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On October 10 and 11, 2025, we completed the second cohort of the UC San Diego Community Doula Program. This round, implemented by the UC San Diego Refugee and Immigrant Health Unit in the Altman Clinical and Translation Research Institute’s Center for Community Health and UC San Diego Health’s Volunteer Doula Program, and developed in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) San Diego, trained eight Afghan community members as community doulas. 

The impact began immediately. Within days, one of the new doulas stepped in to support the birth of a patient at UC San Diego Hillcrest Hospital who spoke only Dari. This rapid transition from training to hands-on care reflects the power of community-based doulas to provide culturally and linguistically aligned support. 

This milestone moves us closer to expanding culturally responsive perinatal care for Afghan families across San Diego County. Throughout the training, participants learned how to offer compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally attuned support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. Several trainees brought previous medical backgrounds from Afghanistan, including experience as a physician, midwife, and physical therapist, which enriches the care they now provide as doulas. 

We also invited members of Cohort 1, trained in February 2025, to join portions of the training. They shared practical lessons from their first months of doula service, including insights from a labor and delivery nurse who connected closely with Cohort 2 trainees who had served in similar roles in their home country. 

We coordinated this cohort in close collaboration with UC San Diego Hillcrest Hospital and IRC San Diego to strengthen connections between healthcare systems and local refugee communities. IRC San Diego referred participants who expressed a passion for supporting maternal and family well-being, and the Hillcrest team continues providing patient referrals to our doulas. Together, we advance a model of care that honors culture, language, and lived experience as essential strengths in maternal health. 

One participant shared: 
“The training was very welcoming and engaging. I have some level of social anxiety in large group settings, but I still felt seen and heard by the instructors. I’m grateful they created a safe environment for everyone.” 

We celebrate these eight new doulas for their dedication and commitment to their community. Their leadership helps shape a more inclusive, equitable, and compassionate maternal health system for all families in San Diego. 

About the UC San Diego Community Doula Program 
The UC San Diego Community Doula Program trains and supports doulas who reflect the diverse communities they serve, working to reduce disparities in maternal health outcomes and promote dignity in every birth. 

About IRC San Diego 
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives have been disrupted by conflict and disaster rebuild their futures. In San Diego, IRC provides programs that support self-sufficiency, health, and empowerment for refugee and immigrant communities. 

Get Connected 

To learn more about upcoming community doula trainings or explore partnership opportunities, please contact our team leads: 

April Ricotta – aricotta@health.ucsd.edu 

Segen Zeray – szeray@health.ucsd.edu