Getting to Know the CHOP/Penn Global Health Community: An Interview with Molly Mahon, BSN, RNC-NIC, Clinical Nurse – NICU Central

Can you share a little about yourself and how you became involved in Global Health?

I am from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and grew up in Willow Grove as the youngest of five children. I was fortunate to grow up with my parents, siblings, and grandparents in the house. It was a very full and fun home. When it was time for college, I stayed local and went to La Salle University. Immediately after graduating, I got a job at CHOP, so I have primarily lived in the Philadelphia area my whole life. My interest in global health came from growing up in a service-oriented home. I was involved in volunteer work from a young age through the Catholic Church in which I was raised, including international service experiences in Haiti and Mexico. The experience in Haiti working with the Missionaries of Charity at a health clinic sparked my interest in global health and pursuing a nursing career.

In which countries have you lived/worked?

Besides my service experiences in Haiti and Mexico, I participated in immersion experiences in Kenya and studied abroad in El Salvador, where I took a medical Spanish course over five weeks. I subsequently had the chance to return to Haiti and participate in a global health experience that was more focused on clinical work. More recently, I lived and worked in Botswana for three months through the CHOP Global Health Nursing Fellowship and attended and taught at a neonatal conference in Tanzania.

How are you currently involved in Global Health?

In January 2023, I became the first CHOP Global Health Nurse Fellow through a partnership between CHOP, Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) in Gaborone, Botswana, the University of Botswana and the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. When I learned about the Fellowship, it honestly felt a little too perfect. I never thought that as a neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurse, who was interested in global health, I would have the opportunity to participate in a global fellowship where I would work alongside neonatal nurses in another country. It was one of those things where I just had to apply; I didn’t even second guess it. I am very grateful to have been the first fellow in the program, which was sometimes daunting. Overall, though, it was an incredible experience ― meeting the nurses in the PMH neonatal unit and working with them, co-developing projects to improve care, it was all truly invaluable. The experience taught me a lot, challenged me on many levels, and made me a better nurse, teammate, and listener. I will always take those lessons with me.

The fellowship is committed to truly bi-directional exchanges of knowledge and expertise. I recently had the opportunity to host one of my PMH nurse colleagues, Naledi Kedikilwe here at CHOP. It was surreal, having her here. Even as I was picking her up from the airport; I couldn’t believe she was here in Philadelphia. When I started the fellowship, Sally Poliwoda, Clinical Director for Global Health Nurse Fellowships and Dr. Andrew Steenhoff, Medical Director of the Global Health Center had emphasized that the fellowship would be a bi-directional partnership so hosting Naledi at CHOP, and having her shadow me, was a true testament to that ethos and commitment. While CHOP and PMH are different, we have many things in common and hence were able to connect with each other through our shared passion for infection prevention and control, delivering high quality care to our patients and continually looking for opportunities to improve, whether that's in the United States or Botswana. It was a unique and meaningful experience for me.

Why is Global Health important to you?

I've always loved the phrase, ‘think globally, act locally.’ I'm very involved in the Philadelphia community and CHOP’s work in the community. I think that listening to others and acting on it are at the core of nursing and healthcare. Global health, when done right, requires you to listen and partner, and equips you with skills that can help your community as well. Being aware of what's going on in the world helps you be a better informed citizen in your own backyard. Similarly, you can take those same tools you learn locally and transfer them to help globally.

What motivates you to continue with your Global Health work?

I think back to all of the amazing people that I've met abroad. Many have evolved into incredible friendships. I love working on a team and, through my global health work, I'm a part of so many outstanding teams of people, who still check in on each other today. And so it's those friendships and relationships that motivate me. Also, the power of small wins. Any small win can make a difference and inspires me to continue doing global health work.

Can you describe an experience that has resonated with you from your Global Health work?

I remember there was a period when the PMH NNU was struggling with a Klebsiella outbreak towards the end of my Fellowship. And, you know, global health work, can be challenging. It just felt very crushing at the time, when every day, there was a new case. When we finally found the source, it immediately set so many people in motion to address the issue. We met with pharmacy and supply chain, and I worked with one of the local nurses to develop a clean technique for handling medication. The nurse matron supported us and made sure that all unit nurses could receive the training. There were just so many sacrifices made by so many people to make it happen all while managing their other daily responsibilities. That sort of teamwork in handling a challenging problem was inspiring. By the end of my Fellowship, which was probably a couple of weeks after this, we had trained half the staff, and we had a whole plan in place to prevent a similar outbreak.

What advice would you give to others who are interested in Global Health?

Starting locally is the best way to go. There are many local opportunities that can provide you with an excellent foundation to move into global health, such as Puentes de Salud in Philly or CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative. I'm also a huge believer in the power of yes. And if someone pulls you aside and says, ‘Hey, you'd be really good at this, or hey, can you join me?’  Say yes. That’s how I got to where I am. Saying yes, led me to meeting different people, leading to more opportunities and, ultimately, the Fellowship. So I think saying yes and getting involved in your community are the best ways to start your journey in global health.

Where do you see the fellowship experience taking you?

I've been involved with CHOP’s Homeless Health Initiative since 2017, and over the past two years, I've volunteered as a nurse leader. I work with the nurse volunteers at partnering shelters orienting them to their site and serving as a resource. Our shelters have such a diverse population, so having that global awareness and skillset that I developed through global health and applying it to local work has been impactful.

Are there any Global Health-related events, opportunities, or programs you would like to highlight?

The Annual CHOP Pediatric Global Health Conferences are a fantastic way to get involved and learn about what's going on. The next conference will be held on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Meeting people from all around the world and exploring the breadth of global health work through conference sessions and research poster presentations is a perfect way get a crash course in global health and meet incredible people.

How do you recharge?

Anytime I can spend with my nieces or nephews takes a stressful week and turns it into a good one. I love running, and going on walks while listening to a great podcast. I also love live music, so any day I can go to a concert or enjoy live music is a good day.