Lauren Kozlowski, MSW, MPH
Maternal and Infant Health Consultant
Office of Family Health Services, Virginia Department of Health

Lauren's current role at the Virginia Department of Health involves working closely with a variety of teams on legislation, programs, and policies impacting pregnant and breastfeeding individuals and families. Prior to that, she worked at the Center for Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. While there, she focused on maternal substance use prevention and counseling both the public and providers on a variety of perinatal exposures. She is currently serving as the Treasurer for the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists. Lauren received her B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Georgia, and her MSW and MPH from Boston University. 

Dr. Cynthia Romero, MD
Director, M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health

Dr. Cynthia Romero is a Professor of Family and Community Medicine and currently serves as the Director of the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health in the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. In that role, she is working to improve the health of all people in Hampton Roads through collaborative educational, clinical care and research activities focused on addressing health disparities and advancing health equity.   

Prior to joining the Brock Institute, Dr. Romero served as Virginia’s State Health Commissioner, the primary advisor on health policy for the Governor, General Assembly and Virginia Board of Health. Dr. Romero was in private practice for 20 years at Romero Family Practice with 16 of those years with her mother as her partner and her father as the office administrator.  While in practice, she also served 5 years as the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Quality and Medical Affairs for Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. She has been involved with health policy since medical school, has served as president of the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV), Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, Norfolk Academy of Medicine, and the Philippine Medical Association of Southeastern Virginia. She is an MSV Delegate to the American Medical Association House of Delegates. She is Chairman of the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater overseeing the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia. She is a member of the Mayor of Virginia Beach’s IDEA Commission (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) and board member of the Claude Moore Opportunities, Hampton Roads Community Foundation, Early Impact Virginia, Physicians for Peace as well as Chair of the Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System Board and Chair of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission.

Heather May, BSN, RNC-MNN
Perinatal Nurse Navigator, Centra Health

Heather is a highly experienced Perinatal Nurse Navigator with a deep commitment to supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals, particularly those facing substance use disorders and the challenges associated with social determinants of health. With over 25 years of nursing experience, Heather holds an RN diploma from Centra College of Nursing (2000) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, 2019). 

Since 2010, Heather has been a Certified Maternal Newborn Nurse through the National Certification Corporation (NCC) and has gained extensive experience in multiple roles within maternal and child health. Heather served as a RN Clinic Nurse in the MotherBaby Care Unit for five years and worked as a Women & Children’s Resource Team Nurse for 13 years. In this role, Heather cared for patients across various units including the MBU, ICN, Pediatric, Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, GYN Oncology Clinic, and Infusion Center. Additionally, Heather helped lead the NEST (Newborn Extended Stay and Transition) project, which supported keeping mothers and babies together during their hospital stay rather than separating them in the neonatal setting. 

As a Lead Preceptor and Education Champion, Heather provided guidance and mentorship to nursing staff. Since 2018, Heather has served as a Perinatal Nurse Navigator, specializing in coordinating care for pregnant and postpartum individuals struggling with addiction, mental health issues, and social determinants of health. In this role, Heather works closely with a multidisciplinary team to offer culturally appropriate, respectful care to this vulnerable population. One of Heather's significant contributions includes the creation of a maternal-neonatal consult that brings together a neonatologist, Perinatal Nurse Navigator, social worker, and lactation team to plan for the care of mothers and babies before birth.

Glenda Knight, LPC, CSAC
Women’s Services and Specialty Population Manager, Virginia Department of Behavioral health and Developmental Services 

Glenda M. Knight is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor with over 30 years of experience in Behavioral Health. She serves as the Women’s Services and Specialty Population Manager, Office of Substance Use Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. She provides leadership and technical assistance to Virginia’s Community Services Boards and oversees Project LINK programs supporting pregnant and parenting women affected by substance use disorders. 

Glenda’s background includes extensive work with military populations, court-involved individuals, and women with co-occurring needs. She is a recognized expert in gender-responsive SUD treatment and a passionate advocate for family-centered care. Her previous roles include 18 years at a Virginia CSB, where she led clinical services and home visiting programs for maternal and child health. 

A U.S. Army veteran and former Pentagon service member, Glenda is deeply committed to public service. She serves on multiple state committees focused on maternal and infant health and early childhood systems. Outside of work, she enjoys international travel with her husband and giving back through charitable book donations for children in her community.