237: Why Maternal Health, Youth Mental Health, and Research Matter More Than Ever with Dr. Andra L. Wilkinson, PhD, MSPH

Public Health Careers podcast episode with Dr. Andra L. Wilkinson, PhD, MSPH
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📲Andra L. Wilkinson, PhD, MSPH on LinkedIn

Andra is a Senior Research Scientist at Child Trends and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

She has over 15 years of experience in public health research and evaluation. With a focus on maternal and child health, behavioral health, and Medicaid.

She conferred a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Physiology and minor in Women and Gender Studies at University of Colorado at Boulder. Then Master of Science in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health at UNC - Chapel Hill. Then a PhD in Maternal and Child Health at UNC - Chapel Hill.

In today’s episode you’ll hear and learn more about
1. What a career in applied research could look like for you
2. Why maternal and child health is vital for overall community health
3. What’s going on in the Maternal & Child Health & Behavioral Health & Youth Development research space today
4. The importance of positive youth development for fostering youth resilience
5. Why understanding the history and context of public health is just as important as building skill sets

And much much more!

Chapters:
@0:00 Trailer
@2:33 How do you identify & tell us a little about your personal background?  
@3:20 MCH Research
@11:59 Behavioral Health & Youth Development
@23:00 What does public health mean to you?
@25:51 B.A in Integrative Physiology – University of Colorado at Boulder
@31:18 Any key takeaways from your undergraduate experience?
@33:19 MSPH in Maternal and Child Health – UNC Chapel Hill
@38:10 What were the most valuable takeaways from this program?
@45:39 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Maternal and Child Health – University of North Carolina at 
@51:19 Project Site Manager – Poverty Alleviation Pilot (South Africa)
@56:19 Adjunct Assistant Professor – UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
@57:08 Research Scientist/ Research Scientist II at Child Trends 
Senior Research Scientist
@1:04:11 If you had unlimited resources, what’s one major public health initiative you would launch today?
@1:06:53 The Furious Five