Graduate students interested in maternal and child health (MCH) can now add another credential to their resume. The University has approved a graduate certificate program in MCH.
Supported by the Center for Health Equity (CHE), the 15-credit MCH certificate will prepare students to lead efforts to advance the health and equity of women, children and families.
“What makes this certificate unique is its focus on connecting epidemiology, policy and practice in maternal and child health,” said Theresa Chapple-McGruder, PhD, MPH, associate professor of health policy and management and director of the CHE. “Students learn not only how to understand population health data, but also how that information informs programs and policies that support women, children and families. We created the program to help students see how these pieces work together in real-world public health systems. Ultimately, it’s about preparing students to translate evidence into meaningful action.”
The certificate is open to graduate and professional students interested in the topic from disciplines including public health, social work, medicine, nursing, public policy and other related fields. “Because maternal and child health spans many disciplines, the program is designed to bring together students interested in epidemiology, policy and practice,” said Chapple-McGruder. “Anyone interested in improving health outcomes for women, children and families is encouraged to participate.”
Before joining Pitt, Chapple-McGruder led major maternal and child health initiatives for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, and the Georgia Department of Health, where she served as director of the Office of Maternal and Child Health. As a practitioner, she felt it was important to have a program focused on this area.
“Maternal and child health is about giving people the healthiest possible start to life,” she said. “Epidemiology shows us that many chronic diseases in adulthood are influenced by experiences that happen during pregnancy and early childhood. When we invest in maternal and child health programs and policies, we’re strengthening the health of the entire population. Healthy mothers make healthy babies and lay the foundation for healthier adults.”
As the program begins to grow, Chapple-McGruder says she views the work in standing it up as a worthwhile investment in the public health workforce.
“A well-trained workforce should lead to data-driven programs and policies that improve population health," she said. "Yet only about 14% of the governmental public health workforce has formal training in public health, which can make it difficult to translate evidence into effective practice. My goal is to help build a strong maternal and child health workforce pipeline—preparing students to work in governmental MCH programs or to partner closely with those agencies. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen the systems that improve outcomes for women, children, and families.”
-Mike Friend