Eight of our MPH students attended the 2019 CityMatCH Maternal and Child Health Leadership Conference, held September 23-25, in Providence, Rhode Island. What follows is a post from one of these attendees.
By Lacy Campbell, BS
Attending this year’s City MatCH Conference in Providence, Rhode Island cemented my belief that this is the correct career path for me. I could go on about each talk I attended and how each speaker is so committed to caring for women and children and health equity, but instead I will share two experiences that sent me searching within myself and inspired me to finish out my program strong. The first experience was listening to our first plenary speaker, Kitcki Carroll, explain the long history of the continual marginalization of the native persons in the United States and the outcomes of such horrid actions. Hearing how those in positions of power continually drowned their voices out caused me to reflect on power dynamics that are at play today. Such a powerful session lead me to reflect on myself and my choices and envisioning the type of career (and life) I want and how I will make intentional disruptions to advance health equity.
Not only was I inspired by Carroll’s call to action, but my cohort and myself were able to meet the founder of the conference who was so encouraging and welcoming. Magda Peck told us that we were not going to be leaders in the future, but we are leaders now. To meet someone who has made such an impact in our field and who took time to speak with us and welcome us as peers reassured me that I am in the right career with the right people!
Lacy Campbell, BS, is a second-year MPH student, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate in May 2020. Her interests include health policy and early childhood education, and rural maternal health. You can find Lacy baking, taking long walks in nature, or watching college football.
