DrPH Student Ruby Yadav Selected as APHA MCH Section Fellow

Ruby Yadav

Ruby Yadav, a DrPH student in the COPH Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, was selected as an American Public Health Association (APHA) Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Section Fellow for 2015-2016. As a Section Fellow, Ruby will attend the APHA Annual Meeting, staff the MCH section booth at the meeting, work with her MCH Section mentor and assigned committee, participate in the MCH Leadership Skills Development Training series, complete an end of the year evaluation to improve the fellowship experience for future students, and participate in MCH Section sponsored activities for Student Fellows.

Ruby is the third MCH Section Fellow chosen from the ETSU College of Public Health. Marc Stevens, Jr. was an MCH Section Fellow for the 2014-2015 year. Dr. Katie Baker, Assistant Professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health and 2013 graduate of the College of Public Health, served as an MCH Section Fellow from 2008-2010.

Ruby states, "My passion for MCH issues is rooted in my personal experiences. I will take the opportunity of being a part of APHA and a MCH Student Fellow to formulate research questions, answers for which are in high demand to inform policy changes. Involvement in meetings and serving on Section committees will increase my knowledge of current burning issues in MCH. It will eventually widen my horizons in research."

Dr. Baker, who nominated Ruby for the award, states, "The APHA MCH Section Student Fellows Program provides a unique opportunity to learn and appreciate the importance of professional service, and it enhances students' potential for leadership in the field. Student Fellows are encouraged to shadow an MCH Section leader, to participate in a series of monthly leadership calls, and to take on responsibilities critical to the Section's success. I am incredibly grateful to still be connected to MCH professionals from both academia and practice that I met as a Fellow 7 years ago, and I know Ruby will take this opportunity and make the most of it. I look forward to mentoring her on this journey."

The Maternal and Child Health Section of APHA was organized in 1921 with the mission of developing innovative and creative approaches to addressing the health needs of mothers, children, adolescents and families. The goals of the section are to influence national policy development related to maternal and child health, develop leaders among MCH Section members and student fellows; and keep the MCH Section membership informed about national legislation, budget issues and policy related to maternal and child health.