My time with the MCH Center of Excellence Leadership Training Program (LTP) has been invaluable. Over the past year I have honed skills that have not just made me a better public health professional, but also a better person.
Throughout the program, my cohort and I have engaged in activities and discussions that are indelible to our work as up and coming public health professionals. From navigating the nonprofit sector to working through the landscape of public health amid the rise in artificial intelligence (AI), each LTP session provided me the opportunity to learn more about the future of maternal and child health. By participating in productive conversations and being able to learn from accomplished experts, I have been able to develop my “toolkit” as a young professional who now can apply my knowledge and skills across a wide variety of fields.
Adding to an already rich and meaningful experience, LTP was also incredibly interpersonal. The members of the 2024-2025 cohort of LTP came from a variety of backgrounds, and through our differences we were able to demonstrate an important reality in the public health field: that all individuals are valid in their pursuit of knowledge and a healthy life. Each member of the 2024-2025 cohort brought to the table a unique story that touches on all aspects of maternal and child health, whether or not they even concentrated their studies on this area of focus. Working with peers having different life experiences and interests is what made my LTP experience so fruitful, that we truly were representations of the public we seek to serve in our careers.
Leadership is more than the accolades and accomplishments team captains may attain. It is about maintaining humility, an openness to learn, and knowing how to work collaboratively. My experience with LTP has provided me with incredible guidance on all of the nuances of leadership, not just the aspects that require being in the limelight. As an incoming maternal and child health leader and prospective health practitioner, LTP has been integral to my growth both professionally and personally, and I look forward to using all that I have learned in my future endeavors.