For more than 30 years, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has fun
ded specialized professional training in nutrition with an emphasis on the
development of leadership skills. A survey was conducted of individuals who
received Maternal and Child Health nutrition training at the Center for Hu
man Development and Disability (CHDD) at the University of Washington. Thos
e surveyed were asked to reflect on the impact of the training on their car
eer pathway and to report on their leadership activities. Of the 91 respond
ents, 83 (92%) indicated that the training supported a career pathway that
emphasized maternal and child health or children with special healthcare ne
eds. Eighty-five former trainees (93% of respondents) reported leadership a
ctivities at the local level, 61 (67%) reported leadership activities at th
e state level, and 46 (51%) reported leadership activities at the national
level. The results of the survey indicate that specialized, intensive train
ing in the field of nutrition develops and supports leadership skills.