News

Baby 1st Network appoints new executive director and interim board president, effective July 1

Jul 27, 2018

TOLEDO, Ohio – Baby 1st Network Board of Directors announces the appointment of Stacy Scott, Ph.D., MPA, as executive director, and Dr. Augustus Garland Parker III, M.D. to serve as interim president of the board of directors, effective July 1, 2018.  

Baby 1st Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting families who have lost a child from sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Celebrating its 40-year anniversary, the organization also provides educational materials and support to all who work to reduce the infant mortality rate in Ohio, as well as compassionate support services to families. Baby 1st Network relocated its headquarters from Cuyahoga Falls to Toledo, Ohio in June 2018.

The Infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children less than one year of age per 1,000 live births and is considered a basic measure of public health for countries around the world. In some states, including Ohio, the infant mortality rate continues to rise.

“First and foremost, I want to save babies,” said Scott. “For many of Ohio counties, the infant mortality rate continues to increase, and that’s unacceptable. We need to address health disparities, provide more bereavement support for families who have lost a child, and expand our community network to provide tools and support to communities in Ohio who are willing to assist in keeping babies safe.”

A Toledo, Ohio native, Scott is a 30-year public health advocate, and a safe sleep expert who’s worked from the government agency level to ground zero spearheading numerous community outreach programs nationwide to end health disparities and reduce the risk of infant deaths. She has served as program manager for Baby 1st Network since 2014, facilitating a series of community forums and implementing a community-based mini grant program designed to fund outreach activities promoting safe sleep messaging and practices, and has worked with the organization as a consultant for more than 20 years. Scott also serves as the state of Ohio spokesperson for their “ABC of Safe Sleep” campaign.

In 2016, Scott founded the Global Infant Safe Sleep (GISS) Center, an organization with a mission to support vulnerable and marginalized global communities to reduce sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). Last November, Scott was appointed chairman of the Wisdom Council for the National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep in conjunction with National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ), a nonprofit dedicated to driving dramatic and sustainable improvements in the complex issues facing children’s health.

Dr. Scott received her bachelor’s degree in Human Service Administration from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green and a Ph.D. in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University.

Dr. Augustus Garland Parker III, M.D. is a board-certified, practicing physician in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology who has devoted much of his time to serving the Columbus, Ohio community and now Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Parker is a native of Columbus, Ohio who practiced there since 1985.

Dr. Parker earned his B.A. degree in Biology from Kent State University in 1977.  He then attended the University of Cincinnati and received his medical degree in 1981.  He performed his Residency at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio and Oncology rotations at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.  He received Robotic Training at the Cleveland Clinic.

Currently, Dr. Parker serves as the Medical Director of Novant Healthcare Women’s Urgent Care Services and serves on the Health Diversity Equity Council. He continues his role as a Physician Expert on Infant Mortality locally and at the State level in Ohio.