Vu-An Foster MPH DrPH Student

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Founder & Executive Director, Life After 2 Losses, Inc. | Business Owner, Vu-An Foster LLC |
Published Author • Public Health Expert • Consultant • Professor • Community Advisory Committee Member, NJ Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Authority

Look who I ran into today while establishing care with my new provider!The one and only Dr. Antonia Francis Oladipo, a p...
08/26/2026

Look who I ran into today while establishing care with my new provider!

The one and only Dr. Antonia Francis Oladipo, a physician I deeply respect and had the privilege of appearing alongside in a documentary about maternal health.

Dr. Oladipo has actually helped me find both my previous provider and now my new provider following my two preventable second-trimester pregnancy losses and nearly losing my life to severe postpartum preeclampsia.

Many of you know my story. If you need a reminder, or you're new to my network, I'll share an article below that tells part of it:

⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2022/05/happy-mothers-day-to-the-women-who-arent-listened-to-calavia-robertson.html

Recently, my provider transitioned primarily to the hospital to deliver babies, which meant continuing my care with other providers in the practice who did not look like me.

For me, and where I am in my journey, representation moving forward matters.
There is also a larger public health conversation here.

In 2024, the maternal mortality rate for Black women in the United States was 44.8 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with 14.2 for White women. More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

Research on racial concordance has also found that Black patients can report stronger communication, greater trust, and better patient experiences when receiving care from Black physicians.

Does having a Black physician automatically guarantee excellent care? No.
But representation matters. Being heard matters. Being believed matters. Being treated with dignity and respect matters.

And after everything I have experienced, being intentional about who I trust with my body matters.

Someday, I hope to have a completely different pregnancy experience. One that not only ends with a healthy, living baby in my arms, but with me walking out as a healthy mom, knowing I was heard, respected, treated with dignity, and felt safe throughout my entire journey.

When that time comes, it feels good knowing I am taking steps now to make sure I am in good hands.

I cannot rewrite what happened to me.

But I can be intentional about what happens next.

The advocate is still a patient.

And today, I advocated for her.

Who remembers the iconic movie Legally Blonde featuring Elle Woods?Elle famously went to Harvard Law after being told th...
08/26/2026

Who remembers the iconic movie Legally Blonde featuring Elle Woods?

Elle famously went to Harvard Law after being told that the man she loved needed a “Jackie,” not a “Marilyn.”

But what if there is room to be both?

During our DrPH immersion week, I had the opportunity to hear an incredible keynote address from Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, MA In a room full of colleagues, I thanked Brian for his candor and his reminder to remain true to who we are as leaders. I shared that I am often known as a disruptor, the person willing to shake things up to create systemic change.

But what I left unsaid was the commitment I made to myself in this season: I will show up entirely as my authentic self.

I refuse to subscribe to anyone else's idea of what a woman in my position “should” look like.

I am fully aware that before I even open my mouth, my visual choices may disrupt what people expect academia to look like. But this is the version of me that allows me to show up as my most confident, authentic self.

You can show up boldly feminine, fully styled, and still be a powerful, substantive leader in the room.

That's what I love about Elle's character. Her classmates were highly skeptical of her at first. Eventually, they couldn't ignore her work ethic, her compassion, her heart, or her relentless determination to uncover the truth.

She didn't become excellent by becoming less of herself.
And neither will I.

If you didn't know it before, know it now: excellence doesn't have a uniform.

Do the work. Shake the table. And do it entirely as yourself.

And if you're still unclear...

Will I keep disrupting public health spaces while staying true to exactly who I am?

You bet your ass I will!

Time is an interesting construct.I plan to share more about my week in Washington, DC, for my The George Washington Univ...
08/24/2026

Time is an interesting construct.

I plan to share more about my week in Washington, DC, for my The George Washington University- Milken Institute School of Public Health DrPH immersion, but before I do, I want to share a personal reflection.

Throughout the week, I heard from other mothers about what it has meant to pursue a DrPH while raising children. One of our TAs told me, “I’m so proud of you. You brought your son, you drop him off at daycare, come to the program, go back to get him, and do it all over again.”

I had colleagues ask if there was not someone I could trust to keep him while I was away.

But for me, it was about time.

As a loss mama, I see time through a lens I hope most people never have to experience. We live as though we have an infinite amount of it, but the truth is, the clock is always ticking.
No matter what is happening in my life, I want to be the one who puts my son to bed.

