Dr. Rada Dagher, assistant professor of health services administration in the University of Maryland School of Public Health, was selected to receive the Young Professional Award from the American Public Health Association’s Maternal and Child Health Section.

This APHA award recognizes a young professional on behalf of either a specific, creative endeavor, or sustained, outstanding achievement in the maternal and child health field over the years. APHA also considers an awardee’s potential to make a sustained and meaningful contribution to his or her field long-term.

Dr. Dagher specializes in research on postpartum depression. She also researches how work policies and work-family conflicts influence workers’ mental and physical health outcomes and health care expenditures.

A study led by Dr. Dagher, published by Women’s Health Issues in May, found that mothers in the United States who have unintended pregnancies return to work sooner after childbirth than mothers whose pregnancy was intended. Dr. Dagher also led a study—published in the Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law in December 2013 — that found women who return to work sooner than six months after childbirth are at higher risk for postpartum depression.

Dr. Dagher will receive the award at APHA’s annual conference, which will be held November 17 in New Orleans.