The Maternal and Child Health Translational Research Team (MCHTRT) is a committed, collaborative group of community partners, advocates, practitioners, decision-makers, students, staff and faculty who co-create and advance research, training and practice that improves maternal child health outcomes and health equity in Arizona.
Cady Berkel is an associate professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University and is affiliated faculty in ASU's REACH Institute. She received her bachelor's degree from George Washington University and her doctorate from the University of Georgia. Berkel focuses on reducing health disparities, including substance use, mental health, HIV and other STIs, and obesity, through research on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs in community settings, health care and court systems. She also conducts basic research on risk (e.g., discrimination and poverty) and resilience (e.g., racial and ethnic socialization, identity and cultural values) mechanisms associated with health disparities.
Team Co-Lead
Associate Professor
[email protected]
Corrie Whisner is an associate professor of nutrition in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. Her journey in maternal child health began as an undergraduate research assistant on studies aiming to improve child and adolescent bone health. She is intrigued by phases of rapid growth and development and is keen to explore the interaction between nutrition and the microbiome, aiming to comprehend how they contribute to the well being and thriving of mothers and children.
Team Co-Lead
Associate Professor, College of Health Solutions
[email protected]
Liz Alonso is an implementation coordinator at the REACH Institute of the Department of Psychology and the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. She joined ASU in 2017 with a background in parent education, child development, community resources, case management and care coordination. One of the concentrations in her current role is to engage and maintain partnerships for the Maternal Child Health Translational Research Team and the Family Check Up® 4 Health program (FCU4Health, a health promotion program).
Team Coordinator
[email protected]
Megan Downey is a Project Coordinator with the Maternal and Child Health Translational Research Team at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Arizona State University. Megan’s professional background includes extensive work with children and experience in research, particularly coding motivational interviewing samples in a lab setting.
Team Coordinator
[email protected]
The Training Core aims to prepare undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral trainees for the workforce through the development and implementation of workforce training initiatives. Asynchronous online modules monitored and evaluated by the Training Core, support skill development in areas of translational science and inquiry, ethics, community health and wellness, professional communication, policy and advocacy. The Training Core facilitates experiential learning projects, enhances diversity amongst MCH trainees and pursues training grants to support student research engagement. Interprofessional collaboration is encouraged by working closely with the other MCHTRT cores and community partners to assist in developing leadership skills in the areas of clinical expertise and research.
Please contact our team coordinator for more information.
College of Health Solutions
500 N 3rd St
Phoenix AZ 85004
A randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of daily avocado consumption in infants 6-12 months of age on growth, the gut microbiome, and neurocognitive developmental outcomes.
A culturally responsive, community engaged process to promote maternal-infant health equity in Indigenous, Black, and Latinx communities in Arizona
The Policy Domain subcommittee of this team is partnering with 4th Trimester Arizona and Arizona Birthworkers of Color to establish a coalition of key stakeholders in AZ to identify key issues around MCH in the state and identify action items and deliverables to advance our advocacy efforts around these issues. The coalition is in the early stages of implementation and the goals will evolve over the next few months.
This study is driven by two objectives. The first is to evaluate the integration of core competencies outlined in Arizona Senate Bill 1181 and the consideration of birth equity issues within doula training programs currently acknowledged by the Arizona Department of Health Services. The second aim is to gain insights into the advocacy and policy priorities of community-based birth workers of color. Additionally, the study aims to gauge the level of acceptance of the voluntary state certification process for doulas and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) reimbursement for doulas as a policy goal in Arizona.
This study will examine the maternal health-seeking behaviors, health experiences and the unique care needs of African refugee women. The research will include participant interviews, the use of health services and perceptions of maternal health care for African refugee women who have received maternal care. The goal is to identify patterns of maternity care that will help us understand the factors informing positive maternal care experiences to advance MCH equity for refugee women.
In collaboration with Southwest Human Development, this study aims to explore and document the effectiveness and acceptability of a telehealth/hybrid NICU transition program (Smooth Way Home) among NICU parents.
Implementing a health promotion program targeting families with children aged 2 to 5 years, this initiative focuses on preventing childhood obesity. The program achieves this through personalized parenting education, motivational interviewing, and facilitating connections to relevant resources.
This study aims to create an adapted intervention of the New Beginnings and Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families that is designed specifically for caregivers of children with incarcerated parents.
A clinical trial of a proactive speech and language intervention that is provided to infants as young as 2 months old. The purpose is to find out if severe speech and language disorders can be prevented in children who are born with a known risk for these disorders, in this case children with a newborn diagnosis of classic galactosemia.
Working in collaboration with Valleywise Health to study COVID-19 impact on pregnant women, including identification of high-risk groups, characterizing delivery outcomes, surveying the health status of refugee populations, and understanding the effects of the pandemic on health workers.
A Pilot Study of a Brief Meditation Intervention
A study to understand the attitudes and stories of low-income Arizona mothers’ experiences with feeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Data gathered from college freshmen in relation to dietary, physical activity, social interaction, and perceived stress, as well as weight changes over the academic year.
We studied the location, distribution, movement of Street Food Businesses and the role they may play in food availability and food access, especially in underserved communities.
This project examines (1) opioid use and nutritional social determinants of health, (2) speech-language development and oral motor feeding development over time with infants and young children with neonatal substance abuse syndrome; and (3) how opioid use disorder is operationalized in other cultures. Collaboratively conducted with Hushabye Nursery, the project aims to address these multifaceted aspects.
An observational study to understand how sleep-wake patterns and the gut microbiome affect rapid weight gain in infancy, an early risk factor for obesity. The development of these factors will be examined in the context of feeding, maternal and environmental influences. This is a collaborative project with Valleywise Health.
To better understand health and wellness priorities from a youth perspective through youth listening sessions to inform the next steps to building out a health and social service safety net for adolescents in Arizona.
This three-part project is in collaboration with 4th Trimester AZ. (1) Diversifying perinatal mental health workforce; (2) Increasing state Medicaid (AHCCCS) coverage to outpatient lactation support; (3) AHCCCS recognition of perinatal mental health providers as independent practitioners.
Mamma Mia Internet-Based Study. To test the effects of “Mamma Mia” versus “Mamma Mia Plus” versus the usual care on depressive symptoms for diverse perinatal women in the U.S.
Recognized significant distinctions between providers engaged in the CACFP and those who are not participating.
Explored and documented the type, number and distribution of non-conventional food venues and the types of foods found in those venues in South Phoenix using direct observation and geographic information system methods.
Explored the gut microbiome composition in college first-year students in relation to dietary intake, physical activity, social interactions, perceived stress and weight changes across an academic year.
Explored trends in racial and ethnic disparities in physical activity and student grads and whether diet moderated the relationship.