Job Outlook

Maternal and child health professionals are in high demand internationally. Several of the World Health Organization’s eight Millennium Development Goals focus on maternal, child, and family health areas, including:

• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Moreover, epidemiologic skills focused on maternal and child health are increasingly required in U.S. city, county, and state health agencies, many of which have departments dedicated specifically to MCH public health advocacy, assessment, and program development.

What Do Graduates Do?

Maternal & Child Health graduates work to promote social and environmental conditions that contribute to the health of women, children, youth, and families. Much of their work is focused on socially and economically vulnerable populations that include women, children, birthing people, youth, and family members (broadly defined to include fathers, grandparents, etc.).

Graduates work in a variety of settings in city, county, and state health departments and other government agencies; global and domestic non-profit organizations, clinics, and agencies; universities; and research institutes.

Maternal & Child Health work emphasizes:

• Policy development
• Population-based solutions to complex health problems
• Research and needs assessments
• Program development and evaluation

The University of Minnesota has one of the most respected programs of its kind in the world, founded by internationally-recognized maternal, child, and family health leaders.

Examples of Positions Held by Recent Graduates of the Maternal & Child Health MPH Program

Minnesota Department of Health 
Health Educator, Newborn Screening Program

Allina Health 
Senior Clinical Data Analyst

Denver Public Health 
HPV Program Coordinator

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
Project Officer – HIV/AIDS Bureau

Comprehensive Abortion Care Initiative
International Planned Parenthood Manager

Save the Children US 
Senior Specialist – Food Security Monitoring and Evaluation

Washington State Department of Health 
CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellow

Novu, LLC
Health Engagement Marketing Manager