Charleston, South Carolina — The tight-knit midwifery and healthcare community is reeling after the sudden loss of Dr. Janell Green Smith, a deeply respected midwife and maternal health advocate who died from complications shortly after giving birth to her first child. The tragic news has shaken families, colleagues, and advocates across the state and the nation.
Dr. Smith was more than a healthcare provider. She was a trusted partner in some of life’s most vulnerable moments, guiding more than 200 families safely through birth with compassion and expertise. Known for her warm presence, keen clinical skill, and unwavering advocacy, she brought comfort and strength to mothers during labor, and she worked tirelessly to improve outcomes for underserved communities.
Her career was marked by dedication to evidence-based care and to confronting the deep-rooted inequities in maternal health that disproportionately affect Black women and other marginalized groups. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Certified Nurse-Midwife, Smith’s life work centered on equitable, respectful care — a mission she lived every day in her practice and advocacy.
The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) expressed profound sorrow over her passing, noting that her death is both a personal loss and a stark reminder of systemic failures in maternal healthcare. That a seasoned professional like Smith could die in childbirth underscores how even the most knowledgeable and experienced cannot fully escape the glaring disparities in care that persist across the United States.
Colleagues remember her not only for her clinical acumen but for her mentorship. She opened doors for students and young midwives, sharing her wisdom and encouraging a new generation to carry forward the work of making childbirth safer and more dignified for all families. Her impact stretched far beyond hospitals and clinics into the lives of those she taught and supported.
Friends and patients have shared stories of her calm presence during emergencies, her fierce advocacy for women’s voices in the delivery room, and her ability to make every family feel seen and valued. These personal testimonies paint a picture of a healer who was loved not just for what she did, but for who she was.
As her loved ones grieve, ACNM has pledged to honor her legacy by intensifying efforts to tackle racial disparities in maternal care and by working closely with clinicians, communities, and policymakers to prevent future tragedies like this one. In this painful moment, her life’s work stands as a testament to courage, compassion, and the urgent need for change in how mothers are cared for in America.
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