What inspired you to join Project ECHO?

I was inspired to join ECHO after attending ECHO sessions. Having been a practitioner who really benefited from ECHO, I saw the value of it.

Maternal health has so many facets to it and so many providers that are involved in the live of a pregnant person and child. You really need a place where you can bring people together to get cohesive, evidence-based information. ECHO does that in a really unique way. ECHO sessions also bring in so many different players, not just clinicians. It makes a space where everyone can have a central space for sharing and reaching practitioners. 

How does your background prepare you for this role?

I’ve been a midwife since 2005. In 20 years, I’ve done a lot of work in maternal and child health. I’ve worked as an international board-certified lactation consultant and I’ve run an outpatient lactation clinic. I’ve also worked overseas—in the Pacific Islands—and I trained in New Zealand.  

I also grew up in India, so I understand the low- and middle-income country context. My background lends itself to the topic of maternal and child health and ECHO’s global work.

What’s one moment at ECHO you’re especially proud of?

I am really proud of our New Mexico Improving Perinatal Health Program. They started as a space where folks could learn evidence-based information. They completely pivoted their program by centering lived experience and intersectionality. That was a really proud moment for me because I could see the versatility of the ECHO Model – it’s not just for clinical didactics.

Now, the program centers the voices of people most impacted by the work, bringing them in as subject matter experts. They bring in lived experience from all angles: folks who are in the field and folks who are receiving the care. 

What excites you most about the future of ECHO?

What’s most exciting for me in the maternal and child health space is the potential for growth. A big part of the maternal and child health challenge is access to care. Maternity care deserts are a huge part of why the U.S. has high maternal mortality rates.

Folks drive for an hour, two hours, or three hours to reach their prenatal appointments. If we could get more family practice practitioners, nurses, and nurse midwives to mobilize in those communities, that would be great.

There’s also so much potential for upskilling adjunct clinical providers. They might touch on maternity care – peer health workers and behavioral health specialists, for instance – but they don’t have a specialty in that area, and that’s a huge area for growth that we’re getting into. 

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I have three young children, so I’m busy with family life. I love watching them at their sports games and just being with them. I also really enjoy live music, particularly world music. I also really enjoy cooking and baking – I used to be a baker. Being with family and friends and going out are things I love to do. 

*Connect with Simran Priel on Linked In or read our stories about Project ECHO’s maternal child health efforts.

*Featured Image: Priel with her children at Cannon Beach, OR, July 2024.