Rhonda Sims

Rhonda Sims served as a panelist on Palmetto Perspectives: Saving Moms.

Rhonda Sims, affectionately known as "Rho," is a powerful advocate transforming maternal health, driven by personal experience and a deep commitment to equity. The tragic loss of two friends after childbirth, coupled with her own postpartum challenges, ignited a passion for change. Rho champions fair maternal health practices, amplifying the voices of women of color. As Program Manager for Outreach with the Preeclampsia Foundation's MoMMA's Voices program, she directly addresses maternal mortality and morbidity through empowering and equipping patient voices to be integrated in quality improvement practices. 

Rho founded The Black Maternal Health Collective, a statewide coalition providing vital resources and advocacy, and led Columbia's inaugural Black Maternal Health Week in 2024. Her expertise extends to key policy initiatives, serving on the South Carolina Birth Outcomes Initiative, the Rural Maternal Health Task Force, and the SC Maternal Health Task Force. She is also a patient reviewer for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Through her podcast, "The Mom Mic," and community events, Rho creates spaces for authentic dialogue. A graduate of the University of South Carolina and an MPH candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine, Rho resides in Columbia with her husband Jermaine and their four children. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a SC native and an active parent in the Richland Two School District.