On this episode I welcome Dr Melan Smith-Francis. Melan is a Doctorate level Certified Nurse Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner who has been serving Middle Tennessee for decades.Dr Melan has delivered hundreds of babies in both out of hospital and hospital settings. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University (Biology), Austin Peay State University (Nursing), Vanderbilt University (Midwifery), Tennessee State University (Post Master’s Certificate- Family Nurse Practitioner) and the University of Tennessee (Doctorate of Nursing). She started her nursing career 15 years ago in the Vanderbilt Emergency Department and today she is an instructor at Vanderbilt in the Nurse Midwifery & Family Nurse Practitioner Programs, she attends births at the Vanderbilt Birth Center and is one of the most trusted and valued collaborators by licensed midwives in the middle TN Homebirth community. Today I’ll be talking to Dr Melan about RACIAL DISPARITIES and BIPOC issues. Todays Show Credits:Podcast art by Austin McDougal: https://www.austinmcdougal.com/Podcast music by Bailey McDougal:  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/evolvethemusic/1523062343Podcast Produced by Casey McDougal:   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/msr/id644332006--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaylea-mcdougal/support