Harolyn M E Belcher1,2, Jacqueline D Stone3, Jenese A McFadden4, Tyler A Hemmingson5, Cary Kreutzer6, Lisa G Harris7, Barbara Y Wheeler8, Joanne Van Osdel9,10, Margaret Avila11,12, Beatrice Yorker13, Beth R Hoffman14, Jocelyn O Turner-Musa15. 1. Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. belcher@kennedykrieger.org. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. belcher@kennedykrieger.org. 3. Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. stone@kennedykrieger.org. 4. Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. mcfaddenj@kennedykrieger.org. 5. Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, 1400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105-1570, USA. Tyler.Hemmingson@usd.edu. 6. University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. kreutzer@usc.edu. 7. Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. Lgharris2@msn.com. 8. University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. bwheeler@chla.usc.edu. 9. Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, 1400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105-1570, USA. joanne.vanosdel@usiouxfalls.edu. 10. Fredrikson School of Education, University of Sioux Falls, 1101 W. 22nd St., Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA. joanne.vanosdel@usiouxfalls.edu. 11. California State University-Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-8160, USA. Mavila04@icloud.com. 12. Mt. St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, USA. Mavila04@icloud.com. 13. California State University-Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-8160, USA. byorker@exchange.calstatela.edu. 14. California State University-Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-8160, USA. bhoffma@calstatela.edu. 15. Morgan State University, 1700 E. Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD, 21251, USA. jocelyn.turnermusa@morgan.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study examines maternal and child health core competencies and leadership characteristics of undergraduate students following participation in the Maternal and Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP). MCHC/RISE-UP is a 10-week public health leadership program designed to promote diversity in public health workforce through mentored research, community engagement and advocacy, and clinical experiences for undergraduate students. DESCRIPTION: The MCHC/RISE-UP is a national consortium of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities including, (1) Kennedy Krieger Institute (Kennedy Krieger, lead institution) partnering with Morgan State University, a Historically Black University, (2) the University of South Dakota partnering with Tribal Serving Institutions; and (3) the University of Southern California Children's Hospital-Los Angeles and their partner institution, California State University Los Angeles, a Hispanic Serving Institution. ASSESSMENT: Eighty-four junior and senior undergraduates and recent baccalaureate degree students who participated in the MCHC/RISE-UP worked on 48 maternal and child health projects. Following the MCHC/RISE-UP, students demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all maternal and child health core competencies. Transformational leadership characteristics also increased (mean increase 9.4, 95% CI 7.2-11.8; p < 0.001). At closing interview, over twice as many students endorsed a public health career goal compared to program admission (17.9 vs. 57.7%; p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Multi-institutional collaborative public health leadership programs may extend the reach and recruitment of diverse students into the maternal and child health field. Experiential, didactic, and mentored learning opportunities may enhance student integration of maternal and child health competencies and transformational leadership characteristics.
PURPOSE: This study examines maternal and child health core competencies and leadership characteristics of undergraduate students following participation in the Maternal and Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP). MCHC/RISE-UP is a 10-week public health leadership program designed to promote diversity in public health workforce through mentored research, community engagement and advocacy, and clinical experiences for undergraduate students. DESCRIPTION: The MCHC/RISE-UP is a national consortium of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities including, (1) Kennedy Krieger Institute (Kennedy Krieger, lead institution) partnering with Morgan State University, a Historically Black University, (2) the University of South Dakota partnering with Tribal Serving Institutions; and (3) the University of Southern California Children's Hospital-Los Angeles and their partner institution, California State University Los Angeles, a Hispanic Serving Institution. ASSESSMENT: Eighty-four junior and senior undergraduates and recent baccalaureate degree students who participated in the MCHC/RISE-UP worked on 48 maternal and child health projects. Following the MCHC/RISE-UP, students demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all maternal and child health core competencies. Transformational leadership characteristics also increased (mean increase 9.4, 95% CI 7.2-11.8; p < 0.001). At closing interview, over twice as many students endorsed a public health career goal compared to program admission (17.9 vs. 57.7%; p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Multi-institutional collaborative public health leadership programs may extend the reach and recruitment of diverse students into the maternal and child health field. Experiential, didactic, and mentored learning opportunities may enhance student integration of maternal and child health competencies and transformational leadership characteristics.
Entities:
Keywords:
Diversity; Leadership; Maternal and child health training; Mentorship; Public health