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SCHP Newsletter
Fall 2023
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Dean's Message
Hello SCHP Community,
There is so much to share in this semester’s newsletter that I hardly know where to start. I’ll begin with the national recognition that SCHP and the Center for Urban Health Equity have received funding of almost $14M in federal grants for over the next 5 years to support the work in maternal and child health. Read the newsletter to get the details and hear about the work of Drs. Bronner, Baptiste-Roberts, and Berchie-Galamais that achieved national attention and accolades.
What is equally exciting is the activity of our current students as well as alumni over the past several months. SCHP has students working in and with the community in maternal and child health and nutrition; our alumni are giving TedTalks, representing council districts, and leading state organizational units. We have garnered new institutional partnerships through our health education Pre-Professional Physical Therapy Track.
I won’t say more here but encourage you to read all the way through the newsletter. I think there will be something for everyone to cheer and celebrate. It represents our commitment to ACCESS – Academic Excellence, Community Engagement, Collaboration, Experiential Learning, Social Justice/Health Equity, and Scholarship. Hats off to our faculty, students, staff, and community partners who help us reflect these values and make all this possible. Take care!
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We regret to have to announce the passing of a long-time partner of the School of Community Health and Policy - Kimberli Hammonds. Kimberli was the Executive Director of DRU Mondawmin Healthy families, Inc., a home visiting program that assures babies are born healthy and are ready for school. Kimberli gave 200% of herself to the families of Baltimore City served by the organization. She always made sure her staff were taken care of; she was a partner always willing to work with Morgan students at every level, as well as with Morgan faculty. Kimberli Hammonds will be missed beyond measure by the SCHP community and by many more throughout Baltimore. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kimberli's family and the larger DRUM family. | |
Maternal Child & Family Health Equity Initiative | |
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Morgan Students are well represented in the ASPHN-HAT Health Equity Fellowship Program. This is the second year Morgan students from SCHP have participated. Last year there were seven fellows in the Fall 2022 and nine students in the Spring 2203. This Fall 2023, there are six Morgan ASPHN-HAT Fellows as follows:
1. Taya Powell
2. Brittney Boakye
3. Natasha Whitmore
4. Chaquea Atkinson
5. DeMarre Richmond
6. Bukola Daramola
Our faculty, Dr. Yvonne Bronner and Dr. Baptiste-Roberts are active participants in the fellowship, and serve as preceptors
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Student Publications
(Student Names in Bold-Font)
Uzoho, I. C., Baptiste-Roberts, K., Animasahun, A., & Bronner, Y. (2023). The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Against Women. International journal of social determinants of health and health services, 27551938231185968. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/27551938231185968
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27551938231185968
Barsha, R. A. A., Assari, S., Hossain, M. B., Apata, J., & Sheikhattari, P. (2023). Black Americans' Diminished Return of Educational Attainment on Tobacco Use in Baltimore City. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities, 10.1007/s40615-023-01805-0. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01805-0
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Faculty and Staff Highlights | |
Support of the HBCU Alliance Team from ASPHN to
Morgan State
For the second year, the Morgan State University Maternal Child & Family Health Equity Initiative, funded by the CUHE, will receive $25,000 for the HAT- HBCU Alliance Team for Maternal Child and Family Health. It is a program within the Consortium of African American Public Health Programs focused on bringing maternal child and family health academic programs and research from ASPHN to HBCUs. The Initiative is led by Dr. Yvonne Bronner.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27551938231185968
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Maternal, Child and Family Equity Initiative
Yields Three Grants
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Seed funding for the Maternal, Child and Family Health Equity Initiative (MCFHEI) from the Morgan State University, Center for Urban Health Equity has reaped great rewards. As part of the Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Health Day of Action on September 27, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced more than $103 million and launched new initiatives to address the maternal health crisis. HRSA announced nearly 90 million in awards to support the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crises, a whole-of-government strategy to address maternal mortality and improve maternal and infant health outcomes in underserved communities. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau announced 17 awards and Morgan State University was awarded the three following grants:
- Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Research Collaborative, Coordinating Center - AY 23 $2,400,9000 (grant period 5 years)
Dr. Yvonne Bronner (Principal Investigator), Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, (Co-Investigator), Dr. Maija Anderson (Co-Investigator), Dr. Anita Hawkins (Co-Investigator)
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Minority Serving Institutions (MIS) Research Collaborative- AY 23 $483,400 (grant period 5 years)
Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, Associate Professor, Department of Public and Allied Health (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Marilyn Berchie-Gialamas, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing (Co-Investigator)
- Maternal and Child Health Secondary Data Analysis (MCH SDAR) AY 23 $119, 852 (July 2023)
Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts (PI), Dr. Mian Hossain (Co-PI) and Dr. Robin Butler (Co-I)
| Morgan State Prepares to Lead National Research Network for Maternal Health | Dr. Yvonne Bronner, Dr. Kesha Baptiste Roberts, Dr. Marilyn Berchie-Gialamas | |
Morgan State Awarded $333,000 to Examine
Disparities in Maternal Health
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has funded health equity research at minority-serving institutions through the MRGP for two decades. Morgan State University was awarded $333,000 to examine disparities in maternal health and explore and identify the barriers and enablers to underserved women utilizing the doula model of care to reduce these disparities. To achieve these specific aims, the investigators will conduct focus groups of minority women living in Baltimore who have had a live birth within the past two years, in-depth follow-up interviews with a select number of focus group participants, and additional focus groups with doulas who have served for at least two years in the Baltimore area. The Morgan State University research team is led by Dr. Marilyn Berchie-Gialamas, Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, Associate Professor, Department of Public and Allied Health (Co-Investigator). (September 2023) | |
Panel Discussions, Presentations, and Summits | |
Department of Health and Human Services
Maternal Health Day of Action
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As part of the Department of Health and Human Services Maternal Health Day of Action on September 27, 2023, Dr. Baptiste Roberts was an invited discussant for a roundtable discussion hosted by HHS Secretary, Dr. Xavier Becerra; MD Secretary of Health and Health Resources and Services Administrator, Carole Johnson; Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, MD Secretary of Health; Ms. Maxine Reed-Vance, Deputy Director Baltimore City Health Start, Mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott; Representative from VP Harris’ office.
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Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts and Dr. Yvonne Bronner were invited to participate in an in-person panel discussion (HRSA Listening Session) at the HBCU Week Conference on Tuesday, September 26 at 4:20pm-6:30pm. | |
Maryland Black Perinatal Health & Reproductive Justice: Building, Cultivating & Sustaining Holistic Care Summit | |
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Faculty and students will attend the Maryland Black Perinatal Health & Reproductive Justice: Building, Cultivating & Sustaining Holistic Care Summit on September 29th & 30th. The Summit will include a panel, in which, Dr. Kesha Baptiste-Roberts, Dr. Yvonne Bronner, and student, Monefa Pratt will share insights about the importance of perinatal reproductive justice!
Baltimore Healthy Start has agreed to sponsor Drs. Butler, Asamoah, and Berchie-Gialamas, along with both student participants, for this event. Monefa and Nevaeh are also members of My Sister’s Keeper and are expected to adopt the role of ambassador upon completion of the Summit. During this role, the students have committed to promote and organize student-led organization events that support the reproductive justice initiative, here at Morgan State University for Fall 2023! So, stay tuned for more events sponsored by our partners, Baltimore Healthy Start!
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Fall 2023 Brings a New Inter-Institutional Relationship with Towson University in Allied Health | |
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The School of Community Health and Policy congratulates Dr. Margaret Alston, Coordinator of the Pre-Professional Physical Therapy (PPPT) Advisement Track, for her leadership in the ratification of the new Field Practicum and Pipeline Agreements at Towson University’s (TU) Master’s Program in Athletic Training (MSAT). Special thanks to La-Keshia Williams, Coordinator of Community Outreach and Engagement, as well as community partner, Collin Francis.
Certified Athletic Trainers are key members of health care teams, providing medical care to Olympic, Pro, Division 1 to 3, High School, and Fitness Facility athletes in many clinical settings. The program meets national accreditation standards through the National Athletic Training Association (NATA). Candidates from underserved populations will help to fill the cavernous gap of field underrepresentation where there are only 12% practitioners of color (U. S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics). Congratulations to Claire McArthur, an ATC student trainee with MSU’s Football Team, will enter the Pipeline in mid-October 2023 to complete a TU's Athletic Department 6-week Internship under the supervision of Nathan Wilder, Senior Associate Athletic Director. Claire will begin the MSAT program in June 2024.
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“Teaching the Healing Power of Nutrition” | |
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Dr. Yvonne Bronner Celebrated her 50th Year in American Dietetics
Dr. Yvonne Bronner was honored and celebrated her 50th year as a registered dietitian at the professional organization's annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo as over 10,000 registered dietitians met October, 7, 2023 in Denver, Colorado for their annual food and nutrition conference. Over the past fifty years Dr. Yvonne Bronner has been a trailblazer in several areas in the field of healthcare, Public Health and the field of nutrition and dietetics. She was a founding member of National Organization of Blacks in Dietetics and Nutrition (NOBIDAN) a professional organization of African American Dietitians and Nutritionists, an influential spokesperson in maternal and child health in the state of Maryland, and a strong supporter of breastfeeding initiatives for the WIC program. She has continually sought to provide a forum for Black professionals in nutrition to develop and support students in reaching their goals of becoming a registered dietitian. We are very happy for Dr. Bronner and celebrate with her 50 years of service to the dietetic and nutrition professionals and her service to the Maryland community.
