As the school year comes to an end, our 2022-2024 MCH Leads editors, Maha and Estefanía, are preparing to wrap up their roles and pass the baton. In this entry, they reflect on the milestones achieved, experiences gained, and lessons learned during these two years of sharing the work of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) leaders from across the country while being full-time MCH trainees!
What is MCH Leads?
MCH Leads is the national, student-run blog for MCH trainees across the United States. Each month, MCH Leads showcases the experiences of one MCH student or recent graduate affiliated with an MCH program having a Center of Excellence or Catalyst Program funded by the MCH Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Each of these blog posts revolves around one or more of the 12 MCH Leadership Competencies, allowing the trainee to reflect on how their research, volunteer, or practicum experiences contribute to their advancement in MCH knowledge and skills, while providing them with an avenue to share these experiences with other professionals and institutions that may be seeking their specific skill set. Moreover, MCH Leads offers current and prospective students insight into the depth and breadth of work that MCH students engage in.
Who is Behind MCH Leads?
The MCH Leads blog was established in 2019 and is currently led by students from the Center for Leadership Education in Maternal and Child Public Health at the University of Minnesota (UMN), and the MCH Catalyst Program at the University at Albany (UAlbany). For the 2022-2024 school year, Estefanía Henríquez Luthje and Maha Mehmood (click here to read their bios!) assumed the leadership of the blog. Since January 2024, Mel Ray from UAlbany has joined the team, and she will be accompanied by a co-editor from UMN in fall 2024.
Celebrating MCH Leads Milestones in the 2022-2024 School Year
During the 2022-2024 school years, MCH Leads:
• Launched their Health Equity Edition, which highlights trainees’ experiences in supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable and underserved communities, addressing the underlying causes of health disparities, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion to ultimately improve MCH outcomes. The edition has captured the interest of trainees greatly. So far, we have featured the work of 14 trainees from 11 MCH programs across the country, reaching over 3,600 views on WordPress. We anticipate even more engagement over the rest of the year, as we already have four posts planned for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Created the Health Equity Author’s Toolkit, a guide for trainees to craft their posts. It includes questions for reflection on their health equity work, ideas on integrating competencies into the blog piece, and general writing tips.
• Expanded our communications to LinkedIn, enhancing the visibility of articles among nonprofits, MCH programs, public health schools, and communities.
• Increased the frequency of promoting articles on social media for the UMN’s Center for MCH and UAlbany’s Catalyst program. Additionally, we provided authors and their program directors with promotional images and customizable “blurbs” to share within their communities, promoting the trainees’ work.
Q&A with Maha and Estefanía on their Role as Editors, Advice for New Co-Editors and Authors, Grad School Experience, and Future Plans after Graduation
What did you enjoy the most as a co-editor for MCH Leads?
Maha: “Working as a co-editor for MCH Leads was an incredibly fulfilling experience. One of the aspects I enjoyed the most was the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of individuals, including fellow MCH students and professionals, to curate and publish content for the blog. Each contributor brought their unique perspective and expertise to the table, which made the editorial process dynamic and enriching. It was truly rewarding to witness the collective effort result in a platform that not only showcased the breadth of experiences within the field of MCH but also fostered knowledge sharing and community building.”
Estefanía: “In recent years, I have been passionate about helping students and recent graduates in health professions showcase their work in impactful ways, which I’ve done through offering academic advising. Being a co-editor for MCH Leads was another way to fulfill that passion. It allowed me to assist MCH trainees in telling their academic and professional stories, not only to fuel others’ interest in MCH but also to provide evidence of the impact of their research, volunteering, or practicum experiences, which I hope will be valuable for trainees’ CVs. Additionally, I enjoyed working alongside Maha—we had great chemistry as co-editors.”
What was the most challenging part of being a co-editor?
