New grant to recruit and train students in maternal and child health
The University of Georgia College of Public Health is working to address the critical need for public health professionals specializing in the health of mothers and children.
Rebecca Wells, PhD
Through a new grant, Rebecca Wells, a clinical associate professor in Health Promotion & Behavior in the College of Public Health with a joint appointment in the School of Social Work, plans to do just that. Wells has been awarded a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Public Health Catalyst Program grant, which supports student recruitment and training, creating the next generation of MCH public health professionals.
“This grant represents more than funding—it’s an investment in the future of Georgia’s public health workforce,” said Marsha Davis, Dean of the UGA College of Public Health. “By supporting students passionate about maternal and child health, we’re addressing a critical need while advancing our mission to promote health equity and strengthen communities across the state.”
Fellow CPH faculty members Melissa Howard, a clinical associate professor in Health Promotion & Behavior and Director of Online Learning and Professional Practice, and Lucy Annang Ingram, Department Head of Health Promotion & Behavior are co-investigators for the grant.
Grant supports student training and course development
The grant enables Wells and the project team to develop course work, integrated learning experiences, a student-led organization and partnerships with community members. Up to10 of these grants are awarded annually nationwide.
“This notice of award was just like a bright ray of hope,” said Wells, who coordinates UGA’s Master of Social Work/Master of Public Health program.
It’s hope that’s needed, Wells said.
The United States ranks 55th in the world for maternal mortality, with Georgia ranking among the worst in the country. Shortages that already exist in the governmental MCH public health field are expected to get worse. According to the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey, over 45% of state and local health department staff are planning to leave or retire in the next five years.
Wells’ goal is for her future students to combat those staggering realities.
The first of two MCH online graduate courses will open in fall 2026, welcoming up to 30 students university-wide, including six Master of Public Health scholars per year. These scholars will be crucial in the development, planning and evaluation of the MCH training program and will receive stipends for their work.
“The thing that excites me the most is the ability to fund our students and support them financially, but also to support them in making these relationships and connections with maternal and child health partners throughout the state,” said Wells.
Campus-wide partnerships to support program
Those connections will also happen across campus. MCH students will be supported by an interdisciplinary team of 28 affiliate faculty thanks to partnerships with the School of Social Work, the Mary Frances Early College of Education, the College of Family & Consumer Sciences and the College of Public Health.
“Maternal and child health is a critical issue for our state, our country and our local communities,” said Philip Hong, Dean of UGA’s School of Social Work. “This grant is a powerful investment in our mission to train well-rounded graduates who are prepared to address health disparity issues through innovative solutions and workforce development. By building bridges among campus-wide partners, the MCH students will gain a comprehensive perspective that will prepare them to lead in improving the maternal and child health challenges we’re facing.”
After all, collaboration is what led to this grant in the first place.
Wells discovered her passion for ensuring the well-being of mothers and children in graduate school, serving as an MCH fellow herself. It was her background, coupled with the experience of her fellow faculty members, that made Wells decide to apply for this grant.
Building on faculty expertise
Howard and Ingram have experience with the Maternal and Child Health Public Health Catalyst Program from previous institutions and will support Wells throughout the process.
For Ingram, receiving funding during times of uncertainty is especially thrilling.
“I am particularly pleased for Dr. Wells, for the College, and for the students who this funding will support. This grant will help train future public health professionals with a passion for women, children, and their health and welfare. It also gives other faculty encouragement to stay the course, stay motivated, and continue to be convicted about why we chose public health as a profession,” said Ingram.
This success will hopefully just be the beginning.
Wells describes this grant as a building block, one that could eventually lead to more funding opportunities to support a long-term vision of a MCH certificate or concentration at the College of Public Health.
“This is really a workforce development grant to develop our students so that they have these skills to go out and make a tangible difference for maternal and child health populations for the next 5, 10, 20 years,” Wells said.
By Mackenzie Patterson
