Maternal Child Health Careers/Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement - Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP)

The Maternal and Child Health Careers-Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement-Undergraduate Program (MCHC/RISE-UP) provides opportunities for enhanced public health leadership training in maternal and child health, focusing on social determinants of health, elimination of health disparities, and developmental disabilities. Grant funding for this program was awarded to Kennedy Krieger Institute by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program to develop a national consortium of institutions and universities that provides undergraduate scholars with three public health leadership experiences: (1) clinical, (2) research, and (3) community engagement and advocacy.

The consortium was built on the Leadership Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) and University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) training framework and includes:

1. Kennedy Krieger partnering with:
   • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health
   • Historically Black Colleges and Universities
2. The University of South Dakota partnering with Tribal Serving Institutions
3. The University of California, Davis (UC-Davis) MIND Institute partnering with UC-Davis Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (*6-week program)
4. Aaniiih Nakoda College/Fort Belknap Community

MCHC/RISE-UP’s ultimate goal is to promote a more equitable health system by introducing highly qualified undergraduate juniors and seniors, and recent baccalaureate degree scholars interested in maternal and child health, reducing health disparities, and promoting social justice.

Scholars from underrepresented populations in the field of public health and maternal and child health professions, are strongly encouraged to apply!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility Requirements

• Be currently enrolled as a rising junior or senior, or received their baccalaureate degree within 12 calendar months of the MCHC/RISE-UP program orientation
• Have at least a 2.7 GPA, or better, on a 4.0 scale
• Interested in maternal and child health, the elimination of health disparities, or promoting social justice.
• Be a US citizen, US National, or a permanent resident
• Be able to commit to participate in program activities for the length of the MCHC/RISE-UP.

Planned Activities

• One-Week in-person Orientation in Baltimore, Maryland
• Weekly Seminars
  • ALL scholars participate in collaborative MCH-LEARN teams for ’Friday’s Professional Development and Advocacy and CDC Optimal Opportunities for Prevention to Promote Health.
• Conferences and Presentations*

*see program benefits

Program Benefits

• Stipend: $5,400*
• Conferences and Presentations: Scholars will present their research or MCH public health topic at the end of the summer at various conferences; Johns Hopkins University CARES Symposium (Career, Academic, and Research Experiences for Students), CDC Showcase in Atlanta, Georgia (July 27th, 2025 – July 31st, 2025), LEND Program Research Symposium in April, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) *If selected
• Mentorship: Scholars meet and work with mentors in their respective clinical, community and research fields. In addition, each scholar will be assigned a mentor coach for weekly meetings during the summer.  Mentor coaches will provide professional and career guidance and assist with summer research project support.
• Collaboration: Scholars will meet other students with similar career interests and gain opportunities to learn about and discuss public health topics related to the MCH field and social determinants of health.
• Research: Students work with research mentors on a wide range of public health topics related to the elimination of health disparities and receive training in community-based participatory research. In addition, scholars may participate in Community Engagement and Advocacy or rotate through Clinical Experiences.

*Varies for University of California, Davis (UC-Davis)

Important Information

Duration of Program (Monday, May 26, 2025—Thursday, July 31, 2025)