Wanda Irving, MPA is forever the mother of Dr. Shalon Irving and Co-Founder of Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project (DSMAP), Inc.

DSMAP is a community driven, non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating Black maternal health disparities. The organization was established to honor Wanda’s daughter, Dr. Shalon, who passed away from preventable pregnancy complications in January 2017, three weeks after giving birth to her only child. Dr. Shalon was a brilliant researcher and fierce health equity champion. In an effort to continue Dr. Shalon’s legacy, Wanda co-founded DSMAP, where she also serves as President of the Board of Directors and Acting President of the organization.

Prior to establishing DSMAP, Wanda worked in various leadership roles in federal agencies and city organizations that provided consultative services and technical assistance to nonprofits across the country.  Wanda possesses years of experience in organizational development and community outreach and has led numerous strategic initiatives and programs. Wanda is now fully dedicated to the mission of DSMAP and utilizes her keen expertise to enhance organizational resources such as Believe Her, an anonymous peer support app aimed to increase awareness of the Black maternal health crisis and promote evidence-based strategies that improve health outcomes for Black birthing people and families.

Wanda is a highly sought-after health equity advocate appearing on national and influential media outlets such as NPR, MSNBC, GMA, Newsy, REVOLT, and Health Affairs, a peer-reviewed healthcare journal to name a few. To date, Wanda has appeared before numerous organizations reaching tens of thousands, with the goal of ending preventable Black maternal deaths in the United States. The work of DSMAP is based on the life mantra of Dr. Shalon Irving: “I see inequity wherever it exists. I am not afraid to call it by name and work hard to eliminate it. I vow to create a better earth.” At DSMAP we honor Dr. Shalon’s vow by working to remove barriers, biases, and disparate practices that impede access to equitable, quality care for Black women and birthing people.