AUGUSTA, Ga. () – Dr. Marlo Vernon is a soft spoken woman with a firm commitment to helping others.

“My work primarily focuses on ensuring that families have access to healthy education and resources, meeting their social needs to promote healthy lifestyles for themselves and their children,” she explains.

Her work encompasses a wide range of research and practice areas, including healthy behavior change, community cancer prevention, and the prevention of maternal mortality and morbidity.

“I think what motivates me is wanting to ensure that women feel empowered to take charge of their own health and feel confident in asking questions. So often, we rely on the perceived expertise of others, and I want people in the community, especially women and families, to feel confident in taking charge of their health. Whether it’s ensuring they get to the doctor on time or accessing special services for their children, my goal is to help moms lead long, healthy lives.”

This motivation also drives her to develop an app for remote pregnancy monitoring, designed for patients in rural areas to track their blood pressure.

It was created as part of her entry into a contest but grew out of necessity after the death of her pregnant cousin.

The program includes providing healthy food options such as locally grown vegetables and dry goods to participants, along with classes on healthy eating and food preparation.

“We also have a component where moms self-monitor their mental health. While many focus on blood pressure or obesity, mental health is often overlooked, especially in motherhood. So, that’s something we monitor as well. If a mom needs assistance with either her blood pressure or mental health, we ensure she receives the necessary help.”

When it comes to navigating, Dr. Vernon leads the way.

Not only is she focused on educating and enhancing lives, Dr. Vernon is a wife and mother of seven.

Just as she stands firm on her work toward helping others, she is just as firm in her faith and offers this advice for women trying to find their way.

“Number one, if God opens a door for you walk through it. You never know what’s going to be on the other side. So, sometimes when you come to a crossroad, just pick a direction. If it’s not the right one, you can turn around and go a different way. But, if you have something on your heart that you really want to do, keep looking for those opportunities. Do the little things that you are capable of fitting into your life at that time. Then, you’ll be able to gain more capacity to take on bigger roles.”