Dec. 19, 2025
Maternal and Child Health Experiential Learning program launched
A new program at the University of Calgary is providing graduate students with extensive professional-development opportunities and paid work-integrated learning placements. The (CHELO) program offers graduate students working in maternal and child health the chance to earn six course credits while building career readiness.
The program will feature a two-course structure designed to help university students build professional skills and gain workplace experience. The first component, a professional-development course set for winter 2026, will deliver online seminars, mentoring sessions and networking opportunities aimed at strengthening career readiness, interviewing skills, communication, and leadership.
In spring and summer 2026, students will move into the program’s second phase — an experiential-learning course that places them in supervised, paid internships. This hands-on component will allow participants to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world professional environments.
“By embracing the idea that practical engagement strengthens the use of theoretical knowledge, we’re offering this course to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world challenges,” says Dr. , BA'93, MSc'95, PhD'98, professor in the and instructor of both CHELO courses. Oddone-Paolucci is also co-lead of the with .
Community-based internships
The program is open to graduate students across all faculties who have a focus in maternal or child health and wellness. Five community partners have already signed up for paid student internships including the , , , and . Students can also arrange for their own internship placement.
“This is a wonderful transdisciplinary opportunity. Students will work alongside experts from diverse fields to tackle complex maternal and child health challenges,” says Oddone Paolucci
In addition to earning two course credits and a paid internship, students who finish the CHELO program will receive a $5,000 award.
To learn more about eligibility criteria for the CHELO program, . Applications for the program are due Jan. 9, 2026.
The CHELO program is funded by the and the .
The is a partnership between the University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services and the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. ACHRI advances child and maternal health research, benefiting from more than 40 years of philanthropic support from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Led by UCalgary, the research initiative works to dramatically improve the lives of children, their families, and maternal health across Canada. The initiative is funded by the , with support from the and the .
Related content
Sign up for UToday
Delivered to your inbox — a daily roundup of news and events from across the University of Calgary's 14 faculties and dozens of units
Thank you for your submission.
Collection of personal information
Your personal information is collected under the authority of
section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and is required for updating your
email subscription preferences. If you have any questions about the collection or use of this information,
please visit our Access to Information page.