The MCH Section likes to highlight student fellows and student authors as a way to showcase the outcomes of these programs and to continue the connection with the students. We asked the students to write about how the research presentation and receiving the award has influenced their professional as well as personal lives, what they are pursuing now, and how to encourage other students to submit abstracts to the student sessions.
As an aspiring obstetrician and gynecologist and a third-year medical student of SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, I have only begun to learn about maternal and child health and understand the importance of underlying factors that act in the manifestation of disease. What I have come to realize, though, is the importance of having great mentors, wise individuals who are willing to give of themselves for the betterment of others. In the past eight years, I have had the benefit of working with three such individuals in the field of MCH: Dr. George Mussalli, who opened my eyes to the elaborate and diverse field of obstetrics and gynecology; Dr. Janell Mensinger, who instilled in me the skills, knowledge, and encouragement to study my passion; and Dr. Laura Geer, who lent her expertise on environmental exposures and infant morbidity and mortality outcomes.
My first experience in the field of women’s health was as a summer intern in an urban hospital in New York City. I was only a teenager at the time, and Dr. George Mussalli, an obstetrician and gynecologist, took me under his wing and introduced me to the world of clinical medicine. It was through his guidance that I came to appreciate some of the medical issues and concerns that women face today. My time with Dr. Mussalli taught me a valuable lesson, the art of practicing medicine encompasses not only an understanding of the biology of disease but also the psychological, social, and cultural contributors as well.
My desire to learn more about these less understood aspects of medicine led me to pursue a Master in Public Health degree at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Although my hopes in starting this program were to acquire a broader knowledge of disease, the program turned out to offer much more -- a venue to continue my studies in maternal and child health. Under the guidance of Dr. Janell Mensinger, former assistant professor at SUNY Downstate’s Graduate Program of Public Health, I designed and implemented a study focused on determining factors that influenced a mother's decision to breastfeed her infant. In a second study, Dr. Mensinger and I set out to determine the prevalence of food insecurity in a population of women receiving care in our clinic. We also hoped to determine if a relationship existed between food insecurity and dietary quality or psychosocial factors.
In October 2008, I was invited to present my research project entitled “Food Insecurity, Dietary Quality, & Psychosocial Factors among Urban Pregnant Women” at APHA's MCH Great Alexander Outstanding Student Paper Session. This gave me the opportunity to present my research on the national stage and, more importantly, provided a forum to verbalize an underappreciated issue that many women face during their pregnancy -- food insecurity. The session also allowed me to learn about the research of other students who share my passion in MCH and proved to be a great networking opportunity. I was able to meet leaders in the MCH field who are keeping me abreast of new and exciting opportunities for students interested in MCH.
Since the MCH session, I have been working with Dr. Laura Geer, assistant professor at SUNY Downstate’s Graduate Program of Public Health. Dr. Geer studies the effects of environmental exposures on birth outcomes. Currently, we are examining the relationship between elevated air pollutant levels and infant low birth weight. We are also examining the methods of mercury exposure in pregnant women and their newborns. Outside of my research endeavors, I have recently taken on a leadership position in the Downstate Obstetrics/Gynecology Cares Society. As president, I hope to increase awareness of women health issues among my medical school peers via conferences and fundraising events.
In order for an interest to grow into a passion, it needs the kind nurturing hand of a mentor, willing to teach, guide, and encourage. My mentors have not only influenced the person I am today, but have made an impact on the physician I will become in the future. I only hope that I will continue to meet individuals like this on my journey through life.