Perinatal Leaders in Action: Belinda Pettiford, MPH, Head of Women’s Health Branch

For more than 30 years, Belinda has worked in public health, creating positive change for North Carolina’s women and children.

Since November 1995, she has been with the North Carolina Division of Public Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Section (Title V) working in multiple capacities, including Program Manager for Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Start Baby Love Plus (3 federally funded perinatal disparities programs), and just before becoming Head of the Women’s Health Branch, Belinda served for 12 years as the Perinatal Health and Family Support Unit Supervisor.

In her role as Branch Head, Belinda provides oversight and guidance to the state’s maternal health, family planning, preconception health, teen pregnancy prevention, sickle cell, tobacco use, and numerous programs focused on equity in birth outcomes.

Belinda has been successfully leading the Perinatal Strategic Plan since 2016.  The plan is a collaboration from partners around NC working to improve the health of women and men of childbearing age, babies, and address infant mortality and maternal health in NC.

She has served on and chaired several national and state committees, including the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Workforce Leadership Committee, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Expert Panel on Preconception Health and Healthcare, and NC Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network (CoIIN).

In addition, she co-chairs the Perinatal Health Committee of the Child Fatality Task Force (CFTF) within the state.  The CFTF is a legislative study commission directed by the NC General Assembly. Belinda serves on the board of AMCHP and the National Healthy Start Association Board of Directors.

Belinda received her Masters of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and undergraduate degrees from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.