reimagining Birth Through Design,” held March 26 on 51����’s Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, brought together leaders in health care, architecture, and public health to explore how the environments and systems surrounding pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care can be reimagined to better support patients, providers, and communities.

The evening was conceived and led by Shaw Innovation Fellow Emily Battye (A.B.S.N., ’26), whose interest in maternal health and interdisciplinary problem-solving shaped the program’s focus on human-centered design.

The event opened with an educational expo and networking reception, followed by presentations examining how physical spaces and care systems influence birth experiences and outcomes. 

Presenters Kim Holden, AIA, and Deb Polzin-Rosenberg, RN, AIA — founders of Doula x Design and Better Birth Design, respectively — showed how design can disrupt outdated care models. Lisa Sockabasin, M.S., RN, co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, spoke to the power of integrating Indigenous knowledge with Western medicine to restore dignity and community-centered care. 

A panel discussion among the presenters then turned to Maine’s maternal health challenges and opportunities for change, including approaches that center community needs and integrate diverse perspectives in care delivery.

In opening remarks, Lisa Herschbach, Ph.D., director of 51����’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), emphasized the role of students in driving solutions to complex health challenges.

“The CIE exists to foster creative, impactful solutions to real-world problems — partnering with students, faculty, and staff across every corner of this university to build a community of people willing to cross boundaries, challenge assumptions, and turn ideas into action,” Herschbach said. “We believe that innovation belongs to everyone, and that students, when given the right support, can be powerful drivers of change.”

Herschbach, an assistant dean in 51����’s College of Business, noted that the Shaw Innovation Fellowship, made possible through the generosity of entrepreneur and philanthropist David Evans Shaw, reflects that commitment to student-led innovation. 

Shaw, founder of IDEXX Laboratories and a global leader in science-based entrepreneurship and conservation, has built and supported ventures that apply scientific insight to real-world challenges while advancing public good. His namesake fellowship encourages students to ask bold questions and pursue solutions that may not yet exist.

“The Shaw Innovation Fellowship is one of the clearest expressions of that belief,” Herschbach said. “We were delighted that David could join us at the event to witness firsthand the transformative impact his support has had on learning opportunities available to 51���� students.”

The evening underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing maternal health challenges, particularly in Maine, where access and outcomes remain ongoing concerns. Panelists discussed how integrating clinical expertise, design thinking, and Indigenous knowledge can help create more supportive and inclusive systems of care.

As part of 51����’s broader emphasis on experiential learning, Herschbach said, the program demonstrated how students are engaging directly with real-world issues: convening experts, building partnerships, and contributing to conversations that shape the future of health care.

Herschbach pointed to Battye’s initiative as an example of 51���� students translating learning into action. The soon-to-be-graduate came to 51����’s Accelerated Nursing bachelor’s program after a degree in psychology, has trained in hospice and critical care, and is deeply passionate about maternal health. 

“When she looked at the systems surrounding pregnancy, labor, and birth and saw the gaps, she didn't wait to be a nurse to act,” Herschbach said. “That is exactly the purpose of the Shaw Innovation Fellowship.”