
The Department of Maternal and Child Health at Gillings is a world-class hub of research, teaching and practice dedicated to improving the health of women, children and families — domestically and globally. Our approach provides students with a thorough exposure to maternal and child health population needs and priorities, as well as with the requisite skills to become the leaders of tomorrow.
The leadership of the department on Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court Decision (PDF)
Our Recent News
Assistant professor Dr. Aunchalee Palmquist has been selected as the recipient of this year's Gillings Faculty Award for Excellence in Health Equity Research. Dr. Palmquist is lead for the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI) Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies (L.I.F.E.™) Initiative and serves as the CGBI representative on the World Health Organization/UNICEF Global Breastfeeding Collective, the Emergency Nutrition Network Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group.

Department Statement on Tenure Case of Nikole Hannah-Jones
The leadership in the Department of Maternal and Child Health affirm the open letter sent by Dr. Mimi Chapman, Chair of the UNC-CH faculty. Academic freedom and transparent and equitable processes related to employee hiring and faculty appointments are critical to our institution. We look forward to fair and appropriate action in the tenure case of Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Our faculty members represent a rich mix of academic backgrounds and professional experience to address health inequities domestically and globally. Faculty and students work together on topics that impact pregnant women, children, and families, including issues such as family planning and reproductive health, maternal mortality and morbidity, infant and child health and well-being, nutrition, housing, violence, gender, and prenatal and postnatal care and breastfeeding.
Do You
- Envision a career working to support the well-being of women and children?
- Want to learn how to translate evidence into action to dramatically improve family health?
- Want to learn how MCH impacts health and well-being across the life course?
- Seek an interdisciplinary learning environment in a unique setting?