Tanya Khemet Taiwo
Senior Program Officer, Birth Justice
(she/her)

A social justice activist, researcher, and midwife with over 20 years of experience, Tanya is dedicated to eliminating the disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. She is devoted to expanding maternal care, especially midwifery, and the field’s ability to successfully reach those who need support most.

“I believe that integration of the midwifery model of care – one that is grounded in centering the individual to provide respectful care – can transform our healthcare system to heal individuals, families, and communities,” says Tanya. As Senior Program Officer for Birth Justice, Tanya supports and deepens the program’s strategy and activities, including working with the Skyline board and team to ensure a strong focus on equity. Within her role, she continuously surveys the landscape to identify emerging innovations, policy opportunities, and trends in maternal health to further partnerships. Most importantly, Tanya works with grantees in all aspects of the grantmaking process, including assessment of impact, shared learning, and capacity building.

Tanya is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). She holds a Master of Public Health from San Jose State University and a PhD in Epidemiology from UC Davis. Concurrently with her role at Skyline, she is an Assistant Professor of Midwifery at Bastyr University. Tanya was previously Co-Director of the Community Engagement Core at the UC Davis Environmental Health Science Center and a midwife with CommuniCare Health Centers, providing care for a diverse Medicaid population in rural and urban clinics in Yolo County. She co-leads Project TENDR, a collaboration of advocates, clinicians and scientists working to reduce exposure of neurotoxic environmental chemicals in pregnant women and children.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Tanya is the descendant of at least two generations of midwives. She now lives with her husband in Sacramento, where she raised three beautiful daughters who were born at home into the hands of midwives. When she’s not working, Tanya enjoys hiking, rowing, and soul line dancing.