Estefanía: “One of the most challenging aspects of being a co-editor was ensuring all deadlines for the editorial process were met. Our blog posts typically go out on the first day of the month, requiring us to have a trainees’ draft ready at least three weeks in advance. After receiving the draft, one of the co-editors conducts the first round of edits, followed by a second round done by UMN or UAlbany program directors, with ongoing communication with the author throughout. Then, all promotional materials are created. However, managing these multiple steps provided valuable practice for our project management skills!”
Maha: “While being a co-editor was immensely rewarding, it also presented its fair share of challenges. One of the most significant challenges I faced was ensuring that contributors met deadlines for their submissions. Coordinating with multiple authors and stakeholders to keep the editorial calendar on track required careful planning and communication. It was crucial to stay organized and proactive in following up with contributors to ensure timely submission of content. Additionally, maintaining consistency in messaging and editorial standards across different posts demanded attention to detail and effective communication with both contributors and fellow editors.”
What is your biggest takeaway from the experience?
Maha: “Reflecting on my experience as a co-editor, my biggest takeaway is the importance of collaboration, communication, and adaptability in editorial roles. Working closely with a team of editors and contributors taught me the value of constructive feedback and the power of collective effort in achieving shared goals. Furthermore, navigating the editorial process required flexibility in approach and a willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. These skills have not only been invaluable in my role as a co-editor but also have broader applications in my academic and professional endeavors.”
Estefanía: “Working as the UMN co-editor has been one of the most enriching work experiences I’ve had! I got to truly value the importance of strategic planning, maintaining clear communications with all team members, standardizing work procedures, relying on each other’s strengths, and prioritizing, especially when the workload increases, while also balancing many other school and life responsibilities! I also appreciated so much how Sara and Christine, UMN and UAlbany program directors, offered such great guidance but without restricting our creativity and while trusting in our abilities. My biggest takeaway from this experience has been strengthening all those skills, which I look forward to carrying with me in my future career steps!”
If you could give one piece of advice to student authors to craft their posts, what would it be?
Estefanía: “I would advise authors to begin their drafts with enough time for them to revisit it multiple times! If you’re like me, especially during grad school, the workload can be so intense that you might leave writing until the last minute – I’m guilty of that! However, trust me, the process and the result are much better when you have the time to work step by step: first creating an outline, then drafting ideas, finalizing your draft, and sharing your work with your supervisor or other mentors for feedback before it reaches the editorial team at MCH Leads. Sometimes, when I start drafting a project early on, it gives me the chance to think of ideas while washing dishes or showering – ideas that I wouldn’t have had if I were rushing through it!”
Maha: “For student authors crafting posts for MCH Leads or any similar platform, my advice would be to prioritize authenticity and relevance. Share your unique experiences, perspectives, and insights authentically, and ensure that your content addresses relevant issues within the field of MCH. Grounding your writing in real-world examples and practical implications can help engage readers and make your contributions impactful. Additionally, don’t be afraid to seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine your ideas and enhance the clarity and coherence of your writing.”
What does being an MCH leader entail?
Maha: “Being an MCH leader means deeply caring about the well-being of mothers, children, and families and working tirelessly to ensure they have the support they need. It involves speaking up for those who are often ignored and taking action to address the root causes of health disparities. Effective communication, leadership, and collaboration are key, as MCH leaders bring together diverse groups to work towards common goals. It’s about recognizing everyone’s worth and fighting for a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Estefanía: “For me, MCH is all about ensuring that every human being has a healthy start to life, and I believe that the role of an MCH leader is to work towards making that possible. Being an MCH leader means addressing the root causes of health inequities that affect children, birthgivers, families, and entire communities so that everyone can live their healthiest lives. You can be an MCH leader from any position you hold, utilizing your unique skill set and strengths. All MCH trainees have a role in working towards social justice and health equity, and all of our individual contributions are valuable and needed.”
What was your favorite part of your MCH program?
