B3.01 - Roundtable: Launching the MA CHERE Lab: Mentoring the Next Generation of Maternal and Child Health Leaders

Brief Abstract Summary: Learn about the innovative initiatives of the Maternal and Child Health Equity Research (MA CHERE) Lab, launched Spring 2024 at a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) and how it is fostering diversity in public health research. Gain insights into the opportunities available for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in maternal and child health research. Discover the lessons learned from the lab’s new undergraduate elective course on maternal & child health from Fall 2024 and other lab activities such as internships. Learn about how the MA CHERE Lab is helping build research and outreach capacity on campus to support students and faculty succeed in their professional pursuits through internships and mini-grants.

Detailed abstract description: Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is a historically Black college & university (HBCU) in New Orleans, LA known for graduating students that enter health professions. With a majority student population of young Black people, there are opportunites to educate on maternal and child health for professional development as well as for student preconception well-being. The Maternal and Child Health Equity Research (MA CHERE) Lab is a new initiative launched in Spring 2024 at XULA with the aim of fostering diversity in public health and conducting research on maternal and child health. The lab offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to gain hands-on research experience, develop essential skills for campus and community outreach, participate in professional development activities, and contribute to addressing pressing health disparities. The lab is directed by a mid-career faculty member of public health and supported by student interns. Key Activities and Initiatives of the new lab include: 1. Undergraduate Elective Course: The lab offers a new undergraduate elective course that provides students with a comprehensive introduction to maternal and child health research. Graduate students have also requested a similar course. 2. Undergraduate and Graduate Internships: The lab hosts undergraduate and graduate interns who work on various research projects under the mentorship of faculty and graduate students. Interns gain valuable experience in conducting research, analyzing data, and presenting findings. External students are also welcome to receive mentorship on graduate theses and dissertations. 3. Student Events and Activities: The lab organizes a variety of student events and activities, including workshops, seminars, and guest lectures. These events provide opportunities for students to network with peers and experts in the field, learn about new research developments, and explore career paths in public health. 4. Faculty Mini Grants: The MA CHERE Lab also offers small mini grants to faculty across campus interested in maternal and child health. These grants aim to increase institutional capacity by supporting faculty research projects and fostering collaboration among researchers. Initial implementation has been well received across campus and the community. Challenges to sustainability include turnover of students, securing funding for interns and other program activities. Future ideas include developing study tour and/or study abroad trips to study Black maternal health in other states and countries, developing a campus working group, hiring additional research and program staff, and building more partnerships locally and abroad for collaboration.