KALISZEWSKI PRACTICUM PROPOSAL 1

Practicum Commitment Form

KALISZEWSKI PRACTICUM PROPOSAL 2

Organization
The organization I have selected to complete my practicum at is Waco Family Medicine
(WFM). WFM is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive
health care services to those who have struggled within the conventional healthcare system while
also training the next generation of providers. WFM aims to improve the health and wellness of
underserved and vulnerable populations in the heart of Texas. They assist residents through
various facets, including: medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, financial assistance, and
lab and radiology services. These services reach a multitude of people, but my population of
interest includes maternal, children, and infants.
During my time at WFM, I will be working under the guidance of Dr. Emilie
Cunningham, who currently serves as the Director of Programs for Women and Children. She
uses this position to leverage various opportunities to promote maternal, child, and infant health
in Waco populations through WFM. Dr. Cunningham has spent extensive time in the field of
Public Health and subsequently accrued 25 years of work experience.
Rationale
Completing my practicum under the leadership of Dr. Cunningham at WFM provides a
fantastic opportunity to adapt my academic-based epidemiology knowledge and skills to current
public health efforts. One of my many future goals consists of leveraging these skills to come
alongside marginalized populations (i.e., women, children, and infants) and assist them in
achieving better health status’ and increasing health equity. This practicum allows me to work
with a population of interest under an experienced supervisor, but it also allows me to give back
to the community I am currently residing in.
Competency Matrix
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PRACTICUM COMPETENCY MATRIX

Competency-based Products for MPH Practicum ePortfolio: Catie Kaliszewski
Specific products in portfolio that Competency: MPH Foundational ( MPH b ) or Epidemiology
demonstrate application or Concentration ( EPI c ) Competency
a
practice
Conduct and collect data during qualitative b
interviews.
MPH : Comp 1-Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of
settings and situations in public health practice.
Create an infographic and report of Centering MPH: Comp 4- Interpret results of data analysis for public health
qualitative data. Participate in conducting a pilot
study and at minimum disseminate descriptive data research, policy, or practice.
results. MPH: Comp 6- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social
Review current literature and participate in
inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to
webinars achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal
levels.
EPI :c Comp 3- Appraise the ethical foundation for research
Draft a proposal to March of Dimes to urge
regulations and connect ethical and legal principles to the collection,
initiation of data collection in Waco. Also, will maintenance, use, and dissemination of epidemiologic data.
keep notes through the process of experiences with
research regulations
EPI: Comp 4- Generate hypotheses and develop an appropriate
study design to answer a specific epidemiologic research questi
Create a feasible research question/hypothesis with
appropriate study to follow-up on for capstone

a
0 Each student portfolio must include at least two products (briefly describe them in large box, far left)
b
0 MPH: Each student must demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, of which at least three
must be MPH foundational competencies.
c
0 EPI: For the epidemiology concentration, students must demonstrate attainment of at least two of the
five concentration competencies

Competency Matrix/Planned Deliverables Explanation

The combination of the aforementioned five competencies provides a robust framework
for achieving a successful practicum experience. To address the overarching MPH program
competencies 1, 4, and 6, I will be involved in several projects. These will include the following
practicum deliverables of interviewing approximately 100 women and their breastfeeding habits.
I will also assist in reporting on and disseminating previously analyzed qualitative data on
WFM’s Centering Program to fulfill MPH competencies 1 and 4. This is a current program at
WFM designed to bring mothers together to create community as they navigate prenatal care.
Additionally, the hope is to conduct a pilot program and collect lactation data from
approximately 25 mothers at WFM fulfilling the two previously mentioned competencies. This
pilot is intended to be completed by the end of the practicum, and at the minimum, I will be able
to report the descriptive data results. I also will be assigned readings and webinars to gain a
deeper understanding of maternal and child health in understanding specific systemic issues that
create continued health inequities. This will address the MPH competency 6.
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To address Epi competency 3, throughout my practicum experience, I will be collecting,

