This summer, I had an enlightening and enriching opportunity to complete my practicum with the
Family Health Bureau at the DC Department of Health, a role I was awarded through the
Maternal Child Health (MCH) program. As someone pursuing a degree in Environmental and
Occupational Health, I have rarely had the opportunity to tap into the MCH space. My time with
DC Health showcased the critical MCH work happening in our communities and inspired me to
pursue work in the MCH field following graduation. This experience was invaluable, offering me
insight into public health operations at the local government level. From policy
analysis to grant writing, the practicum allowed me to grow professionally and contribute to a
wide range of projects while strengthening my MCH skills.
This summer, myself and the incredibly gifted Family Health Bureau fellows worked on a
number of projects both collaboratively and independently. While it would be impossible to write
about every project we contributed to, I think it’s important to highlight just a few of the
meaningful projects from the summer. One of the projects we worked on was the DC Maternal
Health Strategic Plan. In working on this project we analyzed the maternal health landscape in
DC, identifying key legislative and programmatic factors that influence health outcomes. I
learned how critical it is to assess systemic influences that impact maternal and child health
outcomes, which significantly improved my MCH skill set.
I also got the opportunity to improve my public health communications skills. I did this through
work on the Family Health Bureau programmatic flowchart and a content update for the
Perinatal and Infant Health Division (PIHD). The flowchart provided a practical perspective on
how different MCH programs intersect to improve long-term health outcomes, further expanding
my knowledge of life-course approaches in maternal and child health. Additionally in updating
the content for the Perinatal and Infant Health Division (PIHD) section of the DC Health website,
I met with leaders from the division to discuss how to improve the website’s content, ensuring
that it accurately reflects current programming and is accessible to the public. I drafted new
pages and created mock-ups for website reformatting, which included a legislative context page
outlining recent maternal and child health legislative progress. These projects helped me hone
my communication skills in MCH, as I worked to make complex public health information more
accessible for different audiences.
Throughout the summer, I applied many of the skills and knowledge I gained in my MPH
curriculum while also learning about the MCH space. An example of how I combined my
environmental health knowledge with MCH programs can be seen by my work on DC Health’s
Heat Resiliency plan. In working on this I was able to draw on my understanding of who is most
vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, and provide input on intervention strategies for at-risk
populations. This experience allowed me to directly apply my MCH coursework to real-world
public health problems, ultimately enhancing my capacity to advocate for vulnerable groups.
I also improved my ability to navigate professional public health settings, handling constructive
feedback with more confidence and managing multiple projects with greater ease. These skills
are crucial to advancing in MCH, where collaboration and communication are key to addressing public health issues.
This practicum gave me firsthand experience on the work being done in addressing disparities
in maternal and child health across DC. I now feel more confident in my ability to contribute to
MCH efforts globally, whether through local health departments or international organizations. I
also gained a clearer understanding of how local agencies work toward shared goals of
safeguarding public health.
Looking back, I am grateful for the professional connections I made during my time at DC
Health. From policy advisors to data analysts, I met and learned from a diverse group of
experts. My preceptor was a fantastic mentor who led with passion and empathy. I was honored
to work alongside other GWU MPH students and learn from them. I left feeling inspired by the
work being done to protect our communities and hope to be able to carry those lessons into my
future career!
My practicum experience was an unforgettable chapter in my career, one that not only
sharpened my technical and interpersonal skills but also reaffirmed my commitment to
improving maternal and child health outcomes!