Mariana Chilton, PhD MPH

Associate Professor

Departments and Research Centers

Health Management and Policy
Center for Hunger-Free Communities

Research Focus

  • Nutrition
  • Housing and health
  • Chronic diseases
  • Community health
  • Human rights
  • Hunger

Education

  • PhD, Folklore & Folklife, Univesity of Pennsylvania
  • MPH, Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma
  • MA, Folklore & Ethnography, University of Pennsylvania
  • AB, History and Literature: Latin America, Harvard University

Awards and Honors

  • 2011, Nourish Award, MANNA
  • 2010, Unsung Heroine Award. Recognizing significant contributions that advance the progress of women, girls and families. Women’s Way, Philadelphia, PA
  • 2010, College of Physicians Award of Recognition for Public Health Advocacy for Witnesses to Hunger
  • 2008, Young Professional Award, Maternal & Child Health Section, American Public Health Association

Bio Abstract

Mariana Chilton, PhD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the Drexel University School of Public Health. She is the Director of the Center for Hunger-Free Communities (formerly known as the Philadelphia GROW Project/Witnesses to Hunger) and Co-Principal investigator of Children's HealthWatch. She most recently launched Witnesses to Hunger to increase women’s participation in the national dialogue on hunger and poverty.

Dr. Chilton founded Witnesses to Hunger to increase women’s participation in the national dialogue on hunger and poverty.  Dr. Chilton received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Oklahoma, and Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University.   She has testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on the importance of child nutrition programs and other anti-poverty policies.  She has served as an advisor to Sesame Street and to the Institute of Medicine.  Her awards include the “Nourish Award” from MANNA, the “Unsung Hero Award” for Improving the Lives of Women and Girls from Women’s Way and the Young Professional Award in Maternal and Child Health from the American Public Health Association.  Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, public radio and CBS National News.

Recent Research

Merck & Co, Inc. Foundation, M. Chilton, PI $1,000,000 09/09-08/12
Center for Community Nutrition and Child Health.
This grant funds three years of work that will launch the GROW Project/Witnesses to
Hunger to a national level to address improving local access to nutritious foods, prevent
child hunger and improve child health.

OMG Center, Pew Fund Capacity Building Program, M. Chilton, PI $27,500 02/10-01/11
Specialized Staff Training & Enhanced Outreach Services to Treat the Trauma
Underlying Child Hunger and Failure to Thrive
This grant provides staff training in new, evidence based programmatic efforts that
address the underlying trauma associated with failure to thrive and food insecurity in the
Philadelphia area.

PEW Charitable Trusts, M. Chilton, (PI) $225,000 04/10-03/13
Nourishing Mind and Body for the Young Children of Philadelphia
This project supports the behavioral health components of the GROW Clinic by
supporting the efforts of a behavioral psychologist and social work. It also funds
trauma informed parent support groups with a train the trainer component for all
aspects of the GROW Project / Witnesses to Hunger.
 

Selected Publications

Frank DA, Casey PH, Black MM, Rose-Jacobs R, Chilton M, Cutts D, et al. Cumulative hardship and wellness of low-income, young children: multisite surveillance study. Pediatrics 2010;125(5):e1115-23.

Hager ER, Quigg AM, Black MM, Coleman SM, Heeren T, Rose-Jacobs R, Chilton M, et al, Development and validity of a 2-item screen to identify families at risk for food insecurity. Pediatrics 2010 ;126(1):e26-32.

Chilton, MM, Rabinowhich, J, Council, C, Breaux, J. Witnesses to Hunger: participation though photovoice to ensure the right to food. Health and Human Rights, 2009;11(1):73-86.

Contact Info

Drexel University School of Public Health
Bellet Building 11th Floor
1505 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192
Phone: (215) 762-6512

In the News

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  • CEPHDrexel SPH is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

     
  • 1505 Race Street, Bellet Building
    Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192
    Phone: 215.762.4110 | Fax: 215.762.4088
    E-mail: publichealthinfo@drexel.edu