University at Albany School of Public Health faculty member, Dr. Christine T. Bozlak, was awarded a $350,000 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to develop a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Public Health Catalyst Program. Dr. Bozlak, assistant professor in the department of health policy, management, and behavior, will serve as co-director of the program with Dr. Rachel de Long, title V director at the New York State Department of Health. The new program, an initiative of the HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau, will provide an increased focus on fundamental MCH content in schools of public health and introduce students to careers in the maternal and child health field.

[Photo: Dr. Christine T. Bozlak (left) and Dr. Rachel de Long]

The five-year grant will address HRSA’s Strategic Plan “Healthy Communities, Healthy People” goals I-IV to increase and strengthen the public health workforce and improve community health and access to care by providing quality training for current and future public health professionals. The University at Albany SPH MCH Public Health Catalyst Program will provide outreach, mentoring and recruitment for future students, particularly from underrepresented groups, to undertake basic training in MCH and to encourage those students interested in MCH to enter the field upon graduation. Faculty and staff development will also be a significant feature of the program. The program marks the beginning of an effort at the school to create awareness and expertise in MCH.