Marshara Fross, PhD, MPH, CPH

Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Public Health

Contact Info

• Academic Email: frossm@usf.edu

Biography

Marshara Fross is a dedicated perinatal and birth equity researcher with over 10+ years of experience working in the field of maternal and child health. Marshara engages in mixed methodological research broadly centered around mitigating the intersectional oppression of African American/Black Mommas, birthing people, babies, and their families. Her work incorporates both qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore the underlying mechanisms that manifest as adverse health outcomes for minority populations. As a passionate and driven perinatal justice scholar, she is committed to conducting rigorous, innovative research to inform data-driven strategies, and recommendations to transform structural systems of disadvantage and promote racial equity in the birthing environment. Previously, Marshara was employed as an undergraduate instructor who taught within the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health, as well as a Graduate Research Associate for Florida’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Committee and Florida’s Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Initiative Evaluation, among other projects. In her career, she strives to promote equitable perinatal health outcomes through the provision of respectful maternity care in the birthing environment, systems of obstetric care, and societal infrastructure.