Mark Edwards is the Co-Founder and CEO of Upstream USA, a non-profit organization working on expanding opportunities by reducing unplanned pregnancy in the U.S. by providing training and technical assistance to health centers of all kinds. Previously, he founded Opportunity Nation with a mission to expand economic opportunity, and Edwards & Company, a marketing and communications consulting firm. Mark is a Trustee for the Phillips Exeter Academy and a former Board Member for The Center for Effective Philanthropy and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Mark joins me today to share why we need to add humanity to healthcare. He shares his story of becoming aware of unplanned pregnancy problems and counseling on the topic within healthcare. Mark reveals why asking women to come back two, three, or four times after their principal health center visit is an ineffective approach for women to get their preferred contraceptive. He reveals the data and startling drop in unplanned pregnancy and abortions when counseling and providing contraception occur in one visit. Mark also shares the challenges of being a leader in a growing organization, the impact of COVID on Upstream’s mission, and the opportunities and innovations that will exist long after the pandemic is over.

“t is about inserting human into the healthcare experience on a dimension that is enormously important.” - Mark Edwards

This week on Insert:Human

• How Opportunity Nation introduced Mark to the issues of unplanned pregnancy and unbalanced opportunities in the USA
• How Upstream is encouraging health centers to ask screening questions on planned pregnancy to ensure women receive patient-centered counseling about contraception
• The one year and ten-year failure rates of oral contraceptives and the advantages of contraception implants
• Why women’s health care doesn’t get the same attention as men’s healthcare
• How patient-centered counseling on contraception significantly lowers unplanned pregnancy and abortion numbers
• The challenges of leadership, running a growing organization, and steering culture and values

Resources Mentioned:

• Opportunity Nation

Connect with Mark Edwards:

• Upstream USA
• Upstream USA on LinkedIn
• Upstream USA on YouTube
• Upstream USA on Twitter
• Mark Edwards on LinkedIn

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