Mishkin Kathryn, Perera Udara, Olaniyan Abisola, Carson Leslie
University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, United States.
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, United States.
Matern Child Health J. 2022 May 14. doi: 10.1007/s10995-022-03415-4.
Practical experience in maternal and child health (MCH) settings is critical for professional development and learning. In 2002, the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA) formalized its inclusion of students in section activities through the establishment of the Student Fellows Program. The Program provides graduate-level students opportunities to learn about MCH and APHA, build professional networks, and develop leadership skills.
Since its inception, 18 cohorts of Fellows have benefited. This paper presents findings describing the Program from both written records about Fellow projects and activities recorded in past MCH Section communications as well as an online survey that was distributed to former and current Fellows to assess their perceptions and the benefits of the Student Fellows Program.
Eighteen cohorts of Fellows have engaged with Section committees and working groups in diverse ways, including MCH-related research, policy, advocacy, and education. An online survey distributed to 151 participants was answered by 79 to document their perceptions of the Student Fellows Program. Of them, 56 (71%) indicated that the Program was important for their career development, 44 (55%) reported being current members of the APHA MCH Section, and 21 (27%) reported serving in a leadership position in the Section. The Fellows highlighted that networking, mentorship and leadership development were key benefits of the Student Fellows Program.
After several years of involving students in its programs, the APHA MCH Section established the Student Fellows Program in 2002. The Fellows Program has been important for developing the next generation of MCH leaders. The findings suggest that this Program supports long-term interest and commitment to the field of MCH and contributed to the formation of leadership skills and behaviors of Fellows.
母婴健康（MCH）领域的实践经验对专业发展和学习至关重要。2002年，美国公共卫生协会（APHA）母婴健康（MCH）分会通过设立学生研究员计划，将学生纳入分会活动的方式正式确定下来。该计划为研究生提供了了解母婴健康和美国公共卫生协会、建立专业网络以及培养领导技能的机会。
自成立以来，已有18批研究员从中受益。本文呈现的研究结果来自关于研究员项目的书面记录以及过去MCH分会通讯中记录的活动，还有一项在线调查，该调查面向前研究员和现任研究员，以评估他们对学生研究员计划的看法和该计划带来的益处。
18批研究员以多种方式参与了分会委员会和工作组的工作，包括与母婴健康相关的研究、政策制定、宣传和教育。向151名参与者发放的在线调查问卷收到了79份回复，以记录他们对学生研究员计划的看法。其中，56人（71%）表示该计划对他们的职业发展很重要，44人（55%）报告称是APHA MCH分会的现任成员，21人（27%）报告称在分会担任领导职务。研究员们强调，建立人际关系网络、获得指导和领导力发展是学生研究员计划的关键益处。
在让学生参与其项目数年之后，APHA MCH分会于2002年设立了学生研究员计划。研究员计划对于培养下一代母婴健康领域的领导者很重要。研究结果表明，该计划支持了对母婴健康领域的长期兴趣和投入，并有助于培养研究员的领导技能和行为。
