A baby’s first cry. A mother’s tears of joy. Those are the sounds of a magical time and a testament to the miracle of childbirth. However, not all experiences are joyful. According to the March of Dimes 2025 Report Card, the state of Georgia received a grade of F for preterm birth, infant mortality, leading causes of infant death and maternal health.
At Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program are gaining critical, hands-on experience in maternal and infant care. The program now features a state-of-the-art simulation mannequin, affectionately called Mama Ann, that realistically simulates childbirth and some complications of childbirth.
Dr. Susan Dougherty, RN, DNP, assistant professor of nursing at GGC, says: “It’s important for our students to know what to look for in their pregnant patients and newborns. Lectures give students the background information and what to expect, but the childbirth simulation brings clarity to what they’ve learned.”
Mama Ann stands out for her highly lifelike capabilities, helping students feel as though they are responding to a real clinical situation. She is controlled by computer from a separate room, where faculty observe students in the simulated hospital room through a one-way mirror.
“Mama Ann’s skin is realistic, and students can feel her pulse in several places on her body just like a human,” says Thienthao Tran, simulations lab coordinator. “Students can feel the contractions and listen to the fetal heart rate. Mama Ann’s eyes blink and can dilate. Students learn to watch for symptoms that could signal complications and react to them quickly.”
In addition to routine labor and delivery scenarios, Mama Ann can simulate serious complications, including seizures, post-partum hemorrhage, eclampsia, abnormal fetal positions such as breech presentation, when the baby is positioned feet or buttocks first, and shoulder dystocia, when the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck after the head is delivered. The simulation can also include umbilical cord complications.
Research supports the effectiveness of this type of training. A January 2026 systematic review published in Cureus found that simulation-based training for nurses resulted in a significant reduction in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
“By being able to recognize and react to any abnormalities the mother or infant experience before, during or after childbirth, our students will have the knowledge and hands-on skills to know what to do,” says Dougherty. “It’s important because nurses see OB clients in all parts of a hospital. They may encounter pregnant patients in the ED (emergency department) who were brought in as a result of an accident or other event, so they need to know how to handle those complications for the safety and well-being of the mother and infant.”
Doan Mallory, ’26, a Lawrenceville native, said the decision to become a nurse was inspired by her mother, a nurse, and her younger sister. “My younger sister is really allergic to nuts and has had a few near-death experiences because of it,” she says. “I want to know what to do and be that go-to person if something happens.”
Although she plans to work in critical care after graduation, the childbirth simulation has been invaluable. “It’s one thing to look at pictures and read the words, but it’s a whole other thing when it’s happening in real time,” says Mallory. “I want to get as much practice as possible so I can build my proficiency and critical thinking skills. In this situation, you’re caring for two humans, so knowing and recognizing early warning signs is important.”
EMC Foundation awards $73, 444 to local charities
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total of $88,444 in grants for organizations during its recent meeting, including $73,444 to organizations serving Gwinnett County.
$15,000 to Hope Clinic, Inc., Lawrenceville, for its Chronic Care Management Program to cover lab fees for uninsured and underinsured residents in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.- $10,665 to the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. for its Sight-Saving Surgery Program to provide cataract, glaucoma and retinal surgeries for uninsured residents in financial need in all counties in Jackson EMC’s service area.
- $10,000 to Giving Health, Inc., to provide on-demand telehealth services to individuals and families in need in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Jackson, Lumpkin and Madison counties.
- $7,500 to ALS United of Georgia for its Kostiuk ALS Care Grant Program to provide support for individuals with ALS with home care, medical expenses, equipment, supplies, home modifications and transportation for residents in Barrow, Clarke, Hall and Gwinnett counties.
- $7,000 to Bridging Hope, Gainesville, for its Advocacy and Trauma Recovery Program to provide trauma-informed counseling sessions for survivors of sexual violence in Banks, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties.
- $5,654 to Vision to Learn for its Atlanta Vision Program to provide mobile vision clinics with screenings, exams and prescription glasses for children in Gwinnett County.
- $4,000 to Project Adam Community Assistance Center, Winder, for its Community Assistance Center Program to provide food for participants in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Madison and Oglethorpe counties.
- $3,820 to Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc. for its Adopt-a-Family Program to provide housing, meals and transportation for families of children receiving critical medical care in all counties in Jackson EMC’s service area.
- $3,705 to Kate’s Club, Inc. for its KC Connects School Based Grief Group Program to support school groups for grieving children and teens in Clarke, Gwinnett, Jackson and Madison counties.
- $3,600 to Baptist Mobile Health Ministry Foundation, Inc. to provide dental supplies for its dental clinics for patients in need in Gwinnett County.
- $2,500 to Mother’s Advocacy Project, Inc. Norcross, for its Trauma Assimilation and Social Stability (TASS) program to provide transportation costs to counseling sessions for participants in Gwinnett County.
