Dornsife’s MCH Student Organization Wraps Up a Year Filled With Service, Education, and Support
The MCH Student Organization and Peer Health Educators "de-stressed” with lunch and care packages during finals week.
July 15, 2022
Between graduations, classes and other end-of-year tasks, Spring is always a busy time for Dornsife students. Still, members of Maternal and Child Health Student Organization (MCHSO) were happy to finish the year strong with a few collaborative engagements.
Centering Inclusion in Maternal and Child Health
MCHSO Vice President Sarah Weinbrom and Secretary Sarah Osburn kicked off Pride Month with a thought-provoking Journal Club discussion centering “The Experiences of Transgender Men Around Pregnancy and Recommendations for Provider.”
Both timely and necessitated, the session encouraged deep consideration of the meaning of inclusion in maternal and child health and inspired cross-departmental conversations, reimagining the future of maternal care for a more diverse patient population.
Standing for Children in Need
MCHSO officers were also pleased to observe Stand for Children Awareness Day with a mini-service day event spearheaded by Vishwa Patel, MCHSO’s Event Coordinator.
"We filled backpacks with books, diapers, and wipes, which were then donated to the Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory to be distributed to children in need. It was nice to give back to the children in our local communities in a way that we know has a direct and beneficial impact to their lives,” she shared.
De-Stressing During Finals
Shifting gears, Drexel’s Peer Health Educators (PHE) and MCHSO came together to host a “De-Stress” event during finals week. Members and friends were invited to learn tips on how to recognize signs of stress and discover new techniques to cope including mindfulness, rest, and meditation. Attendees also enjoyed a 30-minute yoga practice session.
“It was so nice to talk openly about our stress, and to feel supported by my peers. I’m glad I took that hour to focus on my health and happiness!” shared MCHSO Vice President and PHE Event Coordinator Sarah Weinbrom.
Likewise, PHE President, Lorena Melendez Chaves believes the partnership was “the best duo because each of us [MCHSO and PHE organizations] brings a different expertise in the area. As Peer Health Educators, our focus is to educate others about topics related to maternal, child, and reproductive health and MCHSO focuses more broadly on all maternal and child health topics.”
Celebrating with Peers
To wrap up the year, MCHSO officers were pleased to collaborate with the Public Health Doctoral Student Advisory Group (PHDSAG), Dornsife’s Student Government Organization (SGO) and Community Health Prevention Club (CHP) to coordinate an “End-of-Year Celebratory Luncheon” in the Nesbitt Collaboratory.
This event provided an opportunity for graduate students to kick back and enjoy a meal and reflect back over a momentous academic year.
“After two long years of virtual engagements, it is incredibly refreshing to interact with each other in person. Students everywhere have had to be so resilient during this unique time; this four-way collaboration was a great way to wrap up the year and celebrate,” shared MCHSO President Markolline Forkpa.
MCHSO thanks all who participated in its recent engagements as well as activities throughout the academic year.
For more information for how to get involved in Maternal and Child Health engagements at Drexel, consider joining a MCH Student Group! Contact Drexel.mchso@gmail.com or MCHSO President Markolline Forkpa to learn more about the Maternal and Child Health Student Organization.
Contact Drexel.ppe@gmail.com or PHE President Lorena Melendez Chavez for more information on how to become a member of Peer Health Educators.
Follow both groups on Instagram: @drexel_mchso and @drexelphe.
Congratulations to the Class of 2022!