maintaining, using, and disseminating collected information in various projects. In doing so, I
will be able to appraise the ethical foundation for research regulation as well as connect various
ethical and legal principles to conducting research. To address Epi competency 4, I will be able
to expound on particular qualitative research findings or gaps found to generate hypotheses and
develop the appropriate study to address them. Finally, I will work on drafting a proposal to the
March of Dimes organization to request the initiation of data collection in Waco. Currently, they
only collect data in larger cities such as Austin or Dallas. However, there is a pressing need for
data collection and surveillance of current health among mothers and children in Waco. This
project will also help address MPH competency 1 and Epi competency 3.
The chosen competencies are intended to align with these expected deliverables. It also
aligns with WFM’s mission and goals to increase the health and wellness of underserved
communities. Specifically, understanding if current programs at WFM are effective. Gaining an
understanding of the current breastfeeding habits of mothers to help serve them better and what
potential barriers they face. Furthermore, understanding lactation among mothers can help guide
WFM’s future efforts in implementing programs.
These specific competencies also correspond with future career plans and goals. I hope to
collect, analyze, and interpret data in my occupation as an Epidemiologist and use the data to
help local communities as well as effect change at the national level. These skills will
specifically be leveraged among maternal and child populations. Learning how to conduct
interviews with the women will help increase my communication skills as well as interacting
with participants for the first time in this setting. I also will have the opportunity to create and
disseminate information and findings from analyzed qualitative data. This specifically will help
me increase skills in relation to communicating important findings effectively and succinctly
which will be necessary for my future endeavors. Engaging in these projects will allow for me to
generate and consider areas in need of further research which will be beneficial in my future as I
will always need to be cognizant of the next possible research opportunities. Through my
experience at WFM, I will be able to help the community and work towards achieving the
competencies in the process.
Goals and Objectives
1. To bolster ability to analyze, report, and disseminate findings.
a. By the end of the first month of my practicum, I will draft a report and
infographic of the findings from qualitative analysis of the Centering program
data.
b. By the end of the practicum, at minimum, I will analyze, report, and disseminate
descriptive data from the pilot program assessing lactation among mothers in
Waco.
2. To learn how to conduct interviews.
a. By the end of the practicum, I will conduct interviews among approximately 100
women assessing their breastfeeding experiences.
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b. By the end of the practicum, I will conduct interviews among 25 women inquiring
about lactation.
3. Gain a first-hand understanding of structural bias, social inequities and racism that
undermine health and create health inequities for mothers and children.
a. By the end of my practicum, I will attend at least 3 webinars that will increase
knowledge of systemic issues and understand how to work and bridge those gaps.
b. By the end of the practicum experience, I will have reviewed at least 10 research
articles and understand various factors within the PRECEDE-PROCEED
framework that
4. To find gaps within current practices and literature and work to address them.
a. By the end of the second month of my practicum, I will draft a proposal for the
March of Dimes Organization to expand current data collection/surveillance
practices to the city of Waco.
b. By the end of my practicum, I will have proposed a hypotheses/research question
with the corresponding, appropriate study to address the question.
Professional Strengths and Expected Growth
Academic strengths
 Organized
 Critical thinker/Problem solver
 Disciplined
Professional strengths
 Timely
 Team-Oriented
 Dependable
Personal strengths
 Honest
 Willingness to serve others
 Self-Motivated
 Resilient
Expected Areas of Growth:
Through this practicum experience, there will be many opportunities for growth and
development. One of which includes knowing when to ask for help or clarification on an
assignment. Also, I have difficulty letting go of projects if they are not perfect. The expediency
needed to complete tasks in this position will push me to ask for help and hand off assignments
sooner.
Project Outcome
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By being a part of a department that is involved in many revolving projects, I will gain a
comprehensive understanding of the initiation of research projects, management and analysis of
collected data, as well as dissemination of data. These experiences will guide my deliverables of
creation of an infographic and report of collected data, analyze and disseminate descriptive data
for the pilot study (at minimum), generating hypotheses and an appropriate study design to
address the research question, and a proposal to expand current data collection practices by the
March of Dimes organization. Each of these projects will help create a more comprehensive
understanding of current breastfeeding and lactation practices among mothers, the barriers they
face, and how to assist them better. These findings will help shape WFM’s programs and direct
their efforts to best assist the women and children in the community. Ultimately, this is an effort
to advance the health and wellness of mothers and their children in Waco, Tx, and close the gap
of present health disparities in the community.