Caption: Within the integrative wellness room, Maryam Reproductive Health + Wellness provides a range of essential services, including consultations, lactation support, as well as rejuvenating massage and acupuncture therapy. (Credit: Courtney Griffin)
On October 18, the much-anticipated Maryam Reproductive Health + Wellness clinic opened its doors, a pioneering maternal health facility dedicated to transforming the prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum experiences specifically for women of color.
Co-founders Myla Flores and Carla Williams established this center in direct response to the alarming maternal mortality rates prevalent in the Bronx, particularly among Black and brown communities. Their ambitious vision is to fundamentally redefine and revolutionize maternity and reproductive care within the borough.
Bruce McIntyre, a partner at Maryam and the founder of saveArose Foundation, expressed heartfelt gratitude during the clinic’s inaugural event. “Today we celebrate progress,” McIntyre stated passionately. “We are prioritizing better birthing solutions, aiming to create thriving families and cherished memories that should have never been lost.”
The catalyst for McIntyre’s activism was the tragic loss of his partner, Amber Rose Isaac, whose death he attributes to severe medical negligence at Montefiore Moses and Einstein hospitals. Disturbing experiences at Montefiore led the couple to seek assistance from Nubia Martin, a skilled birth assistant working with licensed midwives, to address Isaac’s high-risk pregnancy. Martin swiftly recognized Isaac’s dangerously low platelet levels, which indicated an urgent need for immediate care.
On the tragic final day of her life, April 20, 2020, medical professionals at Einstein diagnosed Isaac with HELLP syndrome, a rare and life-threatening pregnancy complication impacting both the liver and blood clotting processes. She sadly passed away shortly after an emergency cesarean section.
In New York City, the maternal mortality rate for Black women is alarmingly higher than that of their white counterparts. A recent study conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene revealed that between 2016 and 2020, Black women experienced a mortality rate of 101.1 deaths per 100,000 live births—an astounding four times higher than that of white women. These deeply-rooted racial disparities are linked to institutionalized racism, inadequate access to affordable quality healthcare, and implicit bias present within the system, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The Bronx’s mortality rate is higher than New York State’s as a whole, and the mortality rate for Black women is significantly elevated when compared to women of other races,” noted Ruben Diaz Jr., the former Bronx borough president, in a 2021 report.
In 2014, the Bronx faced a staggering maternal mortality rate of 36.2 deaths per 100,000 births, significantly higher than the citywide average of 18.9 deaths per 100,000 from 2011 to 2015. This troubling disparity is especially evident for Black women, who endured a mortality rate exceeding the citywide average at 51.0 deaths per 100,000 during the same period.
Flores’ dedication to reducing the risk of maternal death blossomed in 2022 with the founding of the Womb Bus, a mobile wellness hub that traverses the Bronx, delivering timely and essential services including perinatal support, preconception education, and reproductive counseling.
Maryam functions as a comprehensive three-office clinic, featuring reproductive and gynecological care, integrative wellness programs, and community education initiatives. Among the services offered are lactation support, acupuncture therapy, along with dedicated pregnancy and postpartum care.
With only two birth centers available citywide—and none located within the Bronx—women are often left with limited birthing options. To address this, Williams and Flores are collaborating with their team of experienced midwives and health professionals to cultivate community coalitions. Their ambitious goal for the upcoming fall is to introduce comprehensive maternal health legislation designed to enhance midwifery education and the establishment of more birth centers in the Bronx.
“I envision a future filled with flourishing birth centers,” Flores stated optimistically. “They must be recognized as legitimate and respected options within our healthcare system.”
**Interview with Bruce McIntyre, Co-Founder of Maryam Reproductive Health + Wellness**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Bruce. The opening of Maryam Reproductive Health + Wellness marks a significant milestone for maternal health in the Bronx. Can you tell us what motivated you and your co-founders, Myla Flores and Carla Williams, to establish this clinic?
**Bruce McIntyre:** Thank you for having me. Our primary motivation stemmed from the alarming maternal mortality rates, particularly among women of color in the Bronx. The statistics are shocking, with Black women facing a mortality rate that is four times higher than white women. We wanted to create a space that not only addresses these disparities but also provides comprehensive and culturally competent care tailored to the needs of our community.
**Interviewer:** That’s incredibly important. You’ve shared a personal story about the loss of your partner, Amber Rose Isaac, due to medical negligence. How has this experience shaped your vision for Maryam?
**Bruce McIntyre:** Amber’s tragic death was a catalyst for my activism. We had encountered serious flaws in the healthcare system when she was pregnant, and it highlighted the urgent need for better birthing solutions. Amber’s experience opened my eyes to the systemic issues many women face, especially in communities of color. Maryam is the embodiment of that vision—creating an environment where all women receive respectful, informed, and timely care throughout their pregnancy and beyond.
**Interviewer:** Maryam offers a range of services beyond traditional maternal care, including holistic options like acupuncture and lactation support. Why did you choose to incorporate these integrative health services?
**Bruce McIntyre:** We believe that maternal health is not just about medical care—it encompasses physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. By providing holistic services, we aim to support women in a more comprehensive way. Integrative therapies like acupuncture and massage can greatly enhance the pregnancy and postpartum experience, helping women to feel more balanced and cared for.
**Interviewer:** What do you hope to achieve with Maryam in the coming years?
**Bruce McIntyre:** Our goal is to become a model for maternal health care that prioritizes the needs of women of color. We hope to establish a network of support that empowers families, reduces mortality rates, and ultimately transforms the narrative around maternal health in the Bronx. We’re committed to advocacy and education, ensuring that the women we serve have the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Bruce, for sharing your insights and the powerful mission of Maryam. We wish you and your team all the best in this important endeavor.
**Bruce McIntyre:** Thank you! We’re excited about the future and truly believe that together, we can make a difference.