Maternal and Child Health Program Hosts 8th Annual MCH Career Networking Event
Pre-COVID, the Maternal and Child Health Program hosted the MCH Career Networking Event in person in 2019.
March 16, 2022
Last quarter the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Catalyst Program at the Dornsife School of Public Health hosted its 8th annual MCH Career Networking Event.
This yearly event offers current Dornsife students the chance to network with MCH professionals and MCH community partners and learn more about different opportunities and diverse careers in the MCH field.
This year, 19 professionals from 13 organizations, including three Dornsife alumni and two former MCH trainees, attended the event and shared with students the depth and breadth of MCH career paths.
The career event was hosted virtually to allow for more professionals and online students, including those in Drexel’s online MCH Certificate Program, to attend.
"I'm drawn to the MCH field because the health of these populations is sometimes not prioritized. I'm interested in work that decreases the health disparities for women and children." - Sarah Dilday, first-year MPH student
During the event, students were put into small groups and rotated through six breakout rooms. Students had the opportunity to meet with all professionals throughout the evening and connect in an engaging and personal way.
Both students and professionals find this annual event to be incredibly valuable. Professionals benefit from meeting students with a strong interest in MCH who could be great additions to projects or potential new hires in the future. For professionals, highlights of the event included meeting students, answering questions, and interacting with other MCH colleagues.
Highlights for students include exploring career paths within MCH, networking with MCH professionals, and learning about MCH organizations in the Philadelphia region.
“The MCH career networking event was a great experience that allowed me to learn about the amazing organizations and people that are making a difference in Philadelphia. I was able to receive insight into the expansive job opportunities and openings within these organizations that will be helpful during my future job search” said Abigail Knouse, a MCH Trainee and second year MPH student in the department of Community Health and Prevention.
"I deeply appreciated this networking event. It allowed me to see how, in practice, my passion for maternal and child health exists at an intersection of so many organizations and movements. It was reassuring to know how many opportunities exist in my field." - Zoe Sivak, JD/MPH candidate and MCHSO president
Students also enjoyed the small group interaction and personal aspect of the event and highlighted the opportunity to learn how those with similar interests found careers in MCH.
Sarah Dilday, a first-year MPH student in the department of Health Management and Policy and MCH Trainee said, “I want to get involved in the MCH world. This event gave me perspective on program, policy, and research-related MCH opportunities to look for in my future internships and career choices."
I'm drawn to the MCH field because the health of these populations is sometimes not prioritized. I'm interested in work that decreases the health disparities for women and children,” said Dilday.
Other students emphasized the unique opportunity this event provides students to meet with professionals from a wide array of MCH backgrounds, including clinical, community, and state and local government.
"I deeply appreciated this networking event. It allowed me to see how, in practice, my passion for maternal and child health exists at an intersection of so many organizations and movements. It was reassuring to know how many opportunities exist in my field," said Zoe Sivak, JD/MPH candidate and president of the Maternal and Child Health Student Organization.
The 2019 MCH Career Event
Organizations represented at the event included:
- HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Services
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth and Families and RASE Project
- PA Medical Home Program, PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Maternity Care Coalition
- Access Matters
- Children First
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia PolicyLab
- St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Adolescent Medicine
- Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children
- PA Immunization Coalition
- Drexel Action for Early Learning
- MCH Academia/Research (MCH faculty & doctoral student-DSPH MCH Alumnus)
Learn more about Dornsife’s MCH program and opportunities for MCH trainees and prospective students.
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.