Partnerships with Public Health Agencies and Community-Based Organizations
The GW Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health has formal relationships with several agencies and organizations, which are spelled out in a Memorandum of Understanding. Each of these relationships offer our MCH students ongoing opportunities for meaningful practice experiences in the field of maternal and child health:
a Title V agency
a Title V agency
a community-based organization
a community-based organization
a community-based organization
a Title V agency
Community Partners Award Ceremony
On April 10, 2025, during a ceremony at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, Cindy deSa, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Virginia Department of Health, was recognized as the Department of Prevention and Community Health's outstanding community partner for 2024. Jerry Franz, Associate Director of the GW Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health, presented the award.
Here are some highlights of the excellent training experiences Cindy and her team have provided to our MPH students:
· Ten students were awarded fellowships through an open, competitive applications process.
· The Virginia Department of Health selected 10 of our school’s students: six were from the MCH Program, three from Epidemiology, and one from Global Health.
· The students worked in two groups: one to do interviewing, and the other to do data analysis. The state-wide needs analysis project began in January 2024 and concluded in December 2024, with our students involved throughout.
· After the work was completed, Cindy worked with several of our students to prepare research abstracts, which were accepted for presentation at a recent March 2025 meeting of the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs’ annual meeting, held this year in Washington, DC.
To top it all off, Cindy has extended the Virginia Department of Health’s relationship with our school into 2025, accepting more of our students for ongoing internship and Practicum opportunities.
For these reasons and more, the Department of Prevention and Community Health was pleased and proud to honor Cindy deSa with its Community Partner Award for 2025.
Cindy, congratulations on being recognized for your excellence as a community partner!
See how students are learning from our community partners
Practice Fellowship Experience- Osazewaila Stewart
The Body Agency
September 22, 2023
Osazewaila Stewart is an MPH student who was awarded a fellowship at the Body Agency in the summer of 2023.
Practice Fellowship Experience- Cassie Navalta
Mamatoto Village
September 22, 2023
Cassie Navalta earned an fellowship with Mamatoto Village in the Summer of 2023.
Practice Fellowship Experience - The Body Agency
May 23, 2023
Rhea Kartha is an MPH student who matriculated in fall 2022 and was awarded the MCH Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023.
Practice Fellowship Experience - The Body Agency
May 23, 2023
Hannah Sprinkle is an MPH student who matriculated in fall 2022 and was awarded the MCH Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023.
Practice Fellowship Experience - The Body Agency
May 18, 2023
Bailey Newton is a student in the Milken Institute School of Public Health’s and School of Medicine and Health Sciences Physician Assistant and MPH joint degree program that was awarded the MCH Practice Fellowship at the Body Agency in the Fall of 2022.
Practice Fellowship Experience - Maryland Department of Health
May 18, 2023
Jen Farnsworth is an MCH student who matriculated in Fall 2022 and was awarded a Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023 at the Maryland Department of Health.
Practice Fellowship Experience - Maryland Department of Health
May 18, 2023
Carolyn Brown-Kaiser is an MCH student who matriculated in Fall 2022 and was awarded a Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023 at the Maryland Department of Health.
Practice Fellowship Experience - The Body Agency
May 11, 2023
Larkin O'Gorman is an MCH student who matriculated in Fall 2022 and was awarded a Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023 at The Body Agency.
Practice Fellowship Experience - Mary's Center
May 9, 2023
Cassie Navalta is an MCH student who matriculated in fall 2022 and was awarded a Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023 at The Body Agency.
Practice Fellowship Experience - Mary's Center
May 9, 2023
Anisa Amiji is an MCH student who matriculated in summer 2022 and was awarded a Practice Fellowship in the fall 2022 at The Body Agency.
Practice Fellowship Experience - Mary's Center
May 9, 2023
Jadyn Dunning is an MCH student who matriculated in Fall 2021 and was awarded a Practice Fellowship in the spring of 2023 at Mary's Center.
Practice Fellowship Experience - The Body Agency
May 11, 2022
Ana Maroldi is a student in the Milken Institute School of Public Health’s Physician Assistant/MPH dual degree program that was awarded the MCH Practice Fellowship at The Body Agency in the spring of 2022.