Several of our MPH students attended the 2018 CityMatCH Leadership and MCH Epidemiology Conference, held September 12-14, in Portland, Oregon. What follows is a post from one of these attendees.
By Temitope Akintimehin, BS
After having such a great experience at the APHA conference last year, I was very torn about deciding on whether I wanted to go back to a conference I had previously attended or attend a new one this time. I wanted to take this opportunity to use this conference experience to get more insight into my career path and the options that are possible within the field of Public Health. Since CityMatCH is a significantly smaller conference, I was informed that it would provide a setting for deeper connections with more people. I was very open-minded about going and was pleasantly happy with my decision to go.
The sessions that immediately caught my interest were those addressing health disparities in minority populations, social determinants of health, and preconception care. I recently completed my summer practicum on a project focused on preconception care and its impacts on groups from different socioeconomic backgrounds in Suriname, so having the chance to connect what I had learned from that experience to what the speakers were saying was very inspiring for me. The panel speakers were able to go in depth about the programs that they implemented and how the data from them show how much racial inequalities have an impact on women’s and children’s health, especially in minority populations. These topics and concerns opened the floor to multiple discussions where other professionals from various areas of public health were able to give and take advice amongst their colleagues.
The professionals varied from department of health workers to program directors, and even though they may have been at different levels, it was clear to see that there were multiple similarities in the work they did within the field of public health. It was good to see how each position had its own part to play and in what capacity. After using this opportunity to talk with people and hearing their stories, I feel like I am able to get a better idea of where I can see myself working in public health and incorporating all of my interests.
Temitope Akintimehin is a second-year MPH student, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2019. Her interests include sexual and reproductive health, preconception care health and racial disparities, global health, and community health. She is involved in the community and enjoys volunteering.
