Abstract
Problem:
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) doctoral graduates, particularly those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, face significant challenges in pursuing academic career pathways, inhibiting advancement and discouraging many from even embarking on this journey. MCH academic pipeline programs established in response to these concerns show encouraging signs of success and are ripe for expansion. It is imperative, however, that programs equip the next generation of MCH academics with not only the skills required for advancing research in high need areas of MCH, but also robust training in the translation of research to practice.
Goals and objectives:
In response to these needs, UIC Center of Excellence in MCH (CoE-MCH) will develop and implement the ACE-MCH program over a 5-year period. The overarching goal of the ACE-MCH program is to increase the number and diversity of MCH faculty in academia and their readiness to engage in research, evidence translation, teaching, and leadership that addresses high need areas in MCH. Specific objectives include having 3 postdoctoral fellow and 3 junior faculty fellows complete the program, with at least half of these fellows being from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups in MCH academia.
Methodology:
The key components of the ACH-MCH program will be: 1) a core curriculum that leverages existing resources to provide fellows with foundational training for conducting high-impact MCH research and translating research to practice, as well as teaching, curriculum development, and leadership; 2) an innovative tailored curriculum for each fellow that is designed to support their individual scholarly interests; 3) individual mentorship for fellows from a primary and a secondary mentor; 4) extensive practical experience with peer reviewed publications and grant writing, supplemented by innovative programmatic supports; and 5) activities to foster networking and collaboration among supported fellows across grant recipients as well as interchange with junior and senior MCH faculty across all CoE-MCH grantees.
Coordination:
Through partnerships with HRSA's Region V Title V office in the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Chicago Department of Public Health, fellows will engage directly with and learn from MCH policy and practice professionals throughout their program participation.
Evaluation:
Continuous program monitoring will be used to document adherence to all planned activities and whether associated objectives are achieved. Fellow outcomes will be tracked during and after program participation using multiple methods to assess intended outcomes.