Spelman Grad’s AI Platform Tackles Maternal Health

Neshe’ Conley, a Spelman College alumna, is making significant strides in improving health outcomes for Black women. She’s been awarded over $300,000 from UnitedHealthcare for EchoHer, an innovative AI-driven platform designed to enhance storytelling and data analysis in healthcare. Conley’s journey is deeply personal, fueled by her own experiences and a powerful desire to create equitable systems for women of color.

From Surgeon Aspirations to Healthcare Advocacy

Originally aspiring to be a cardiothoracic plastic surgeon, Conley’s path shifted after her grandmother’s passing shortly after her graduation from Spelman in 2013. This event prompted her to pivot towards working within the healthcare space, initially in administration roles at a trauma center, behavioral health emergency room, and labor and delivery unit. While interacting with patients, she noticed a significant gap between the services provided and the actual community needs, sparking a desire for change.

“I always had that feeling that I wanted to do something different. I wanted to change how the healthcare space or how the resources in the community look for the community of color,” Conley shared. This conviction led her to focus intensely on maternal health.

Personal Experiences Fueling a Mission

Conley’s own journey as a mother became a powerful catalyst. After experiencing a miscarriage and being denied mental health resources by her OBGYN, she faced alarming symptoms during her second pregnancy, including severe migraines and vision issues, which were dismissed by her doctor. Her blood pressure spiked dangerously high after delivery, requiring hospitalization and highlighting a potentially life-threatening oversight.

The challenges continued with her third child during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she experienced chest pains and breathing difficulties, further emphasizing the need for attentive, culturally competent care. These experiences solidified her resolve to create change. “At that moment, I realized that I can’t continue to live in a world where I’m experiencing these things and I know others are experiencing these things and not do something about it,” Conley stated.

Launching Ebony Women Health Corp. and EchoHer

After earning a master’s degree in public health from Baylor University and moving to Charlotte, NC, Conley launched the Ebony Women Health Corp. (EWHC) in April 2024. EWHC aims to ensure health organizations implement equitable systems for women of color, offering consulting, training, and resource development.

Alongside EWHC, Conley developed EchoHer, an AI-powered platform that officially launches as an app in November. EchoHer focuses on the “holistic experience for women and birthing individuals of color” by gathering quantitative data through surveys and assessments, alongside personal narratives. AI then identifies patterns, amplifies voices, and translates these lived experiences into actionable insights.

AI-Powered Insights for Faster, Better Care

Conley explained that EchoHer’s trends can pinpoint gaps in Black maternal and mental health, informing research, program development, and provider training. Client organizations can access a dashboard to view this data. One significant trend identified by the app’s AI is the rise in Black women over 40 having babies, highlighting evolving demographics that require tailored health approaches.

The platform also addresses the slow pace of traditional public health data release. “In public health, data doesn’t come out for at least two to three years after research… Using AI and EchoHer allows us to do this right then and there once we get a survey,” Conley noted. EchoHer also features a community chat for users to ask questions, read articles, and join expert-led support groups, emphasizing awareness and empowerment without providing medical advice.

Conley encourages birthing individuals to join EchoHer, which soft-launched in September. With the recent $329,000 funding award from UnitedHealthcare, Conley hopes to offer the app free of charge to mothers through partner investments, further expanding its reach and impact.