Dr. Janell Green Smith devoted her life to protecting mothers, educating families, and challenging the inequities woven into maternal healthcare—only to lose her own life while giving birth to her first child. She died at just 31, leaving behind a grieving family, a newborn, and a stunned community that had long relied on her expertise and advocacy. As a midwife, educator, and maternal health champion, Dr. Green Smith worked tirelessly to improve pregnancy and postpartum outcomes, particularly for Black women, who face significantly higher risks in the U.S. healthcare system. Through her clinical work and public voice, she warned about systemic failures, emphasized patient-centered care, and demanded accountability from institutions that too often dismiss Black women’s pain. Her death has been described as both devastating and unacceptable—a cruel irony that underscores the very crisis she spent her career fighting.

In the days following the news, tributes poured in across social media, transforming her platforms into spaces of collective mourning and resolve. Patients and colleagues shared stories of how she saved lives, offered comfort during traumatic births, and made families feel safe when they were most vulnerable. One friend wrote that Dr. Green Smith “made all the right decisions” during childbirth—yet could not be saved herself. A GoFundMe established for her family has drawn widespread support, not only as financial help but as a symbol of commitment to her mission. Her passing has reignited urgent conversations about maternal mortality, racial disparities, and the need for real reform. Dr. Janell Green Smith’s story is more than a tragedy—it is a stark reflection of a broken system. For many, her loss raises a haunting question: how many more lives must be lost before the warnings she voiced so clearly are finally heard?