The 72 Fund Announces the Mikki Kane Donovan Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Obstetrics and Gynecology

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.— A groundbreaking $2.3 million gift to Mount Auburn Hospital aims to address mental health, one of the most common and often overlooked challenges facing women during pregnancy, the postpartum period and beyond. Through a significant investment from The 72 Fund, made in honor of Mikki Kane Donovan, mother of founder and president Megan Donovan-Chien, Mount Auburn is establishing a newly endowed position — the Mikki Kane Donovan Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This additional role within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology will expand access to integrated behavioral health services, helping ensure patients receive coordinated mental health support throughout their life journey, including pregnancy, postpartum, endometriosis and menopause.

The position, the first of its kind at Beth Israel Lahey Health, brings specialized mental health support directly into the setting where patients already receive their care. Mount Auburn’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is among the region’s leading women’s health programs. The program serves 53,000 patients annually and sees nearly 2,500 patient births.

At Mount Auburn, we are committed to supporting patients and families through every stage of their reproductive health journey,” said Ed Huang, MD, president of Mount Auburn Hospital. “We are deeply grateful to Megan and The 72 Fund for their extraordinary partnership and vision. This transformational gift will expand access to vital mental health services. The 72 Fund’s commitment to equitable, compassionate care aligns closely with our mission—together we are helping more patients receive the support they need to thrive in their health journey.

The Mikki Kane Donovan Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Obstetrics and Gynecology reflects the growing recognition that behavioral health is an essential part of health care and will strengthen patient care while helping normalize conversations around mental health.

I am most appreciative of the outstanding care Mount Auburn Hospital has provided me, my family, and my friends. This investment is deeply personal to my mother and me, as we both have endometriosis. I admire how my mother has always been a vocal advocate about a topic that was once rarely discussed. From her, I learned the importance of speaking out about this diagnosis, as well as hormonal health and infertility—areas that impact so many. There have been moments in both of our lives when having a mental health professional embedded within the OB/GYN department would have been incredibly valuable. This position is intended not only to honor my mother and her tenacity, but to ensure women have the ability to connect immediately with a mental health specialist as they navigate their health and their lives,” said Megan Donovan-Chien of The 72 Fund.

The new role represents an important step toward integrating mental health into routine OB/GYN clinical care. Working alongside physicians and care teams, the nurse practitioner will help address patients’ behavioral health needs earlier and more comprehensively.

As OB/GYN providers, we recognize the profound connection between mental and physical health,” said Brett Young, MD, MBA, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Auburn. “This generous gift will be transformative for patients who need comprehensive, compassionate care while navigating complex health challenges. Through this endowed position, our patients will benefit from seamless access to coordinated physical and mental health services within the trusted setting of their OB/GYN practice.

About Mount Auburn Hospital
Mount Auburn Hospital was founded in 1886. A teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, its mission is to provide clinically excellent care with compassion and to teach students of medicine and the health professions.

Mount Auburn Hospital is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a healthcare system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.

About The 72 Fund
The 72 Fund is a Boston-based non-profit that works globally – identifying, developing, and investing in innovative, cutting-edge solutions designed to equip and empower youth, women, and healthy minds. Grounded in a belief that change starts with the individual and compounds across generations, The 72 Fund supports localized programs built for scale and ongoing impact. Together with international leaders and partners, and with its own programming, The 72 Fund is building more pathways to better futures. www.the72fund.org

View the announcement on the Mount Auburn Hospital website.