Estefanía: “My favorite part of the #UMNMCH program has been the people! I have had the best classmates, professors, advisors, and work supervisors I could ever ask for. I have been surrounded by so much support, encouragement, and guidance. I especially appreciate seeing how students and employees are not only valued for what they do but also recognized as individuals with rich backgrounds and unique day-to-day challenges. It’s impressive how efforts are made to ensure that each of us has a place here by highlighting our strengths and working together to complement each other. I can surely say that this supportive environment has made this the best academic and professional experience of my life.”
Maha: “My favorite aspect of my MCH program was the hands-on learning experiences it offered. Whether through internships, fieldwork, or research projects, these practical experiences allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world settings and gain a deeper understanding of MCH issues. Engaging directly with communities and stakeholders exposed me to the complexities of addressing MCH challenges and equipped me with valuable skills for future practice.”
What are you most proud of during your Maternal and Child Health Master of Public Health (MCH MPH) education?
Maha: “During my MCH MPH education, I’m most proud of my summer internship with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), where I focused on addressing parental knowledge gaps surrounding residual dried blood spots (RDBS). I had the opportunity to create an extensive fact sheet for parents, specifically designed to be distributed during prenatal visits. This project not only allowed me to apply my academic knowledge to a real-world issue but also contributed to improving parental awareness and understanding of important health information.”
Estefanía: “Coming from the Dominican Republic to pursue my #UMNMCH MPH, I knew my time here would be limited, so I aimed to make the most of every opportunity. I am proud to say that as the end approaches, I believe I have done so! In addition to completing the MCH program, I pursued minors in Global Health and Epidemiology. I had the chance to present my work in various settings, including School of Public Health presentation days, state conferences, and global health competitions. Also, I completed my applied practice experience as an intern alongside two of my classmates at Batey Relief Alliance, an NGO based in the Dominican Republic, where we assessed the nutritional situation of women and children. I am extremely proud of how I have been able to immediately apply most of the knowledge and skills gained during the MPH!”
Tell us about your future plans after the MPH.
Estefanía: “After graduation, my first plan is to enjoy my last summer in Minnesota, spending time exploring parts of the Twin Cities I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, and above all, cherishing quality time with my friends before I return to the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic, I look forward to continuing my work in an area I am passionate about: MCH nutrition. I am particularly interested in programs, research, evaluation, and health communications. Additionally, I want to continue providing academic guidance to students, particularly international students like myself, who are interested in pursuing opportunities to further their health education. In the long term, I am inspired to establish a non-governmental Center for MCH in the Dominican Republic. This center would focus on advancing education, research, advocacy, community health promotion, and preventive care. I have shared more about this dream here.”
Maha: “After completing my MPH, I’m excited to embark on a journey of service and learning. I plan to dedicate the next year to volunteering in communities facing barriers across New York State and engaging in meaningful charity work in Pakistan, all while pursuing admission to medical school. I’m eager to lend my time and skills to various organizations and initiatives focused on public health, community development, and social justice in New York. By immersing myself in communities facing barriers and working with diverse populations, I aim to gain invaluable insights into the unique health challenges faced by communities nationwide. Additionally, I’m looking forward to contributing to charity efforts in Pakistan, where I can support initiatives aimed at improving health and well-being in underserved areas. These hands-on experiences, both domestically and internationally, will not only deepen my understanding of public health issues but also empower me to make meaningful contributions to improving health outcomes and promoting equity in diverse settings. Beyond my volunteer commitments, my long-term goal is to become a clinician dedicated to addressing MCH-related issues from the clinical realm. As I transition into medical school and eventually into clinical practice, I intend to integrate the skills and knowledge acquired during my MPH studies, particularly in social determinants of health and health equity, into my approach to patient care. By recognizing and addressing the underlying social and environmental factors that influence health, I aspire to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that prioritizes holistic well-being. Furthermore, I’m committed to advocating for health equity within healthcare systems and communities through research, policy engagement, and community outreach. Ultimately, my goal is to make a tangible and lasting difference in the lives of individuals and families, with a particular focus on improving outcomes in MCH.”