So even after long days at immersion, I picked King up. We went back to our hotel, ate dinner, talked about our day, played a game, read a book, and went to bed. And throughout this entire experience, I also got to make some amazing memories with him.

I will never have those moments with my daughters. That has taught me to be deeply intentional about the moments I do have with my son.

I want the degrees. I want the career. I want the impact. But I never want to look back at everything I accomplished and realize my child grew up while I was busy accomplishing it.

At the end of the week, I looked at him and said, “Wow, I did it.”

He immediately corrected me:

“No, Mama. We did it.”

And he was right. 💙

Honored to see Life After 2 Losses featured in the Ms. Foundation for Women's new report, Birth Justice Now: How Ms. Fou...
08/07/2026

Honored to see Life After 2 Losses featured in the Ms. Foundation for Women's new report, Birth Justice Now: How Ms. Foundation for Women is resourcing community-based birth justice solutions.

After experiencing two preventable pregnancy losses, I founded Life After 2 Losses with a vision of transforming grief into advocacy. Today, our work extends beyond support services to advancing maternal and infant health, strengthening health literacy, and partnering with communities and policymakers to create lasting systems change.

I'm especially grateful that the report recognizes the importance of lived experience in shaping policy and systems change and highlights Life After 2 Losses alongside organizations advancing birth justice across the country.

Receiving this recognition while continuing my Doctor of Public Health journey at The George Washington University-Milken Institute School of Public Health feels especially meaningful. It reminds me that lived experience, community leadership, and academic scholarship all have a place in shaping the future of public health.

Thank you to the Ms. Foundation for Women, especially Sona Smith, and everyone who contributed to this report for investing in community-led solutions and amplifying the work of grassroots organizations.

The work continues.

Link for the full report

https://lnkd.in/gBKHBpmt

Today I’m attending the in-person portion of the New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference 2026 hosted by New Jerse...
06/12/2026

Today I’m attending the in-person portion of the New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference 2026 hosted by New Jersey Future and American Planning Association to further explore how policy, equity, housing, transportation, infrastructure, and community development all intersect with public health outcomes.

As a DrPH scholar and nonprofit leader for Life After 2 Losses , I’ve become increasingly intentional about the environments and conversations I choose to engage in. I’m continuing to move into spaces where discussions surrounding policy, equity, housing, infrastructure, transportation, and community development are helping shape the future of public health and overall community well-being.

One thing this leadership journey continues to teach me is that meaningful change happens through cross-sector collaboration and the willingness to understand systems beyond our immediate field of work.

Special thank you to the RWJF Jegna Council for sponsoring my registration and continuing to invest in leaders committed to equity-centered change across communities.

Looking forward to the breakout sessions:
“Reimagining Community: Development, Shared Ownership, and Building the Future We Choose” and “The New State Plan Era: Coordinating Growth, Equity, and Resilience Across New Jersey.”

Last night, I had the honor of attending the Wilhelmina Holder Fellowship Graduation Celebration hosted by The Citizen S...
05/29/2026

Last night, I had the honor of attending the Wilhelmina Holder Fellowship Graduation Celebration hosted by The Citizen Service at the Yacht Club with Chad-soma Foster and my son, King.✨

What made the evening especially meaningful for me was reflecting on the fact that before her passing, I had the privilege of serving alongside Wilhelmina Holder as a community member. Even more full circle, she was one of the people who helped me prepare for my SATs at the Newark Public Library NJ before I headed off to college.

So to sit in that room honoring her legacy while watching the next generation of fellows step into leadership felt incredibly powerful.

One thing that really stayed with me from Darren Freedom Green ’s remarks was his reminder that while photo moments and recognition are beautiful, the real impact is the work happening behind the scenes in our communities every single day.

He spoke about several areas where Civic Trustee is helping create change, but the one that deeply resonated with me was healthcare.

As someone whose advocacy journey was born from personal loss and the realities families face navigating maternal healthcare systems, hearing that reminder hit differently. It reminded me that purpose driven work is not always glamorous, but it is necessary.

