Symposiums

About the Maternal and Child Health Symposium

The annual MCH Symposium has served as a forum for students in the Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence (CoE), the University of California-Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (UC-LEND) training program, and other UCLA Fielding School of Public Health students to present their research, internship insights, and engage in sharing knowledge and experiences that have occurred over the academic year.

2024 Neil Halfon Symposium Posters

Feasibility of a Parent IEP/ 504 Plan Toolkit: Empowering Families Navigating the Special Education System (395.23 KB)

Shanmugapriya Dakshnamoorthy, MD
Megan Lane, MD
Bobby Verdugo, LCSW
Ilaina Blum, MA/MFT
Karin Best, PhD
Irene Koolwijk, MD, MPH

A research poster presented at the 2024 Neil Halfon Symposium

Justice for Young Families: Uplifting the Experiences of Young Parents and Families (670.66 KB)

Monica Aguilar, MPH
Maricela Cervantes, MPH
Adelle Xitlali Gutiérrez, MPHc

LENDing a Hand in Primary Care (491.85 KB)

Andi Levenson, CHES, MPH/MSW Candidate

Scoping Review of Medical Home Model Use During Emerging Adulthood for Autistic Individuals (463.47 KB)

Angie Chow
Kanak Das
Ellie Hodge

Comparing Attitudes of Contraceptive Use and Pregnancy Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Areas; Arriel Alvarez MS, Carina Gregorio MPH, Brianna Murillo MPH

Pediatric Trauma Mortality Differs by Neighborhood Opportunity Level (1.05 MB)

MaKayla L. O’Guinna, DO
Anna Ginthera
Shadassa Ourshalimian, MPHa
Ryan G. Spurriera, MD
Pradip P. Chaudharia, MD

The Importance of Gender-Affirming Care for Medicaid-Enrolled Youth (390.99 KB)

Autumn Frlekin

Comparing Attitudes of Contraceptive Use and Pregnancy Outcomes Between Urban and Rural Areas (530.63 KB)

Arriel Alvarez MS
Carina Gregorio MPH
Brianna Murillo MPH

Developing Evaluation Measures for Telehealth Medical Homes Serving Neurodiverse Populations; Carly Hyde, Madie Dunlap, Julianna Rava, PhD, Kashia Rosenau, PhD, Emily Hotez, PhD

Developing Evaluation Measures for Telehealth Medical Homes Serving Neurodiverse Populations (448.42 KB)

Carly Hyde
Madie Dunlap
Julianna Rava, PhD
Kashia Rosenau, PhD
Emily Hotez, PhD

Christy Bryana Atangana

Radical Raving: Exploring harm reduction perceptions and strategies in EDM communities; Claudia Martinez MPH MSW, Darla Mirsky MSW, & Angelo Quiroz-Branscum MPH MSW

Radical Raving: Exploring harm reduction perceptions and strategies in EDM communities (614.76 KB)

Claudia Martinez, MPH, MSW
Darla Mirsky, MSW
Angelo Quiroz-Branscum, MPH, MSW

Understanding Barriers to Black Maternal Health Equity within UCLA Health: A Qualitative Study (673.98 KB)

Kyani Young, MPHc
Candace Gragnani, MD, MPH
Angel Emodi, BS
Susan Lowe, LMFT, PMH-C
Sayida Peprah, PsyD
Eden Patton, MD, MPH
Pearl Omo-Sowho, BS
Matthew Hing, MDc, PhD
Asaiah Harville, IBCLC
Grace Deukmedjian, MD, MSc
Priyanka Fernandes, MBBS, MPH

Perinatal Opioid Use Disorder, Race, and Racism: A Scoping Review (979.99 KB)

Davida Schiff, MD, MSc
Erin Work
Bridget Foley, DO
Rachel Applewhite, MPH
Hafsatou Diop, MD, MPH
Latisha Goullaud
Munish Gupta, MD,MMSc
Bettina Hoeppner, PhD
Peacock-Chambers, MD
Corrie Vilsaint, PhD
Judith Bernstein, PhD, MSN
Allison Bryant, MD, MPH

Towards Gender-Inclusive Practices at UC-LEND Clinic (2.8 MB)

Laurel Mayeda
Katharine O’Brien

Examining Low Dose Aspirin in Preeclampsia Prevention (584.03 KB)

Dynasty Wilds, MSN Student

Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Grandparent Toolkit Florence Saez, MPH, University of California Los Angeles & Ruth Arévalo, RN, MPH, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Grandparent Toolkit (690.18 KB)

Florence Saez, MPH
Ruth Arévalo, RN, MPH,

The Demography and Future of Indigenous (Oaxacans) Populations in Los Angeles County (455.2 KB)

Lauren Morales, BA

Racial Disparities in Mental Health Care Access Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Quantitative Study d Matthew Vargas Peña, BA & Kristen R. Choi, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN

Racial Disparities in Mental Health Care Access Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Quantitative Study (202.69 KB)

Matthew Peña, BA
Kristen Choi, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN

Towards Equity in Maternal Health: Policy Considerations for Improving Prenatal Care Among Black Women in California and Beyond – An Analysis and Pathways Forward

Towards Equity in Maternal Health: Policy Considerations for Improving Prenatal Care Among Black Women in California and Beyond (726.38 KB)

