The (MCHSO) at the (COPH) recently brought together students, faculty, community leaders and policymakers for its 17th annual symposium focused on strengthening maternal and child health systems and improving outcomes for families.
Held March 26鈥27 at the Marshall Student Center and the COPH, the two-day event explored how clinical care, community partnerships and public policy intersect to support maternal and child health across Florida.
The symposium opened with remarks from , dean of the COPH, followed by an opening plenary from , professor in the . Throughout the first day, speakers and panelists examined how maternal and child health programs operate across health systems and communities.
COPH alumna Dr. Rafaella Stein Elger provided an overview of systems of care supporting maternal and child health, highlighting how clinical services, public health programs and community resources work together to support families.
Panel discussions later in the day featured leaders working across the region to address maternal and child health challenges. Community partners including Marissa Mowa of the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County, Kimberly R. Williams of Feeding Tampa Bay and LaTieccea-Hailey Brown of Tampa Family Health Centers joined Dr. Jessica Brumley of 糖心Vlog Health Obstetrics and Gynecology to discuss local solutions and collaborative approaches to improving care and support for mothers and children.
Emily Walsh, MCHSO president and a student, said the symposium was designed to help students understand the breadth of maternal and child health work beyond clinical settings.
鈥淭he symposium focused on building a clear understanding of what maternal and child health looks like in practice, including how it appears in the communities we serve, the range of positions within the field and the roles and responsibilities that shape MCH work,鈥 Walsh said. 鈥淲e wanted students to see that maternal and child health goes far beyond pregnancy and birth and includes the broader systems that support families.鈥
The second day of the symposium shifted the focus toward policy and advocacy, highlighting how legislative decisions shape maternal and child health outcomes.
, professor in the and associate director of the , introduced attendees to maternal and child health policy and discussed how public health professionals can translate research and data into policy solutions that improve care and access for families.
Dr. Stephen Freedman, professor in the Department of Health Policy and Systems Management and associate director of the Chiles Center. (Photo by Abeja Castro)
The keynote address was delivered by Fentrice Driskell, democratic leader in the Florida House of Representatives. In her remarks, Driskell emphasized that maternal and child health outcomes are influenced by more than clinical care alone.
鈥淗ealthy mothers are more likely to have healthy babies,鈥 Driskell said. 鈥淲hen families receive the support they need during pregnancy and early childhood, entire communities benefit.鈥
Driskell also pointed to ongoing challenges facing maternal health across Florida, including higher-than-average maternal mortality rates and persistent disparities in outcomes.
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell speaking at the 17th annual MCHSO symposium. (Photo by Abeja Castro)
鈥淢ore than eighty percent of pregnancy-related deaths in this country are considered preventable,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat means with better access to care, stronger public health systems and earlier intervention, many of these tragedies could be avoided.鈥
For Walsh, one of the symposium鈥檚 key messages was encouraging students to see advocacy and policy engagement as part of their role in public health.
鈥淭he event鈥檚 biggest message was that maternal and child health requires both technical skill and the courage to engage with the policy and advocacy work that shapes real outcomes,鈥 Walsh said. 鈥淪tudents were encouraged not to avoid difficult conversations about politics or systems, but to recognize them as central to improving public health.鈥
MCHSO president Emily Walsh stands with Representative Fentrice Driskell. (Photo by Abeja Castro)
Throughout the event, students had opportunities to interact directly with speakers and community leaders, gaining insight into career pathways and how public health professionals can influence policies affecting families.
鈥淪tudents saw firsthand how accessible and open public leaders can be when approached with genuine interest,鈥 Walsh said. 鈥淚t helped break down the idea that advocacy or policy engagement is out of reach.鈥
Walsh said the symposium ultimately broadened conversations around maternal and child health by encouraging participants to examine the systems and structures shaping outcomes for families.
鈥淪tudents, faculty and community partners engaged in more open dialogue about the political and structural realities of maternal and child health,鈥 Walsh said. 鈥淭he goal is to help emerging public health professionals see themselves as active participants in shaping the environments that support families across Florida.鈥
Following the symposium, the MCHSO will continue connecting students with opportunities to engage in maternal and child health initiatives, including leadership roles within the organization and upcoming community outreach events.