Dr. Grace Mabiala-Maye

MD, MPH, MBA, PhD

Medical Doctor | Health Services Researcher | Maternal & Child Health Equity Advocate | Host of “Better Health Habits” on AIFS Web TV

“My mission is to improve care for people whose access is limited by poverty and geography by addressing the conditions that shape health beyond the clinic: how services are financed, delivered, and adapted to the communities they serve.”

About Me

I am a Congolese physician and health services researcher committed to advancing maternal and child health equity. Through systems-level transformation and evidence-based advocacy, I work to build sustainable, dignified health systems for underserved communities. This commitment is grounded in years of frontline service in fragile settings and now bridges rigorous research and strategic communication. Along the way, my expertise has grown to span rural healthcare delivery, early childhood development, food insecurity, cancer prevention, and integrating culturally responsive doulas into perinatal systems. Together, these threads address the interconnected determinants of health for marginalized communities.

Dr. Grâce Mabiala-Maye, physician and health services researcher

“Healing begins where compassion meets action. My purpose is to serve, to listen, and to build systems where every mother and every child is seen, valued, and cared for.“

Focus Areas

Community health worker counseling a mother, a focus of health services research

Maternal and Child Health Research

My research advances health equity for underserved and rural communities, from maternal and child health and doula integration to HIV care engagement and cancer screening, with a focus on improving access to care and informing policy.

Health services researchers and clinicians reviewing program data together

Implementation Science and Health Systems

I study how evidence-based programs succeed or stall in real health systems, from HIV care engagement for women and youth to community-based colorectal cancer screening, using implementation frameworks to close the gap between research and practice.

Voices from the Field podcast artwork, illustrated physician with microphone

Science Communication

Through Better Health Habits, my health education series on AIFS Web TV, I bring physicians and community health experts into conversation with African immigrant and refugee families in Omaha. This work builds on Voices from the Field, the podcast I created in 2025 to share real stories of rural health in Congo.

MY HEALTH SHOW

BETTER HEALTH HABITS

Live better every day.

In The News

Podcast episode graphic on maternal health disparities and community engagement

Tackling Maternal Health Disparities Through Community- Based Solutions

In this episode, I share how my journey informs my work to advance maternal health equity through research and community engagement.

Dr. Grâce Mabiala-Maye in a red blazer holding a degree from the University of Nebraska

Early Experiences Set Doctor, UNMC Master’s Graduate on Her Path

This feature highlights how my early experiences in Congo shaped my commitment to health equity and public health leadership.

Dr. Grâce Mabiala-Maye at the Terre Sans Frontières office

Innovating for Change from Bétou

In this interview, I advocate for empowering women to pursue education and break gender stereotypes by embracing innovation and equitable thinking.

Dr. Grâce Mabiala-Maye receiving recognition alongside a colleague

How the Fulbright Scholarship Changed My Life

I share how the Fulbright scholarship transformed my journey and encourage young Congolese to seize this life-changing opportunity.

MY PODCAST

VOICES FROM THE FIELD

Stories that matter. Voices you won’t forget.

New book coming soon announcement for Voices from the Field

Coming Soon: A New Book

A new book is currently in development, bringing together real stories from rural Congo that reveal the lived realities of health, care, and survival.

Subscribe To My Newsletter

Join the list for updates on the upcoming book