Dr. Ndidi Amutah Onukagha

I help organizations move from intention to impact, grounding public health in equity.

Dr. Amutah-Onukagha’s work centers Black women in maternal health outcomes, health equity, and HIV/AIDS research. She is the Founder of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University and Amaka Consulting & Evaluation Services, a leading public health consulting firm. She also serves as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH- and RWJF-funded studies addressing maternal morbidity, reproductive justice, and health disparities.

As featured in leading health publications and academic journals, Dr. Amutah-Onukagha’s groundbreaking research focuses on women’s health, reproductive rights, and equity in healthcare. Her work advocates for accessible and comprehensive solutions while bridging gaps in medical systems through culturally responsive, community-centered research. With a deep commitment to mentorship and public scholarship, she continues to shape national conversations and advance transformative initiatives for a healthier, more just future.

As Featured In

As Featured In

  • “One death is too many': Abortion bans usher in US maternal mortality crisis”

    September 25, 2024

  • "The Cross Connection with Tiffany Cross" Washington, DC

    August 20th, 2022

  • “Can An Abortion Ban Mean More Maternal Deaths?” Reproductive Experts Weigh

    June 17th, 2022

  • “Safety bundles' may reduce pregnancy-related deaths, particularly among women”

    April 11th, 2024

  • "Under The Skin" The Lancet Race and Health Podcast Series

    June 20th, 2023

  • “A Broken Healthcare System: Racism and Maternal Health" TEDxTUFTS

    September 16th, 2022

  • “America Already Knows How to Make Childbirth Safer”

    Sept 12, 2023

I am a mother. I am a postpartum person. I am a researcher, a scholar, a policy advisor. I might spend my morning on a call with a senator’s office, reviewing legislation that’s about to be enacted, and my afternoon speaking to high school students about careers in maternal health,  with respect to their backgrounds,  my advice rooted in my lived experience. I hold multiple degrees. I lead. I shape systems.

But guess what? I'm a person navigating a health care system that has historically barred me from access to equitable care. When I walk into a hospital, those accolades  and  titles don't help me. What helps is being able to move through a system that sees me as a human being, that prioritizes my needs, and that listens when I say I'm in pain.

With that experience, I will continue to mold, shape, and advocate for equitable solutions across systems, across communities, and across generations.