Shana Phillips C.D.ADV-T, LPN, EMT-B
Founder/Executive Director
Shana Phillips is a leading advocate for maternal health, renowned for her dedication over the past 13 years to advancing birth justice and empowering families. Her commitment to improving maternal and infant care is deeply personal, stemming from her own family’s experience with infant loss, which ignited her passion for ensuring equitable care for all families, especially those in underserved communities.
In 2017, Shana expanded her impact by joining the University of Chicago’s Department of Obstetrics and Family Planning as a Research Assistant. There, she contributed to research on birth justice and women’s healthcare on Chicago’s South Side, deepening her understanding of systemic inequities and evidence-based practices in maternal health.
Her expertise and passion for mentorship led Shana to become the Mentor Program Coordinator at Chicago Volunteer Doulas from 2018-2021. In this role, she mentored over 300 doulas, developing innovative training strategies and addressing gaps in traditional doula education. This work helped shape the next generation of culturally competent birth workers committed to providing high-quality care.
In 2019, Shana founded Gifted Hands International and created the G.I.F.T. training method, a unique approach to doula education designed to improve student retention and better prepare doulas for the complexities of birth work. Under her leadership, Gifted Hands International has become a recognized leader in doula training, certifying over 100 doulas across 9 states and 2 countries.
Shana is also widely sought after for her expertise in maternal health, consulting with community organizations, clinics, and government entities on designing and improving doula programs and maternal health services. She has developed advanced training programs for both birth workers and nurses, helping to elevate the standard of care in the field.
Currently, Shana serves on the Medicaid Advisory Committee for both Illinois and Indiana, where she works to shape Medicaid reimbursement programs for doulas, advocating for increased access to essential birth support services. She is also a member of the Technical Expert Panel at Yale University, contributing to the development of the Birthing-Friendly Hospital Standards to improve maternal and infant care nationwide. Outside of her professional work, Shana enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Dorian, and their 2-year-old daughter, Nova, cherishing the balance between family life and her impactful career.
With a career built on innovation, leadership, and a deep passion for maternal health equity, Shana Phillips continues to be a driving force in the doula community and beyond. She is dedicated to ensuring that every family, regardless of background, has access to the education, care, and support they need for an empowered and positive birth experience.
Alexis Waddell C.D.ADV-T, MAOL
Opporations Manager
Hazel Gill C.D.Adv-T
Program Manager
Latisha Stapleton C.D.Adv-T,MA
Program Instructor
Latisha Stapleton is a Maternal and Child Health Specialist, and the owner/operator of Mother May I, Inc. She has her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences and a dual M.A. in Human Dynamics and Innovative Leadership. Latisha began her career serving pregnant and parenting families on Chicago’s west side 20 years ago, when she was hired to be a case manager by a dynamic Family Practice OB GYN. At the time, the community was extremely high risk for pre and postnatal maternal mortality so during her 6 years of employment, Latisha received direct training in medical terminology, maternal/fetal anatomy and physiology, labor and delivery, and medical records management and she gained the experience of supporting both vaginal and cesarean births. She also became a certified co-facilitator in the Centering Pregnancy group model, which allowed her to teach and graduate three classes of expecting parents; preparing and empowering them for labor, delivery, and parenting a newborn. Latisha’s history was the foundation that ignited her passion to press forward and create an agency that would serve the entire pregnant or parenting family by offering doula support, child/family assessments, family management and so much more. In 2019 her business Mother May I, Inc was established to do just that. In 2020, Latisha had the absolute pleasure of meeting Shana of GHI, and she became a graduate of her inaugural doula class. After graduating Latisha was so “GHI proud” that she stayed and grew to substitute Monday Night Live sessions and teach newborn care at clinicals. Now, she is officially GHI staff and is the creator and educator of the Postpartum Doula program. Latisha is a wife and a mom of four, outside of her relationship with God, marriage & family is her first love. She believes that all families should have the support to communicate their needs, connect to services, and create positive lasting memories with one another.
Cristen Bennett C.D.Adv-T
Program Administrator and Student Liaison
Cristen Bennett is the Co-founder of B&B business development & Marketing, a consulting firm that helps connect businesses to their target markets, as well as, trains companies in administration and customer service skills. Cristen developed a passion for birth justice after experiencing poor care during the birth of her daughter. She was treated as if she was uneducated and her reports of pain were ignored. As a result she labored all night in the hospital alone with the nursing staff right outside her door but never coming to check on her because they didn’t believe she was truly in labor. By the time they came to check on her the next morning her baby was ready to be delivered! This poor treatment prompted Cristen to tell her story in hopes that no one would have to experience the same lack of care she did. When Cristen learned that Gifted Hands international needed a program administrator it was a no brainer! As administrator and student liaison, Cristen handles all of GHI’s public communications as wells as facilitates communication between students and staff. She assists with student on boarding and is just an overall champion helping them navigate the program.