Leadership Training Program
Program Overview:
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership Training Program (LTP) is led by the GW-MCH Center of Excellence (CoE). This is a competitive training program for Master of Public Health (MPH) students in the Maternal and Child Health, Epidemiology or Health Policy programs at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (SPH). Upon selection, students receive a stipend.
The MCH LTP aims to deepen and enhance MCH leadership skills and competencies such as communication; critical thinking; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; negotiation and conflict resolution; team building; managing teams; and preventing burnout.
Meet our First LTP Cohort!
Read more about our members and why they chose to pursue the Leadership Training Program here:
LTP Event: February 9th
The LTP event on February 9th focused on diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility. The session was facilitated by Dr. Wendy Ellis and students discussed how policies, structural legacies, and the experiences of historical trauma and of systemic discrimination intersect and impact health outcomes for MCH populations.
Testimonials from LTP Members
What do you hope to gain from the Leadership Training Program?
"I think it's a critical time to reevaluate what leadership means in public health. I wanted to be part of a cohort that had similar interests in creating change and being in a safe space to discuss and come up with tangible ways I could improve."
Jen Farnsworth
(She/her)
"I was drawn to the Leadership Training Program because it provides the opportunity to acquire knowledge and hone competencies essential for making a substantive impact and championing health equity within a leadership role in the Maternal and Child Health field. I look forward to learning from the Maternal and Child Health faculty facilitating our workshops and my fellow Leadership Training Program cohort members."
Carolyn Brown-Kaiser
(She/her)
"As a PA/MPH student in MCH, I am working toward a career where I can cohesively integrate my public health knowledge into clinical practice as a physician assistant. I joined the LTP because I believe that leadership is a fundamental skill for practitioners of public health and healthcare alike because it equips the individual with the tools to unite and guide people."
Clare Beymer
(She/her)
"I feel like the MCH LTP offers the perfect hands-on approach to collaboration and provides the opportunity to strengthen my communication, teamwork, and analytical skills with not only esteemed faculty, but also my fellow students."
Cate Pribyl
(She/her)
Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) MCH Leadership Competencies
The Health Resources & Services Administration’s (HRSA) MCH Leadership Competencies were created in 2007, and updated in 2009, 2018, and 2023. The purpose of these competencies is to “support current and future MCH leaders by defining the knowledge and skills necessary to lead in this field.”
Through educational seminars, workshops, and a retreat, the LTP provides public health training and skill-building in alignment with the following competencies from HRSA:
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
- Systems Approach
- Team Building