Maternal and Child Health Overview

Founded in 1950 as a free-standing department of the UNC School of Public Health, the Department of Maternal and Child Health has grown in size, funding and impact over the years. The hallmark of this department historically - that continues to define our core - is a dedication to improving the health of women, children and their families in the state, the nation and throughout the world. The Department has earned its reputation as a prominent national and global center for MCH research, teaching and practice. Collectively, we continue to support the MCH leaders of today and prepare the MCH of tomorrow.   MCH Mission     Goal     Objectives     Core Values Degrees Offered Faculty Highlights Student Highlights Collaborations   Mission statement The Department of Maternal and Child Health’s mission is to promote the health of the population globally by improving the health of women, children, youth, and families. Our research, program and policy development, and advocacy will support the MCH leaders of today and prepare the MCH leaders of tomorrow. Goal   Our Goal is to lead the field of maternal and child health through excellence in teaching, research, and practice.   Objectives Excellence in Teaching: We will provide students with the knowledge, skills and values (through classroom instruction and learning experiences outside the classroom) to prepare the future leaders in maternal and child health. Excellence in Research: We will be highly productive investigators as we prepare the science base for improving maternal and child health.   Excellence in Practice: We will improve maternal and child health practice through contributions to the field of MCH in North Carolina, the United States, and internationally.   Core Values   We are committed to: Improving the health of women, children, youth, and families as broadly defined to include not only the absence of disease but also the presence of well-being. Providing our students with an outstanding education and sustaining our infrastructure for recruiting, training, and mentoring future MCH leaders. Diversity in our faculty and student body as we prepare and support a diverse MCH workforce that is culturally competent and family centered. A transdisciplinary approach to research and practice to better address the complex issues inherent in promoting maternal and child health. High productivity in the conduct of scientifically and ethically sound research that will provide the evidence base for promoting maternal and child health. Translating evidence into practice to improve maternal and child health in our state, our nation, and around the world. Contributing to the scholarly community and to enhancing the effectiveness of the School and the University in benefiting the broader society. Each other – faculty, staff, and students – as we enable each other to thrive individually and collectively as  happy, healthy and productive members of this department. Degrees Offered Include   Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) Dual Degree (MSPH/MSW) Joint Degree Programs (MD/MSPH and Med/MSPH) Doctor of Public Health (Dr.PH) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Faculty Highlights   By taking full advantage of their diversity of backgrounds and experiences, our faculty apply and develop methods from a rich mix of disciplines in conducting their research and practice. This interdisciplinary representation includes: Demography Pediatrics Obstetrics/Gynecology Epidemiology  Preventive medicine Social work Nutrition   Psychology Sociology   Statistics  Health economics Our current teaching staff is comprised of 24 faculty members, including 7 with joint appointments in other departments in public health and medicine, further contributing to collaborative relationships across the broad spectrum of MCH. Complementing our tenure track and research faculty are 65 adjunct faculty members, many of whom are in senior leadership positions in MCH practice and research settings.    Student Highlights   Our students come from across the nation and around the world and this diversity helps to create an optimal learning community. Our students share our commitment to working with the MCH population and our focus on those who are underserved and disadvantaged. The composition of our student body also reflects our department’s emphasis on recruiting students with diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds, disciplines, experiences, interests and skills.     Our 2007 incoming graduate class of 33 master’s and 6 doctoral students in MCH represents an extremely competitive and diverse applicant cohort. The master’s class includes six MSW/MSPH dual degree students, three UNC medical students, four Duke medical students, and one physician. Joining our master’s students are six new doctoral students, three are new to UNC and three are graduates of our department.  Among the incoming students are individuals who speak Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Hausa, Russian, Korean, Makagasy, Mongolian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, Turkish and Wolof (Senegalese).  Two students volunteered in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, one volunteered with the Peace Corps in Commune of Isorana.   Two students have volunteered with UNICEF and World Relief and another has been working in an orphanage in Amanacer. Three new students are coming from Ghana, Nigeria and Madagascar.   Collaborations   Faculty and students address critical health issues such as perinatal and infant mortality, child health policy, service and health disparities, family planning, maternal and child nutrition, child and adolescent health promotion, and violence in the lives of women and children.     Strong ties with other units of the university and affiliations with local, state, national, and global maternal and child health agencies expand our reach. Examples include collaborations with the: Carolina Population Center Sheps Center for Health Services Research Injury Prevention Research Center UNC/MCH Leadership Training Programs North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services North Carolina Title V CSHCN Programs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Family Health International IPAS American Academy of Pediatrics American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists National Association of County and City Health Officials World Health Organization USAID UNICEF World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action The department’s rich collaborative network assures that our training program links directly to MCH practice, policy, and research. Our more than 50 adjunct faculty members represent the leadership in many of these domestic and international MCH organizations. The Department of Maternal and Child Health is proud to have been an MCHB Title V Training Institution for more than 50 years, supporting the MCH leaders of today, preparing the MCH leaders of tomorrow.

Last updated January 02, 2008