Healthy Generations eNewsletter
October 2025
MCHers on the Air:
Listen to MCH Program alumni and Center faculty member Dr. Rebecca Shlafer, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota (UMN) Medical School, as she discusses Helping Kids and Teens Make Smart Choices Online on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).
How Two Minnesota Graduate Students are Helping Implement Free Period Products in Schools (MPR) features MCH students Kara Cowell and Mary Kenny sharing how the Minnesota Menstrual Products in Schools Toolkit impacts students across the state.
Charlotte Stow (she/her) is a first-year Maternal and Child Health (MCH) MPH student at the UMN, her alma mater. Charlotte is focusing on developing Student Spotlight features, managing the MCH Student Interest Group (MCHSIG), and maintaining the Bright Spots Qualitative Mini-Lab.
Mary Kenny (she/her) is a second year MCH student and the Communications RA for the Center. Mary creates many Center communications products (including the Healthy Generations eNewsletter), manages the Center’s social media, is co-editor for the MCHLeads National Trainee Blog, and serves as a MCHSIG executive committee member.
Mary Nystrom (she/her) is a first-year MCH student. Mary is the research assistant for the Justice-Involved Women and Children (JIWC) Collaborative. She is also a MCHSIG executive committee member.
Learn more and meet the rest of the Center team here.
Student Spotlight: How is Karina Mendoza Centering Doula Needs and Voices in Maternal Health Policy and Programs?
#UMNMCH student Karina Mendoza (MPH 2026) shares how her work as an Infant and Child Health Unit Intern at the Minnesota Department of Health empowers doulas and birth workers through the communication of essential education and critical updates. Motivated by her experiences working as a doula in Minnesota, she worked closely to inform the Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act. Karina writes, "A primary focus of this project aims to elevate doulas as critical members of the care team, re-centering their needs and voices in maternal health policy and programming." Read more about Karina's work in this month's Student Spotlight.
Reviving the Lost Approach of 18th Century Salons for Qualitative Researchers with Stuart Grande
Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM CDT | Via Zoom
In academic medicine and public health, qualitative researchers often find themselves isolated, struggling to have their voices heard in fields dominated by quantitative, positivist approaches. But what if the solution to this modern challenge could be found in the past?
In this Bright Spots Mini-Lab session, we'll journey back to the 18th-century French salons—informal, intellectual gatherings that fostered revolutionary ideas. We'll explore how this historical model can be adapted to create a modern-day "salon" for qualitative researchers.
The Use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Qualitative Research with Dr. Michael Beckstrand
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM CDT | Via Zoom
In this Bright Spots Mini-Lab session, participants will learn practical tips for using AI to collect and use qualitative data for evaluation, program planning, surveillance, and more. This discussion of ethical implications will inform participants on how to responsibly employ AI in qualitative research with integrity.
