This session explores Black fathers' emotional, spiritual, and practical roles during pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Too often overlooked or reduced to outdated stereotypes, Black fathers are essential to strong, healthy families—and this conversation brings their voices to the forefront.
This session is open to birth workers, clinicians, partners, parents, and anyone invested in maternal and family health. It will share lived experiences, disrupt false narratives, and offer a richer understanding of Black fatherhood.
Participants will walk away with a deeper appreciation of how Black men show up with presence, power, and purpose—and why recognizing, resourcing, and supporting their role isn’t just important, it’s essential. When we uplift Black fathers, we strengthen entire families, shift birth outcomes, and reshape the narrative of care and connection.
Meet Our Speaker
Dr. Levi Funches, Jr., MD, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and a board-certified neonatologist. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, completed his pediatric residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center, and pursued a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Funches brings deep expertise in neonatal care, community health, and father engagement. His research interests include neonatal development, infant mortality, and strategies for involving fathers in maternal and child health. He serves as the interim medical director of the NICU at Eskenazi Health and actively supports initiatives such as Cradle Indy and the D.A.D. (Dedicated, Active, and Devoted Dads) workgroup.
Dr. Funches will lead our discussion, sharing his expertise in working with fathers and highlighting how meaningful father engagement improves outcomes for families and communities.
