Advancing the Future of MCH: Introducing the New 2026-2027 MCH Catalyst Scholar Awardees

Sep 22, 2026

With support from the Health Resources and Services Administration and matching funds from the Dean’s Office, the Arnold School’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Catalyst Program at USC continues to expand opportunities for faculty and student development through its ANCHOR-MCH and MCH Experiential Learning Fellows (MCH-ELF) programs. The program recently selected a new cohort of award recipients whose research and training activities will advance maternal and child health scholarship at USC while helping prepare the next generation of public health professionals.

Established to strengthen MCH research and workforce development at the Arnold School, ANCHOR-MCH and MCH-ELF exemplify the program’s investment in innovative scholarship and professional development. ANCHOR-MCH promotes research which addresses critical health challenges, while MCH-ELF equips emerging leaders with mentorship and hands-on learning experiences. Together, these initiatives foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and community members to improve the health and well-being of mothers, children, and their families.

This year’s ANCHOR-MCH recipients are Pengfei Guo, assistant professor of epidemiology, and Elizabeth Will (pictured left), assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (COMD). Through the program, each faculty member receives $10,000 to advance innovative maternal and child health research while creating meaningful research opportunities for graduate students.

Dr. Guo’s (pictured right) proof-of-concept study will characterize environmental chemical exposures and their metabolic effects among pregnant and postpartum individuals in South Carolina, in partnership with Prisma Health Midlands Healthy Start.

Pengfei Guo

Additionally, three Arnold School graduate students were selected as MCH Experiential Learning Fellows (MCH-ELF) for Summer and Fall 2026. Through the fellowship, master’s and doctoral students receive $1,000 in tuition support while completing projects that contribute to the field of maternal and child health.

These funding opportunities complement the Arnold School’s growing MCH training initiatives, including the MCH Graduate Certificate, three MCH core courses, the MCH Community Partner Alliance, and the MCH Student Association at USC. Together, these programs strengthen interdisciplinary learning, research, and community engagement while advancing the maternal and child health workforce.

MCH-ELF Scholars

Carmel Kandhe

Completing an APE exploring “Early-life Exposure to Plastic Chemicals and Offspring Child Growth: Insights from Birth Cohorts”

Nishat Toma

Completing an APE on “Estimating the effect of periodontal treatment during pregnancy using clinical data”

Utba MD Bin Rashid

Completing a Consulting Project exploring the “Identification and Treatment of EAIS in Pregnancy and Postpartum”

Learn More

The Maternal and Child Health Catalyst Program’s mission is to promote MCH education and research, inform policy, train diverse future leaders to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and families and expand the future MCH workforce.

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