I am extremely honored to have worked with the Title V program at the Virginia Department of Health for my practicum. It was a fantastic experience to apply the knowledge I’ve gained in the MPH program to real-world public health practice.
My practicum focused on supporting 35 Local Health Districts (LHDs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) partnerships and collaboration across Virginia. Through this work, I developed 35 health district profiles, conducted qualitative interviews, and created a strategic roadmap with infographics to enhance state MCH networks of care. This work centered on strengthening maternal child health community engagement and partnership, in order to increase access to care throughout the state.
One of the most fulfilling parts of this fellowship was translating the information we learned from qualitative interviews into actionable strategies for LHDs and FQHCs. I was able to deepen my understanding of VA public health systems, as well as hone skills such as presenting key findings, interviewing, data analyzing, and promotional public health planning. I was also given the opportunity to attend an MCH conference and additional Title V meetings in order to strengthen my professional network and learn more about MCH in practice.
This experience has solidified my commitment to pursuing a public health career focused on maternal and child health at a state and community level. I am truly grateful to my site preceptor and the team at VDH for their mentorship and guidance throughout this practicum!