MCH Research Festival 2012

Congratulations graduates!

2012 graduates. Back row: Julia Dettinger, Debs Gardner, James Cannava, Samantha Benson, Samantha Bell, Marissa Robertson; Front row: Stephanie Orrico, Sabrina Sanchez, Amy Spieker. Neway Fida not shown.

The research festival caps two years of work for graduating students, from academic coursework, practicum experiences, and thesis projects to presentations at national meetings, publications, and, after graduation, careers in maternal and child health. Below are graduating students' thesis project presentations and first-year students' and certificate students' capstone posters.

Several of our students are well launched into their careers. Samantha Benson has accepted a position as research coordinator with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington. She will be coordinating a randomized study of an intervention for safer sex with adolescents from a clinic population. James Cannava will be moving to Kalispell, Montana, to practice pediatric dentistry and hopefully continue to have the opportunity to educate predoctoral dental students. Julia Dettinger has accepted a research coordinator position with the Pronto International Project with the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington. She will coordinate a research study implementing an obstetric emergency training program in western Kenya. Amy Spieker has accepted a position as an epidemiologist with the Wyoming State Department of Health.

Thesis Projects

Below are listed the names of second-year, in-residence students, who presented their thesis projects at the festival, with links to project abstracts and slide presentations.

In addition to completing the MPH degree requirements for the Departments of Health Services or Epidemiology, students in the in-residence program develop specific professional competencies for careers in MCH through their choice of educational pathways, research topics, and practicum fieldwork.

Samantha Bell (Epidemiology), "Perinatal Characteristics, Maternal Reproductive History, and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case-control Study"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Samantha Benson (Health Services), "Exploring Digital Storytelling Applications in the Community: Implementation and Impact of Four Community Forums in King County, Washington"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

James Cannava (Health Services), "The Effect of Community-Based Externships on Host Sites: A Survey of Staff Dentists at Washington State Community Clinics"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Julia Dettinger (Epidemiology), "Risk of Infant Mortality among Preterm Infants at Differing Gestational Ages"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Neway Fida (Epidemiology), "Association of Age at Menarche and Menstrual Characteristics with Adult-Onset Asthma among Reproductive Age Women"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Deborah Gardner (Health Services), "Prevalence and Disparities of Vitamin D Supplementation Among Women of Childbearing Age"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Shannon Harris (Health Services), "Practitioners' Perspectives on Capacity Building in Health Program Partnerships: A Case Study"
Abstract (PDF)

Stephanie Orrico (Health Services), "Promoting Developmental Screening in Yakima County, Washington: A Case Study of Cross-Sector Collaboration"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Marissa Robertson (Health Services), "Associations between Exposure to the Community Life Course Development Model and Childhood Abuse"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Sabrina Sanchez (Health Services), "Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Intestinal Failure"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Amy Spieker (Epidemiology), "Spousal Military Deployment during Pregnancy and Adverse Birth Outcomes"
Abstract (PDF)
Slide Presentation (PDF)

Capstone Projects

Below are listed the names of students who presented posters of their capstone projects at the research festival, with links to those posters. The capstone is an analysis of a community-based preventive intervention program that is designed to integrate students' knowledge and skills developed in the MCH courses with fieldwork.

These students completed the requirements for a graduate certificate in maternal and child health.

Tara Ashleman (Health Services), "Preventing Abusive Head Traumas in Infants" (PDF)

David Avenetti (Health Services), "Is timing everything? Interpregnancy interval and adverse perinatal outcomes among women with a prior fetal or neonatal death" (PDF)

Libby Brockman (Health Services), "Hidden lives: Dating violence and its impact on adolescent sexual health" (PDF)

Lisa Callegari (Epidemiology), "Clinic-Based Counseling at the Time of Self-Referred Pregnancy Testing in Teens: Effects on Contraceptive Use and Pregnancy Rates" (PDF)

Maria Campanaro (Health Services), "Home Visiting in Region X: A Summary" (PDF)

Neway Fida (Epidemiology), "Intimate partner violence and pregnancy: Interventions to minimize impact" PDF not available.

Meggie Inouye (Health Services), "Health Disparities Among Children with Asthma: A Life Course Approach" (PDF)

Emily Myers (Medicine), "Assessing the availability of health promotion education for childbearing women" PDF not available.

Lauren Sterling (Epidemiology), "Developing a Lay-Language Summary of Reproductive Health Information for HIV-Positive Women" (PDF)

Catherine Wright (Epidemiology), "How Soon Is Too Soon? Moderate Versus Serious Pregnancy Mistiming" (PDF)

Michael Young (Epidemiology), "Beyond ´normal stress:´ Depression and anxiety disorders in parents of NICU-admitted infants" (PDF)

Sarah Zelek (Epidemiology), "More Gain, More Pain: Associations between Interpregnancy Weight Change and VBAC" (PDF)