In this episode of the Triumphant Birth Podcast, Dr. Tracey Vogel, an obstetric anesthesiologist and national leader in trauma-informed care, shares how her work has evolved from individual patient care to training healthcare teams and shaping hospital policies. She explains how trauma can arise not just from extreme events, but from everyday clinical interactions, and why trauma-informed care must be standard for all birthing individuals, not just those with known trauma histories.
Dr. Vogel advocates for universal precautions in maternity care—approaches that prioritize dignity, compassion, and psychological safety in every step of the birth process. Through compelling stories and practical insights, she illustrates how training providers and shifting institutional culture can disrupt cycles of birth trauma, improve holistic patient outcomes, and foster more empowering, respectful birth experiences, even in the event of a C-section.
About Our GuestDr. Tracey Vogel is an Obstetric Anesthesiologist, trained sexual assault counselor, and the creator and Director of the Perinatal Trauma-informed Care Clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
She received her MD degree from the University of Pittsburgh and finished her anesthesia training, including a fellowship in obstetric anesthesiology, from Stanford University in California. She speaks nationally and internationally on the topic of birth trauma and the need for trauma-awareness in obstetrics and actively promotes medical “centers of excellence” in providing trauma-informed care for obstetric patients. She offers full-day training sessions on trauma-informed care principles throughout Pennsylvania as an initiative through the PA PQC (Perinatal Quality Collaborative). Her hospital based work also includes involvement with quality assurance processes, education and training, and creation of specific care plans for high risk obstetric patients including those with prior sexual trauma, opioid tolerance and substance use disorders, and mental health concerns. Beyond her work in hospital settings, she is part of the governor’s HEAL PA task force making PA a trauma-informed state.
Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction to Dr. Tracy Vogel and Her Work
02:29 Journey from Anesthesiology to Trauma-Informed Care
08:30 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact
22:01 Defining Trauma-Informed Care
27:28 Training Physicians in Trauma-Informed Practices
32:06 Empathy in Patient Care
40:11 Building Trust Through Communication
42:47 Transforming the C-Section Experience
50:05 Empowering Patients in Surgical Decisions
59:59 Curiosity and Understanding in Healthcare
Linkshttps://www.theempowermentequation.com/C-Section Prep Video: Standard of Care vs....
