Research Interests

Women’s Health, Midwifery, Maternal Mortality, Birth Outcomes, Perinatal Substance Use Disorders, Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Simulation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Bio

Demetrice Smith is an instructor of clinical nursing and currently serves as the Assistant Program Director of Nurse Midwifery at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans (LSUHSC-NO). She is dually trained as Certified Nurse Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner. Demetrice completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice with a specialization in Educational Leadership from American Sentinel University College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Post University. Demetrice is also a wife and a mom with lived experience in pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and infant loss.

Dr. Smith has immense experience in women’s health. She has been engaged in community teaching for many years. She is the founder of Melanated Midwife, a platform created for the educational empowerment of Black and Brown birthing persons. Here, she guides women to take charge of their own pregnancy and health journey.  Demetrice works tirelessly to address infant and maternal mortality within Louisiana.  She serves as a committee member of the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) for Louisiana, a steering committee member of the New Orleans Regional Partnership Grant’s Interagency Coordinating Council, an organizational lead for Healthy Start's New Orleans, a representative for the Louisiana State Nurses Association Taskforce Resolution 20, and an Evidence Based Birth Certified Instructor.

Dr. Demetrice Smith teaches in the graduate and undergraduate nursing programs in women’s health and nurse midwifery at LSUHSC-NO. She also functions as the student faculty advisor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the school of nursing.

Publications/Presentations

Smith, D., Specht, D., Luckett, T., & Roberson, J. (2023). Interdisciplinary Healthcare Providers’ and Students' Attitudes Towards Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy and the Impact of Education.