Student Spotlight: Daniela Schrider

Meet Daniela Schrider

• Degree Program: MSPH
• Area of Interest: Maternal, Fetal, and Perinatal Health
• Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
• Previous Degree Earned: BA in Public Health Studies, Johns Hopkins University
• Fun Fact: I love hosting dinner parties for my friends!

What sparked your interest in public health?
My family members and their experiences certainly sparked my interest in public health. My grandmother spent her entire career working in women's addiction recovery and associated health services for women and their children, so I learned a lot from her along the way. My mother, an immigrant and teen mother, found herself utilizing a plethora of public health programs and services as she raised her first three children on her own. The stories of her experience lead me to want to learn more about public programs helping socially vulnerable mothers like her, because I am so thankful for the life she was able to lead for me and my siblings.

Why did you choose Bloomberg School of Public Health?
During my senior year of getting my public health degree at Johns Hopkins, I had the opportunity to take a few Bloomberg School courses. I was amazed by the passion and expertise of the professors and researchers at BSPH. I am also a big fan of the Hopkins network, as they foster great collaboration with other future health professionals at the schools of Nursing and Medicine. I was also happy to be able to stay right in the center of my favorite city, Baltimore!

My mentor does a really great job showing me the breadth of work she does, and helping me gain professional skills.

What led you to join the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health?
I was drawn to PFRH primarily out of my longstanding interest in women’s health, particularly everything surrounding pregnancy and birth (family planning, birth outcomes, etc). I found the department offered specific courses in topics I was interested in, and great schedule flexibility to take them. I was also happy to be  joining a smaller sized program, where I knew I would be able to make true connections with faculty.

What is one experience in PFRH that stands out as a favorite or most memorable? 
I really enjoyed our last master’s seminar this past May. Not only did we get treated to a pizza lunch, but it was a great time for people to update each other on amazing accomplishments. We heard about engagements, international field placements, completed half marathons, new houses, and more. It was awesome to hear how many exciting things people can accomplish while obtaining their master’s degrees! 

Tell us about your field placement.
I am interning at the Maryland Department of Health in the Office of Family and Community Services which is a part of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. I am so happy to be in this position, because I get to work on a lot of different types of projects that involve different populations I have studied in school. I have helped coordinate state plans regarding women's health goals, applied for government grants, redesigned webpages with updated content, and more. My mentor does a really great job showing me the breadth of work she does at the MCHB and helping me gain professional skills.

What do you hope to do or accomplish after graduation?
I hope to continue my work in the Baltimore-D.C. region, as I truly love this area. I am hoping to get a job that allows me to learn even more about the industry and show me new skills. I am happy to be so young exploring this field, so I have plenty of time to find work that I enjoy. Separately, I hope to improve my Spanish skills and become a fluent speaker! 

What are some of your favorite places or aspects of living in Baltimore?
My favorite part of living in Baltimore is exploring the different neighborhoods! Currently I live in Federal Hill, which is the sporty area of the city; Orioles and Ravens fans take over the streets on game days, in the best way possible. Fells Point has beautiful waterfront restaurants and live music galore, Hampden has the vintage shops and niche eats. No matter where you are in the city, you will feel the friendliness of Baltimore people. 

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the PFRH community? 
I would tell a prospective student to thoroughly explore the core content and electives available to complete the degree, as it is available online. The topics can get quite niche, so it is best to take time and explore how it aligns with your interests. I would encourage a prospective student to be excited by the opportunities to learn from such distinguished faculty!