Missouri has made notable progress in addressing maternal mental health challenges, according to the 2026 maternal mental health report cards, which assess 27 indicators across four key areas: screening and identification, access to providers and treatment, policy and reimbursement, and parental support services.

"Although significant work remains, Missouri's transition from a failing grade to a passing evaluation in maternal mental health support marks a major achievement," said Dr. Kimberly Brandt, a perinatal psychiatrist at Mercy. "As Missouri's largest provider of obstetric care by volume, Mercy has played an important role in driving this positive momentum."

A number of innovative programs developed by Mercy, which combine behavioral health and women's healthcare services, have contributed to the state's improved outcomes. These initiatives include:

"Mercy delivers more babies in Missouri than any other healthcare system, and we recognize our responsibility to support women throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period, especially when they are most vulnerable," said Dr. Dan Jackson, a maternal-fetal medicine physician and addiction medicine specialist at Mercy.

Mercy Hospital St. Louis records the highest number of births among hospitals in Missouri. The hospital offers a comprehensive range of maternal and neonatal services, from low-intervention birthing options and adult intensive care for unexpected complications to an integrated children's hospital featuring a Level IV neonatal intensive care unit. This extensive continuum of care enables families to remain together while receiving specialized treatment.

Mercy is among the 15 largest healthcare systems in the United States and has been recognized by NRC Health as the nation's leading large health system for patient experience. The organization provides care to millions of patients annually and operates one of the country's largest and highest-performing Accountable Care Organizations in terms of quality and cost efficiency.

Mercy's integrated, multi-state healthcare network includes 55 acute care and specialty hospitals focused on areas such as cardiac care, pediatrics, orthopedics, and rehabilitation, along with urgent care centers, imaging facilities, pharmacies, and more than 1,000 physician practices and outpatient locations. Supported by over 5,000 physicians and advanced practitioners and more than 50,000 caregivers, Mercy serves communities across Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, while also maintaining clinics, outpatient services, and outreach programs in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. During fiscal year 2025, Mercy contributed more than $500 million in free care and community benefits, including charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid services.

The Preeclampsia Foundation has announced a call for Letters of Intent under its Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants program. This initiative aims to advance scientific discoveries that could eventually eliminate the need for premature delivery as a treatment for severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and other pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. Established in memory of Peter Joseph Pappas, the infant son of preeclampsia survivor Lauren Pappas and her husband Clement, the program plans to distribute multiple research grants in 2025, with total funding of up to $200,000 over two years.

Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals addressing priority gaps identified during a 2020 workshop on preeclampsia jointly organized by the Preeclampsia Foundation and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Relevant topics may include investigating the biological mechanisms and subtypes of preeclampsia, developing more accurate diagnostic or predictive tools, exploring treatments that can prevent, reverse, or stop placental and organ damage associated with the disease, and promoting preconception and inter-conception health to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Preference will be given to projects that utilize or expand resources available through the Preeclampsia Registry™, which includes self-reported information, whole-exome sequencing data, and clinical records. Proposals that generate new datasets or biological samples suitable for inclusion in the Registry are also encouraged. Detailed eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.

The grant program honors Peter Pappas, who was born at 29 weeks following complications from severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Since its inception, the fund has supported nearly a dozen research projects focused on areas such as potential treatments, genetic factors, and the role of placental function in the development of preeclampsia.

Reflecting on their motivation, Lauren Pappas shared that the loss of their son after a 29-week delivery caused by preeclampsia inspired the family to establish the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund to help prevent similar tragedies for others.

Clement Pappas noted that continued support from relatives, friends, and the Foundation has enabled meaningful progress toward the long-term objective of eliminating preterm births caused by preeclampsia by the year 2050.

Additional information about the funding opportunity is available online. Letters of Intent must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 14, 2026.