Top row, left to right: Julia Alberth (Community Engagement Manager), Faith Ogungbe (PhD student), Jack Pollard (PhD student), Jenzy Walugembe (exclusive MCH certificate student), Nishrita Devnath (PhD student), Noelle Sporer (MPH student), Ellen Abad Santos (MPH student), Jaqueline Pinto Shahrin (MCH Coordinator)
Bottom row, left to right: Dr. Elise Papke (Assistant Dean of Accreditation Assessment and Community Engagement), Dr. Emmanuel Ngui (MPH Director and MCH Certificate Program Director), Dr. Young Cho (Zilber College Faculty)
In May 2025, MPH students enrolled in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Certificate Program gathered to celebrate a major milestone—the successful completion of the program’s fifth year. The celebration included a shared meal and an awards ceremony recognizing student achievements and the collective efforts that have shaped the program’s growth.
We’re also excited to share some important news about the future of MCH training at our institution. Earlier this month, Dr. Emmanuel Ngui, Director of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Certificate and Catalyst Training Program, received word that the grant to expand the MCH Certificate to an MPH MCH Concentration has been funded by the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA).
This is indeed welcome news given the ongoing need in Wisconsin for workforce training to benefit not only mothers and children but also fathers. The goal of this program is to prepare graduates to address ongoing public health problems related to care of mothers, children and their families and to advocate for health equity in their practice to improve health outcomes.
The first year of this five-year award is a planning period, with a focus on aligning with the College program array, reviewing and updating the curriculum, refining the student recruitment process, and strengthening partnerships.
More information will be forthcoming as the curriculum is developed and the application process for the MPH in Maternal and Child Health opens up. For details about the MCH Graduate Certificate, please visit their web site.