In India she saw firsthand how improving maternal and child healthcare can transform public health outcomes, and this inspired her to focus on reducing health disparities and improving care for vulnerable populations through public health efforts.
"Public health is about collaboration: Community voices are essential for creating programs that work." - Mridula Ghotane, MPH student & MCH trainee
This summer Mridula completed her Applied Practical Experience (APE) at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health.
During this 8-week experience, Mridula worked on the Safe Sleep Project, which aims to reduce sleep-related infant deaths in Philadelphia. The MCH Program asked Mridula about her work on the Safe Sleep Project:
What did you do on the project? What were the goals of the project?
I worked on collecting and transcribing feedback from parents who participated in Safe Sleep classes, helping us to better understand their experiences and challenges.
The main goal of the project was to promote safe sleep practices and provide cribs to families. I supported the project by ensuring that the feedback from participants could be used to improve outreach and program effectiveness.
What did you do to gain a deeper understanding of the Safe Sleep Project?
To better understand the project and the role of the providers, I attended one of the Safe Sleep classes. It was insightful to see how the information was delivered to parents and how the class aimed to address their concerns about safe sleep practices. This helped me connect with the work I was doing and provided a clearer picture of how these efforts can directly impact families.
Did you produce any products as a result of this project?
Yes, I contributed to creating a booklet that summarized key takeaways from the parental feedback. This included insights on how the program could be more effective and helped shape future program improvements. I also helped prepare materials for presentations to stakeholders within the health department.
Other than the work on the Safe Sleep Project, did you do any additional work during your APE?
Yes, I wrote a blog post on the impact of extreme heat on pregnancy, highlighting the associated risks like dehydration and preterm birth. I also created another post on pre-eclampsia, outlining its symptoms and preventive measures.
Additionally, I developed an infographic on breastfeeding initiation rates in Philadelphia, focusing on community disparities and promoting the benefits of breastfeeding to support healthier outcomes for mothers and infants.
What did you learn from the experience?
This experience taught me the importance of listening to the community when developing public health programs. Hearing directly from parents gave me a new perspective on the everyday challenges they face, and it reinforced how vital community input is to ensuring that interventions are meaningful and effective.
I also gained a deeper understanding of how public health departments work to implement programs that can save lives.
How did your training at Dornsife prepare you for the experience? How did the experience augment your training experience at Dornsife?
The training I received at Dornsife gave me a strong foundation in public health principles. It helped me understand how to effectively engage with communities and contribute to program improvements.
This experience allowed me to apply my classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, enhancing my understanding of how public health interventions work in practice.
What was the most rewarding part of your experience?
The most rewarding part was seeing how much the work I did could positively impact families. Whether it was through the Safe Sleep Project or the breastfeeding infographic, knowing that the resources I created would help educate parents and improve health outcomes was incredibly fulfilling. It reminded me of why I’m passionate about maternal and child health.
How did this experience impact your future career goals?
It solidified my desire to work in maternal and child health, particularly in roles that involve community engagement and program development.
The hands-on nature of this project confirmed for me that I want to continue working on public health initiatives that directly impact the health and well-being of families.
What advice would you give to current MCH students?
I would encourage MCH students to get involved in practical work as early as possible. Working with communities and hearing directly from the people you aim to serve is an invaluable experience.
It also helps to remember that public health is about collaboration: Community voices are essential for creating programs that work.
Dornsife's Maternal and Child Health Program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.