
Meet The Doulas

Sharita R. Thomas, MPP
Sharita is dedicated to the health needs of birthing persons in North Carolina communities. She is committed to improving birthing equity within the state and considers herself well equipped to meet the perinatal needs of Persons of Color, specifically Black birthing persons, and birthing persons identifying along the LGBTQIA gradient. Her main goal as a doula is to ensure that you are confident in your birth. In her spare time, Sharita enjoys Latin and Afro-based dance, global travel, and community service.

Lauren Harper, BS
Lauren is a DONA birth and postpartum doula and a DTI full-spectrum doula. She has supported over 50 birthing clients over the past 2+ years and has additional experience supporting families in their immediate postpartum and first weeks home. In addition to her core trainings, she has continuing education in:
-
Labor & Delivery Operating Room Support
-
Queer & Trans Reproductive Support
-
Infertility and Conception
-
Lactation and Breast/Chestfeeding
-
Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare
-
Supporting Patients with High Risk for Preterm Birth
She became a doula because she loves all things birth-related and has a goal to reduce reproductive health disparities. through her work.

Heba Akhtar, BSPH
Heba is a birth doula and Co-Director of the Chapel Hill Branch of Birth Beginnings. She recently graduated from UNC-CH with a BSPH in Nutrition Research and Science. In her free time, she enjoys running, photography, and traveling with her friends. She is passionate about maternal and child health and looks forward to providing access to supportive doula care to women and families in her community!

Kaylah Deuber
Kaylah is a student, sister, healer and volunteer doula here at Birth Beginnings. She is a pre-medicine student pursuing her D.O, a working pharmacy technician, and a doula of 2 years. She has a passion for preventative and holistic medicine and breaking down healthcare access disparities in marginalized communities. In her free time she loves to crochet, dance, and spend time with nature.

Brianna Santiago
As an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Brianna is passionate about maternal and fetal health. She became a doula to support families because she believes that childbirth should be peaceful, empowering, and result in a satisfying experience. With an understanding of the disparities within healthcare, she hopes to provide complimentary doula care to those in need.

Tamilore Kolawole
Tamilore is a DONA-trained birth doula from Hamilton, New Jersey. In her spare time, she is dedicated to advocating and supporting individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. She was captivated by the opportunity of being a doula because of the opportunities to support and celebrate those giving birth throughout the pregnancy and delivery process. Tami finds her role rewarding and is grateful for the opportunity to create a safe space to share with her clients. Tami is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Neuroscience and minoring in Chemistry and French. Her passions lie in serving underserved communities in a holistic manner that incorporates all dimensions of wellness. Tami enjoys writing and performing spoken word poetry, serving as the Vice President of her organization, and enjoys participating in sustainable shopping.

Tatum "Shamiso" Kodzai
Shamiso is currently a senior
BSPH Nutrition Major at UNC who plans on returning next fall to begin an MPH/RD
program. She has been interested in healthcare her whole life and currently, her goal is to become a
registered dietitian. However, along with nutrition, she's always had a specific interest in
maternal health. She decided to become a doula because she wanted to learn more about this
field while also being able to support pregnant people in whatever way she can.
.jpg)
Keeley Benfield
Keeley is a doula and Senior Psychology major at UNC. She is from Shelby, NC, which is small town towards Asheville and the mountains. She plans on becoming a Women's Health PA in the future, preferably in an area with less providers to combat the low access to care there. She is passionate about maternal health and ensuring that personal biases do not interfere with the care that one may receive. She also speaks Spanish for families looking for a bilingual Doula. She is really looking forward to supporting you in your birth!

Ruta Petrikis
Ruta is a DONA-trained doula and third-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying Chemistry and Spanish for the Health Professions. Ruta is passionate about building relationships and supporting clients through important life moments. She plans to attend medical school after graduation. In her free time, Ruta loves to play tennis and spend time outdoors.