---
title: Karen Sheffield-Abdullah
date: 2026-08-25T00:00:00-04:00
author: Grace Koch
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/people/karen-sheffield-abdullah"
section: People
---
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[Who We Are](/who-we-are)# Karen Sheffield-Abdullah

Content Expert, [Pregnancy & Birth](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/subject-area/pregnancy-birth)

![Headshotred Karen Sheffield Abdullah](data:image/png;base64,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)

Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdullah is a researcher, assistant professor, mindfulness coach, and thought leader specializing in health inequities within maternal morbidity and mortality, Black perinatal mental health, and women’s reproductive health.

Her work centers on addressing the disparities faced by Black birthing people, particularly through holistic approaches such as mindfulness-based stress reduction to alleviate stress and psychological distress in underserved communities.

Dr. Sheffield-Abdullah's research is guided by the "Superwoman Schema," a conceptual framework developed by Dr. Cheryl Woods Giscombe. This framework allows her to explore the unique stress and anxiety experiences of Black birthing individuals and their impact on pregnancy outcomes.

She is deeply committed to destigmatizing mental health within the Black community and envisions a world where Black women are seen, heard, and valued.

Her research has been published in prestigious journals such as Health Equity, Health Affairs, the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, the Journal of Holistic Nursing, and Epigenetics.

She has also been a vocal advocate for improving patient-provider communication on perinatal mental health and shared decision-making.

Dr. Sheffield-Abdullah is actively involved in efforts to achieve health equity, serving on the North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee and advising organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the CDC.

Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally, with features in The New York Times, Politico, and NPR’s "All Things Considered."

Dr. Sheffield-Abdullah holds a bachelor of arts degree in physics and mathematics from Connecticut College, a master of science in nursing with a specialty in nurse-midwifery from Yale University School of Nursing, and a PhD in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and listening to neo-soul while sipping ginger tea.

> It is a pleasure to partner with and advise OBOS to advance our mutual interests of providing evidenced based information to women and gender expansive people regarding health, sexuality and reproductive justice.

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[read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us)

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