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Professor Melissa Bellamy – Elected Chair for Professional Welfare subcommittee of the University Council at Morgan State University
Mervo-Morgan Pipeline– Following up after a successful Pilot program in the Spring '23, this partnership will resume again Fall '23 semester.
Neighborhood Nursing, a multi-university collaboration between Coppin State, Johns Hopkins, Morgan State, and University of Maryland. The goal is to help bring door-to-door education, resources, and primary care to identified areas of need utilizing the Nurse Community Health Worker Model.
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Dr. Joshua Saylor – Published peer-review case study for the Maryland NextGen Test Bank on “Pediatric Intussusception”
Added as the school-based health representative to the PNCB (Pediatric Nursing Certification Board) Institute of Pediatric Nursing committee
Joined the Pennsylvania Action Coalition (PA-AC) Cohort of Exchanged Learning Mentorship program.
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Dr. Ruby Saylor – Became a Community Educator for the Alzheimer Association.
Dr. Saylor also joined the Pennsylvania Action Coalition (PA-AC) Cohort of Exchanged Learning Mentorship program.
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 |  | Clement N. Anyadike, Dr.PH, (2012 Cohort), is a Research Assistant Professor in the Institute for Urban Research (IUR) at Morgan State University, as well as an Adjunct Professor in the School of Community Health and Policy. At the IUR, Dr. Anyadike oversees the Community Development Resource Center (CDRC), a unit that is responsible for providing technical assistance and research support for various communities in Baltimore City and beyond. During the past 10 years, he has received over a million dollars in federal (CDBG) funding that has enabled the Center to develop community profiles for several neighborhoods and communities in Baltimore. Among other indicators, these profiles address various domains of the Social Determinants of Health, a major focus for eliminating health disparity in the CDC Healthy People 2030. In addition, he is responsible for the planning and implementation of workshops and trainings for Community leaders and other nonprofit entities. He has received recommendations from both the Baltimore City Planning Department as well as the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development for his work with Baltimore Communities.
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Shante Brookshire, recently launched her very own consulting business (SCBJ Consulting LLC) that offer services in data/collection/data analysis and program evaluation for community based programs in Baltimore City.
She currently serve as a Program Manager for the Recovery Care Services-State Care Coordination program under Health Care Access Maryland, where she manage the daily program operations and logistics for Baltimore City and Baltimore County clients that are actively engaged in Substance Use Treatment or have been diagnosed with a Substance Use Disorder.
For the last six years, she’s mentor undergraduate students at Coppin State University under the Dr. Maxie Collier Scholars Program and recently accepted an invitation to join the advisory board for this program.
She is constantly making impactful change in the community around recovery and trauma informed care for all diverse populations.
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Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Renee Nwankwo, a Nurse officer in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, was selected to join the CDC International Experience and Technical Assistance (IETA) Program 2023-2024 cohort. She says, “As a first generation Nigerian-American, I understand the complexities surrounding culture and wellness. Public health issues transcend borders, and solutions require a diverse range of perspectives and cultural competencies. Through this program, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of global health challenges and the importance of tailoring interventions to specific cultural contexts.” | |
Councilwoman Phylicia Porter Leads District 10 | |
Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, a graduate of the MPH program, has participated in various major legislative actions tailored to vulnerable and under-served populations across Maryland and the District of Columbia. Click “District 10” for more information on Councilwoman Phylicia Porter. | |
Dr. Jovonni Spinner Gives Tedx Talk - “Reclaim your Health while Preserving your Culture” | Dr. Jovonni Spinner, graduate of the DrPH program and Public Health Strategist, gives TedX talk on “blending modern wellness practices with cultural traditions”. View the presentation at Dr. Spinner Tedx Talk. | |
“Making a Difference” in Baltimore"
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Nutritional Sciences program graduates, Angela Roberson and Jessica Lawson Goldber, are making a difference through improving the dietary habits of communities in our city. For the information on their work, click “Teaching the Healing Power of Nutrition” and see the section “Making a Difference”. | |
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It's here! National Physical Therapy Month runs through October. It's a time to celebrate the physical therapy profession, spotlight the many benefits of physical therapy, and show how physical therapists and physical therapist assistants provide patient-centered care that delivers true value and improves the health of society.
Here at Morgan State University, Dr. Margaret Alston, PT, PhD who is the Coordinator of the Pre-Professional Physical Therapy Advisement Track in the School of Community Health and Policy (SCHP): Dept. of Health Education will recognize National PT Month by engaging in inter-discipline collaboration within SCHP.
On Wednesday, October 18th Dr. Alston is scheduled to give a presentation entitled, “Move Toward a Career in Allied Health,” to an audience of MSU students majoring in Health Education with a Concentration in Community Health.
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SCHP's New Home Fall 2024 | | | | |