Sometimes impact looks like policy conversations.�Sometimes it looks like community organizing.�Sometimes it looks like creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

May Wilhelmina Holder’s legacy continue to live on through the work these young fellows will go on to do in our communities. 🤍 Michelle Tatum-Curry, MPH, MPA, CDP, HS-BCP

Deeply honored to be featured by the New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance (NJBEFA) as part of their Ecosystem of Wel...
05/07/2026

Deeply honored to be featured by the New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance (NJBEFA) as part of their Ecosystem of Wellness spotlight series.

What started in 2018 as a blog created through grief and lived experience has grown into Life After 2 Losses, a movement rooted in advocacy, education, systems change, and community healing.

I’m especially grateful to NJBEFA for believing in this work before there was a formal website, infrastructure, or national recognition. That early support helped lay the foundation for everything that followed.

Today, our work has expanded beyond community programming into academic and systems spaces, helping shape conversations around birth justice, maternal health equity, and lived-experience advocacy.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, partnered with, and believed in the vision of Life After 2 Losses along the way. We’re just getting started.

I recently attended a golf networking event hosted by the New Jersey Chapter: Ladies Executive Golf Society, and I’m hon...
05/01/2026

I recently attended a golf networking event hosted by the New Jersey Chapter: Ladies Executive Golf Society, and I’m honestly still reflecting on the experience.

I’m currently considering membership as I continue being intentional about the spaces I step into especially ones that center women, leadership, and community.

What I loved most is how golf creates space for connection in a different way. It’s not just about the game it’s about relationships, access, and the conversations that happen in those environments.
It actually reminded me of attending William Paterson University of New Jersey’s golf fundraiser dinner and realizing how many opportunities are created in rooms like this.

We also heard from Juliet Little, a PGA/LPGA teaching professional here in New Jersey, who is doing incredible work helping women learn and grow in the game. I always appreciate seeing women not just in the space but leading in it.

As I continue my DrPH journey, I’m paying close attention to the environments that align with where I’m going not just where I’ve been.

Leadership doesn’t start after the credentials are earned…it’s something you step into while you’re earning them.On my D...
04/27/2026

Leadership doesn’t start after the credentials are earned…it’s something you step into while you’re earning them.

On my Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) journey, I’m intentional about not waiting for the title to validate the work. The impact I’m building doesn’t begin at graduation…it’s happening now.

That’s why I’m proud to share that I’ve joined The Junior League of Montclair-Newark, Inc. (JLMN).

For me, this isn’t just membership. It’s alignment. It’s community. It’s leadership in practice.

JLMN’s commitment to developing women leaders and strengthening families across Montclair and Newark directly reflects the kind of impact I’m dedicated to advancingespecially in maternal and infant health equity.

Stepping into spaces like this, while still in the process of earning my DrPH, is a reminder that leadership isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you walk in, build, and embody in real time.

Looking forward to growing, contributing, and creating impact alongside a powerful network of women.
Hope to see you at their upcoming fundraiser.

SAVE THE DATE:

The Walnut Street Fair
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Montclair, NJ

I was invited by Marla Higginbotham to attend CASA for Children of Essex County Ladies Night: The Power of Women Who Sho...
04/23/2026

I was invited by Marla Higginbotham to attend CASA for Children of Essex County Ladies Night: The Power of Women Who Show Up. Because I believe deeply in impact, advocacy, and the power of women showing up for one another, I knew I had to be in that room.

I jotted down some notes during the panel discussion…messages I know I’m meant to carry into my next chapter and share with you.

✨ Success comes from an unwavering commitment to effect change.
✨ We have to show up for each other before we are burnt out.
✨ Unapologetically listen to your instinct.
✨ Sometimes impact doesn’t start with recognition…it starts with seeing a problem and choosing to be part of the solution.

As the panel discussion started to wrap up, we were tasked with the following question:
What is one thing you are going to do differently after tonight?

So I answered it in real time.

For me, it’s this:
�I am stepping into my next identity publicly.
Dr. Vu-An Foster.

When I met the author, Grace L. Williams , I shared my story, told her I’m a spiritual girlie as well, and spoke about my next chapter. I quoted the book and said, speaking of me, that I’m giving her credit by defining it for myself as honoring the woman I am becoming.

I am honoring the woman I am becoming as I trust my path and stop minimizing the vision.

Because the truth is:
�You can’t step into your future if you’re still waiting for permission to claim it.

So this is me, answering that question:

I am showing up as her even while I am on the path to earning the credentials.�I am trusting my instinct.�And I am giving her credit.

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200 Cooper Ave
Upper Montclair, NJ
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