Our MCH focus area provides specialized training opportunities at every career stage, from undergraduate education through postdoctoral fellowships, all grounded in equity, innovation, and real-world impact.
Undergraduate training
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) with MCH Concentration
This concentration builds a foundation in public health while developing specialized expertise in maternal and child health. It equips undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills to understand the complex factors affecting maternal and infant health outcomes, preparing them for graduate study or entry into the public health workforce.
Master's level training
MPH Degree with MCH Specialization
Our MPH specialization in maternal and child health will provide advanced training for practitioners committed to improving health outcomes across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (CEMCH) Training Program
CEMCH is a federally-funded training program that prepares graduate students to become leaders in MCH research, practice, and policy. Trainees receive intensive mentorship, interdisciplinary coursework, and opportunities to engage with community partners and health systems working to improve maternal and child health outcomes. CEMCH leaders develop expertise in areas such as health equity, life course perspectives, and systems-level approaches to MCH challenges.
MCH Nutrition Leadership Training Program
This specialized program addresses the intersection of nutrition and maternal-child health. Trainees develop expertise in maternal nutrition, infant feeding practices, childhood nutrition interventions, and the role of nutrition in preventing adverse health outcomes across generations. The program prepares leaders who can design, implement, and evaluate nutrition programs that support healthy pregnancies, optimal child development, and long-term family wellbeing.
Doctoral training
CEMCH Doctoral Training Program
Doctoral students in the CEMCH program receive comprehensive training and funding support to conduct innovative research addressing pressing MCH issues. The program emphasizes rigorous methodological training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of independent research careers focused on reducing maternal and child health inequities.
MCH Specialization with Epidemiology Degrees
Students pursuing doctoral degrees in epidemiology can specialize in maternal and child health, combining advanced epidemiological methods with deep content expertise in MCH. This pathway is ideal for those interested in investigating the causes of adverse maternal and child health outcomes and evaluating interventions to prevent them. CEMCH training is integrated throughout this specialization.
Southern Center for Maternal Health (SCMH)
Training Programs SCMH focuses specifically on addressing racial and geographic disparities in maternal health outcomes in the U.S. South. Doctoral trainees in SCMH programs engage in research examining structural racism, social determinants of health, and innovative approaches to achieving maternal health equity. Training emphasizes community engagement, health systems transformation, and policy advocacy.
Postdoctoral and Junior Faculty training
SCMH Postdoctoral and Junior Faculty Programs
SCMH offers advanced training for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty committed to maternal health equity research. These programs provide intensive mentorship, pilot funding opportunities, and professional development to accelerate careers focused on eliminating maternal health disparities.
Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH)
This NIH-funded program supports junior faculty (MD, PhD, or equivalent) in developing independent research careers focused on women's health across the lifespan. BIRCWH scholars receive salary support, research funding, and intensive mentorship from interdisciplinary teams, enabling them to conduct innovative research that advances women's health. The program emphasizes rigorous training in women's health research methods and career development skills essential for academic success.
