Kennedy Krieger Institute – Center for Diversity in Public Health Leadership Training

1. Maternal Child Health – Leadership, Education, Advocacy, & Research Network (MCH-LEARN)

Application Deadline: Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM EST
Program Dates:
Summer Program: May 27, 2019 – July 31, 2019
Academic Year: Monthly sessions during the academic school year, September 2019 – April 2020
Brief Description:  The Maternal Child Health-Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Research Network (MCH-LEARN) is a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded program that supports local undergraduate freshman, sophomore, and rising junior scholars entry into graduate school in Maternal Child Health (MCH) fields, i.e., public health and related fields such as pediatrics, nutrition, social work, nursing, pediatric dentistry, psychology, health education, pediatric occupational/physical therapy and speech-language pathology.  Scholars must have a 3.0 GPA, or better, on a 4.0 scale. The program is designed for local scholars (no housing allowance during the Baltimore summer session) from diverse populations who are underrepresented in MCH fields and desire to learn more about MCH.  Scholars will participate in a summer internship with continued monthly experiences throughout the academic year.  The MCH-LEARN provides public health research and complementary clinical or community engagement experiences.  Mentorship and professional development are key components. The MCH-LEARN research opportunities are in the areas of developmental disabilities, mental health, and identification and reduction of health disparities.  The ultimate goal of the MCH-LEARN is to promote diversity and leadership in MCH graduate studies and careers.

A $3,500 stipend is provided for the 10-week summer program and a small stipend for the academic year participation.  Funding to attend the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students is provided for scholars submitting research abstracts to the conference (as federal funding allows).

URL: https://www.kennedykrieger.org/mch-learn
Email: MCH-LEARN@kennedykrieger.org
Phone: (443) 923-5901

2. Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement – Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP)

Application Deadline: Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM EST
Program Dates: May 27, 2019, to July 31, 2019
Brief Description: MCHC/RISE-UP is a national consortium of institutions including the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities, and University of California Davis MIND Institute partnering with UC Davis Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that provides opportunities for enhanced public health leadership in the area of maternal and child health.  MCHC/RISE-UP focuses on the social determinants of health, CDC Winnable Battles, elimination of health disparities, and evaluation and treatment of developmental disabilities.  Diverse undergraduate junior, senior, and recent baccalaureate degree scholars (within 12 months of the MCHC/RISE-UP orientation) who are interested in learning more about public health are encouraged to apply.  Scholars must have at least a 2.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Three leadership tracks are offered: (1) clinical, (2) research, and (3) community engagement and advocacy.  MCHC/RISE-UP’s ultimate goal is to promote a more equitable health system by providing these highly qualified MCHC/RISE-UP scholars with public health leadership experiences.  Following Orientation (Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2019), the scholars at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and University of South Dakota sites will begin their MCHC/RISE-UP experience on June 3, 2019, and end on July 31, 2019. Following Orientation Week, University of California Davis scholars will begin their summer experience on Monday, June 17, 2019, and end on July 31, 2019.

A $3,500 stipend is provided for Kennedy Krieger Institute and University of South Dakota (10-week) and $3,000 is provided for University of California (8-week) program participants.  Housing and round-trip travel is available for out-of-state participants.

URL:  kennedykrieger.org/RISE-UP
Email: MCHC-RISE-UP@kennedykrieger.org
Phone: (443) 923-5901

3. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE) Fellowship Program

Application Deadline: Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 11:59 PM EST
Program Dates: May 27, 2019, to July 31, 2019
Brief Description: The Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases RISE Fellowship Program is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded, ten-week summer program that provides a research-based educational and professional development experience for  students interested in infectious diseases, public health, mental health, maternal and child health and/or health disparities research.  Fellows work with research mentors at the CDC or Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Nursing, and Bloomberg School of Public Health or Maryland or Baltimore City Department of Health.  These locations offer Fellows laboratory, clinical, state, and community-based research experiences. Specifically, the CDC site in Atlanta offers a research externship focused on infectious diseases, prevention of injury, and other CDC research initiatives.  Fellows in Baltimore work with research mentors on projects related to infectious diseases, health disparities, mental health, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and epidemiology.  The overarching goal of the Ferguson RISE Fellowship is to promote diversity among future public health research leaders.  Following Orientation (Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2019), the Fellows research experience start on June 3, 2019, and end on July 31, 2019.

A $4,500 stipend is provided for master level graduate fellows and a $5,933 stipend is provided for pre-doctoral fellows.  Housing and round-trip travel is available for out-of-state participants.
URL: kennedykrieger.org/Ferguson
Email: Ferguson_Fellowship@kennedykrieger.org
Phone: (443) 923-5901
All program activities are contingent on federal funding.

By Hector Hernandez-Segura
Hector Hernandez-Segura