Strong, accurate data are critical for identifying opportunities for preventing deaths among mothers and designing effective interventions. A new collaboration between the CDC Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs will produce stronger data than ever before and foster collaboration that can lead to effective interventions. Funding for the collaboration was provided through an award agreement with Merck on behalf of its Merck for Mothers program.

Andrea C. Gielen, Sc.D, Sc.M., a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who has dedicated her career to improving the health and safety of women and children, receives the 2016 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award.