Jailene Cruz, a first-generation Latina born and raised in Los Angeles, is joining CPQCC/CMQCC for a graduate student internship in summer 2025. Her internship will focus on how system dynamics analysis and causal loop diagrams can help better decipher and represent California’s maternal healthcare systems. Jailene is a rising second-year Master of Public Health student in community health sciences at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She brings a passion for improving maternal and child health (MCH) through research, education and advocacy, with a special dedication to advancing equitable MCH outcomes in underserved communities. Jailene's interest in MCH stems from witnessing women in her family navigate a healthcare system that has often failed to provide culturally competent care, such as bridging language barriers and providing access to reproductive health education, thus leaving family members without the autonomy to make informed decisions about their bodies and birth plans. Ultimately, Jailene hopes to pursue a PhD in Public Health to further her academic and research goals. In her free time, Jailene enjoys trying new coffee shops in and outside the LA area, and relaxing with her beloved senior family dog.