Joy Ohiomoba, MD, MPP
Michelle Gallardo, MD, MPP
Dailyn Rodriguez, MD, MPP
Channelle Ndagire, MD, MPP

E.M.P.O.W.E.R This project was supported by the UCLA Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence, a federally-funded training grant awarded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under award T76MC0001 Expectant Mothers Prenatal Opportunities With Eating Right Natalie Harmer, MPH Candidate

E.M.P.O.W.E.R - Expectant Mothers Prenatal Opportunities With Eating Right (824.16 KB)

Natalie Harmer, MPH Candidate

Healthcare for Gender Diverse Autistic Individuals: A Practitioner Perspective (120.02 KB)

Samara Wolpe, MA
Katherine Sung, BS

Maternal and Child Health Outcome Improvements in Kisii, Kenya: A Difference-in-Difference Analysis (1.96 MB)

Supraja Saravanakumar
Olivia Peters
Anne Kerubo
Kevin Aulla
Barbara Muffoletto

Assessing Maternal Risk Factors for Adverse Infant Outcomes in SPA 8 (792.82 KB)

Virginia Suarez, MPH Candidate

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mental Health Outcomes Among Disaggregated Asian American Subgroups (944.2 KB)

Richie Chu
Cindy Sangalang, PhD, MSW

Exploring the Experience of Mental Health Care Access among Neurodivergent Older Adults: Development of the Interview Guide (1.64 MB)

Yuriko Matsuo
Roksana Shirazi

October 2021 Recap

Dr. Brymer's plenary talk can be viewed below:

Student researchers Diana Alfaro, MPH Community Health Sciences and Sophia De-Oliveira MPH Community Health Sciences then presented their virtual research presentation “Shoo Away the Blues”. Their presentation can be viewed below:

Student researchers then presented their posters from 3:00pm-5:00pm in the CHS Courtyard.

The Intersection of Housing and Reproductive Justice: Impact on Maternal and Child Health and One’s Decision to Start a Family
By Delia Melendrez Gomez MPH Community Health Sciences

Learning for Equity MasterClass: An Advocacy and Social Movement Building Intervention for BIPOC California Youth
By Dome Enrico Lupac MPH Community Health Sciences

Lessons Learned from the Adolescent COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation
By Rachel Kamran MPH Community Health Sciences

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dimensions of Wellness on Undergraduate Students
By Angel Forte B.S Candidate, Anthony Sandoval B.S. Candidate, Giao Nguyen B.S. Candidate, Yalianis Cruz B.S. Candidate

A Novel Approach to Youth Health Advocacy: The COVID-19 Youth Task Force
By Sabrina Rodrigues MPH Community Health Sciences

Filipino Family Health Initiative: A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating an Evidence-Based Parenting Program among Filipino Families
By Samantha Macam MPH Community Health Sciences & MSW Candidate

May 2021 Recap

Child, Family & Community Health. Shame & The One Word Solution in Ending the Cycle of Violence
Annalea Forrest | MPH/MSW Student – Community Health Sciences

Investigating Disparities in Service, Education and Healthcare Impacting Latinx Autistic Communities

Kristal Orta Martinez | Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar

Hillsides: ACEs Project
Elizabeth Lupercio | MPH/MSW Student – Community Health Sciences

The Intersection of Truancy and Mental Health

Paulina Sepulveda – MPH Student | Health Policy & Management

Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation of MCH Routine Home Visitation in Kenya
Nilpa Shah – MPH Student | Community Health Sciences

UCLA Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Research Group

Yunjoo Shin – MPH Student | Community Health Sciences

Reducing Barriers to Obtaining Health Services in SPA 6

Sarah Homsy – MPH/MSW Student | Community Health Sciences

Secondary Analysis of Variables of Self-Reported Mental Health in US Colleges

Nancy Le & Jason Timmerman – Pathways for Students into Health Professions Trainee

Filipino Family Health Initiative: Implementation of an Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention with Filipino Families

Trixy Joy Manansala – MPH Student | Community Health Sciences

Evaluating Midnight Stroll: An HIV Care and Prevention Outreach Program

Katianna Chang – MSW/MPH Student | Community Health Sciences

The Future of Child Well-Being: Transforming Policy Ecosystems for Health

Hallie Young – MPH Student | Community Health Sciences

Reproductive Health, Pregnancy & Birth Outcomes

Thriving While Black
Aleetia Miller | MPH Student – Community Health Sciences

CSEC Youth & Barriers to Care

Emily Murray | MPH Student – Community Health Sciences

Cedars Sinai Case Study

Julia Koerber – MPH Student | Epidemiology

Identifying Gaps in Prenatal Syphilis Screening and Treatment in Kern County, CA

Eunhee Park, MPH – PhD Student | Community Health Sciences

Meeting Youth Where They're At: Planning and Evaluating a Digital Youth Advisory Board

Andrea Renteria – MPH Student | Community Health Sciences

Improving Reproductive Health Services in Medical Hub Clinics for Adolescents in Foster Care through Youth Engagement and Health Navigator Pilot Program

Elizabeth Agredano & Nayelie Benitez Santos – MS Epidemiology Students