title: Evaluating Maternal and Child Health and Leadership Competencies of Emerging MCH Leaders: The MCHC/RISE-UP Experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines maternal and child health core competencies and leadership characteristics of undergraduate students following participation in the Maternal and Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP). MCHC/RISE-UP is a 10-week public health leadership program designed to promote diversity in public health workforce through mentored research, community engagement and advocacy, and clinical experiences for undergraduate students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MCHC/RISE-UP is a national consortium of University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities including, (1) Kennedy Krieger Institute (Kennedy Krieger, lead institution) partnering with Morgan State University, a Historically Black University, (2) the University of South Dakota partnering with Tribal Serving Institutions; and (3) the University of Southern California Children's Hospital-Los Angeles and their partner institution, California State University Los Angeles, a Hispanic Serving Institution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four junior and senior undergraduates and recent baccalaureate degree students who participated in the MCHC/RISE-UP worked on 48 maternal and child health projects. Following the MCHC/RISE-UP, students demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all maternal and child health core competencies. Transformational leadership characteristics also increased (mean increase 9.4, 95% CI 7.2-11.8; p < 0.001). At closing interview, over twice as many students endorsed a public health career goal compared to program admission (17.9 vs. 57.7%; p = 0.022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi-institutional collaborative public health leadership programs may extend the reach and recruitment of diverse students into the maternal and child health field. Experiential, didactic, and mentored learning opportunities may enhance student integration of maternal and child health competencies and transformational leadership characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. belcher@kennedykrieger.org.|Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. belcher@kennedykrieger.org.
authors.forename: Harolyn M E
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Belcher
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. stone@kennedykrieger.org.
authors.forename: Jacqueline D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. mcfaddenj@kennedykrieger.org.
authors.forename: Jenese A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.affiliation: Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, 1400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105-1570, USA. Tyler.Hemmingson@usd.edu.
authors.forename: Tyler A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hemmingson
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. kreutzer@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Cary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kreutzer
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205-1832, USA. Lgharris2@msn.com.
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. bwheeler@chla.usc.edu.
authors.forename: Barbara Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, 1400 West 22nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD, 57105-1570, USA. joanne.vanosdel@usiouxfalls.edu.|Fredrikson School of Education, University of Sioux Falls, 1101 W. 22nd St., Sioux Falls, SD, 57105, USA. joanne.vanosdel@usiouxfalls.edu.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Osdel
authors.affiliation: California State University-Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-8160, USA. Mavila04@icloud.com.|Mt. St. Mary's University, Los Angeles, USA. Mavila04@icloud.com.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avila
authors.affiliation: California State University-Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-8160, USA. byorker@exchange.calstatela.edu.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yorker
authors.affiliation: California State University-Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032-8160, USA. bhoffma@calstatela.edu.
authors.forename: Beth R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Morgan State University, 1700 E. Coldspring Lane, Baltimore, MD, 21251, USA. jocelyn.turnermusa@morgan.edu.
authors.forename: Jocelyn O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Turner-Musa
mesh_terms: D000067576:Child Health / Q000592:standards*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D000068097:Maternal Health / Q000592:standards*; D011361:Professional Competence; D016730:Program Development; D013337:Students, Medical
keywords: Diversity; Leadership; Maternal and child health training; Mentorship; Public health