{"id":5245,"date":"2026-09-22T20:34:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T20:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.asph.sc.edu\/mch\/?p=5245"},"modified":"2026-09-22T20:42:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T20:42:46","slug":"advancing-the-future-of-mch-introducing-the-new-2026-2027-mch-catalyst-scholar-awardees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.asph.sc.edu\/mch\/advancing-the-future-of-mch-introducing-the-new-2026-2027-mch-catalyst-scholar-awardees\/","title":{"rendered":"Advancing the Future of MCH: Introducing the New 2026-2027 MCH Catalyst Scholar Awardees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With support from the Health Resources and Services Administration and matching funds from the Dean\u2019s Office,<\/strong> the Arnold School\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Dr. Guo\u2019s (pictured right)<\/em> 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.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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MCH-ELF Scholars <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Carmel Kandhe <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completing an APE exploring \u201cEarly-life Exposure to Plastic Chemicals and Offspring Child Growth: Insights from Birth Cohorts”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Nishat Toma<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completing an APE on \u201cEstimating the effect of periodontal treatment during pregnancy using clinical data\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Utba MD Bin Rashid <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Completing a Consulting Project exploring the “Identification and Treatment of EAIS in Pregnancy and Postpartum\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Learn More<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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