I had the opportunity to complete my Practice Fellowship at the Maryland Department of Health. Specifically, I worked with the Office of Genetics and People with Special Healthcare Needs within the Maternal and Child Health Bureau on the Landscape Assessment and Strategic Priorities for Birth Defects Project.
As the Office’s Graduate Research Fellow, I conducted a literature review synthesizing best practices and guidelines for birth defects and Sickle Cell Disease surveillance and programming. These practices came from various sources, including the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, the National Birth Defect Prevention Network, and other health departments. I then used these findings from the literature review to create my second deliverable — a strategy document proposing a four-pronged strategic plan to incorporate best practices and guidelines into the Office’s Birth Defects Reporting and Information System and Sickle Cell Disease Follow-Up Program. I also researched what other health departments provide to families with a child who tests positive for Sickle Cell Disease and how the Maryland Department of Health can improve its communications and programming in this area. These activities aim to optimize the Maryland Department of Health’s programs for children and families affected by birth defects and Sickle Cell Disease.
I also had the opportunity to attend several information sessions hosted by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs to learn what other health departments have done to improve their birth defects and Sickle Cell Disease surveillance and programming. The COVID-19 pandemic and many other communicable and non-communicable diseases demonstrate that public health transcends boundaries. Therefore, health departments must collaborate, learn from each other’s experiences, and confront public health challenges together. I especially appreciate that the Maryland Department of Health encouraged me to incorporate lessons learned from other health departments while tailoring strategies to the unique needs and preferences of Maryland’s population.
I urge students who complete their fellowship at any site, but especially at health departments, to speak to as many people as possible. Speaking with people from different teams and asking questions about their day-to-day activities provides insight into their work and informs you of what job opportunities could open at your site. These conversations can also aid you in your deliverables. For example, speaking with epidemiologists and asking questions about their responsibilities at the Maryland Department of Health allowed me to propose strategies to the Maternal and Child Health Bureau that involved their expertise.
My experience as a Graduate Research Fellow at the Maryland Department of Health has been incredibly enlightening. If you are a student looking to apply your research and health communications skills to real-world public health challenges, I highly recommend applying to this Practice Fellowship program!