Prevention and Community Health
IMPACT: PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
Partnering with Communities to Drive Lasting Health Change
The mission of the Department of Prevention and Community Health is to engage in research, training, and practice that is founded in cutting-edge social-structural and behavioral theories and methodologies and driven by diverse community voices and partnerships. PCH students are prepared to respond to pressing public health challenges using a variety of approaches, including community mobilization and policy advocacy, and individual behavior change. In the last year, through its pedagogy, research, practice and service, faculty, staff and students have responded to shifting priorities by ensuring that students are well prepared to enter an ever-evolving public health workplace and that all of the department’s activities continue to be guided by the needs of the students, partners in practice and communities it aims to serve.
BY THE NUMBERS
15
new externally funded research awards for a total of $3,949,376 in funding
99%
of MPH students complete their practicums at domestic sites; 79 percent of these are in the DMV area
50+
unique organizations on a local, national and international level that faculty, staff and students have worked with
75+
peer-reviewed publications on which faculty, staff and students served as either the lead or senior author
DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Twenty-two master’s and doctoral students from PCH received awards for their research at both the Milken Institute School of Public Health’s Research Day and PCH’s annual awards ceremony. Research projects spanned diverse populations, methods, topics, and geographic areas.
- The GW Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health successfully renewed its training grant from the Health Research and Services Administration (HRSA)/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for an additional five-year period. The Center was also awarded a new grant to support postdoctoral students, as well as an additional one-year special grant to pursue an innovative communications activity, which includes developing a digital platform for a general population audience, to translate MCH science and dispel misinformation as well as to include a podcast series.
- The department launched a practicum and workforce training series for about 100 students, covering key professional skills and resources. Topics included program competencies, practicum deliverables, CITI training, student resources, personal branding, resumes and cover letters, networking, professionalism, workplace safety, professional values, generational diversity, communication skills, and using Handshake effectively.
- Faculty members Carla Berg and Lorien Abroms organized the school’s first Research Sandbox (sponsored by the Office of Research Excellence). It brought together more than 30 faculty members for a dynamic day of facilitated networking, big idea ideation, and collaborative research project development focused on tackling non-communicable diseases and related behaviors. The event sparked inspiring discussions and new potential collaborations.
- PCH grad Kristen Rodrigues, MPH, received the Nashmen Center Knapp Fellowship for the 2024-25 academic year.