Author: Davis, Jini

Congrats to Ella Stanwood!

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Ella Stanwood Headshot

We are thrilled to share that Ella Stanwood, a dedicated student from the UConn Department of Public Health Sciences, has been selected for the Yale Public Health Fellowship Program administered through the Yale School of Public Health’s Office of Community & Practice! 

The Connecticut Public Health Fellowship Program (PHFP) connects emerging public health professionals with hands-on experience in state and local public health agencies — offering real-world opportunities to make a tangible difference in our communities. This competitive fellowship supports students who are driven to explore careers in public health practice and service, and it includes a stipend to help support their work. 

During her fellowship, she will be placed with a Connecticut public health agency where she will work alongside experienced professionals, engage in meaningful projects, and help advance essential public health services that keep communities safe and healthy. 

This fellowship not only provides invaluable professional experience but also strengthens the bridge between academic training and public health practice.

Please join us in congratulating Ella Stanwood on this well-deserved achievement! We can’t wait to see her continue to shine and contribute to a healthier, more equitable future for all.

Supporting Our Community: Winter Donation Drive 2025

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Donation Drive Extended Through January!

This winter, our department is proud to support two impactful initiatives dedicated to serving Hartford residents: Hands On Hartford and Community Service Officer Jim Barrett’s Homeless Outreach Program. As the colder months arrive and financial instability continues to rise, community support is more important than ever.

About Community Service Officers & Officer Jim Barrett
Community Service Officers work directly within Hartford neighborhoods, building relationships, attending community events, and addressing quality-of-life concerns. Officer Jim Barrett, the city’s homeless outreach officer, goes above and beyond to support unhoused individuals. Operating out of a renovated bomb squad truck turned mobile care unit, he provides supplies, resources, and connections to social services. His compassionate work has been recognized locally and nationally.

About Hands On Hartford
Hands On Hartford strengthens the community through housing support, food access, homelessness prevention, and outreach services. Their MANNA Community Pantry, Backpack Nutrition Program, Supportive Housing, and Shared Use Kitchen all play a crucial role in meeting basic needs and fostering long-term stability. Their participation-based restaurant, Gather55, welcomes everyone—regardless of ability to pay—creating a space where community and compassion meet over a shared meal.

They also operate a Day Program that provides referrals, shelter support, health screenings, and a safe environment for those experiencing homelessness. With more than 1,400 volunteers each year and support from civic, faith-based, and organizational partners, Hands On Hartford continues to create a healthier, more inclusive Hartford for all.

How You Can Help
This year, many community members are facing reduced assistance, unexpected hardships, and limited access to food or warm clothing. Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference—especially items like $5 fast-food gift cards, which provide unhoused individuals the opportunity to purchase a warm meal.

Most-needed items include:

  • Financial contributions –
    Please contact the following emails:

    jindavis@uchc.edu, lcook@uchc.edu, samociuk@uchc.edu, and parris@uchc.edu

  • Nonperishable food

  • Full-size toiletries & household essentials

  • Food for children’s backpack nutrition program

  • Snack kits for outreach

  • Hygiene products

  • Cold-weather gear

  • $5 fast-food gift cards to Mcdonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts

  • Bus passes

Your generosity directly supports individuals and families navigating challenging times. Thank you for helping us make a positive impact this winter.

12th Week- Fall 2025 – Wednesday Night Session

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Dr. Brown smiling at podium in the academic rotunda

Our 12th Week Enrichment series continued with an evening dedicated to connection—both academic and personal growth. The night began with a Student Advisory Session, where MPH students met with their major advisors to discuss their progress, share experiences, and seek guidance. Faculty were also encouraged to attend, creating a valuable space for mentorship, open dialogue, and community support.

Following advising, the focus shifted from academic planning to relational learning with Rey Bermudez, educator, movement facilitator, and founder of The Relational Dance. With over 30 years of experience across dance instruction, human services, and education, Mr. Bermudez led the group through Relational Dance for Professionals—a dynamic workshop designed to cultivate emotionally intelligent, relationship-centered professionals.

Grounded in three core principles—the Identity of Value, the Practice of Connection, and the Power of Consistency—the session helped participants explore self-awareness, communication, and consistent relational habits that build trust, accountability, and collaboration. Students also practiced strategies for relational leadership and team culture building. And of course, everyone had the chance to move!

It was an evening that blended advising, reflection, and movement—reminding us that growth in public health happens not only in classrooms, but also through connection, mentorship, and community.

Advancing Menopause Equity: Lessons from The Power of the Pause Celebration

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Members of our department recently attended The Power of the Pause Celebration, an event dedicated to uplifting community voices and promoting menopause equity—a critical but often overlooked public health issue.

The event brought together advocates, health professionals, and community members to discuss the unique challenges individuals face during midlife, especially those from marginalized and underserved groups. Conversations centered on how social determinants of health—such as access to care, income, race, and gender identity—shape experiences of menopause and overall well-being.

For public health students, this celebration offered a powerful reminder: health equity doesn’t stop at reproductive age. Midlife health deserves the same level of attention, empathy, and research as other stages of life. Addressing menopause through a public health lens means recognizing how systemic inequities influence access to information, culturally competent care, and supportive environments.

As proud sponsors of this initiative, we’re committed to advocating for a future where all individuals navigating menopause are seen, heard, and supported. Public health plays a vital role in shaping that future—through research, policy, and community engagement that prioritize inclusivity and compassion.

Together, we can continue to redefine what equitable midlife health looks like and ensure that every stage of life is met with dignity and understanding.

Explore photos from the event below and learn more about the movement toward menopause equity.

MPH 12th Week Schedule – Fall 2025

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This event series is exclusively for MPH students and faculty. Each session provides valuable opportunities for learning, connection, and professional development.

Important Information:

  • Attendance is mandatory for all MPH students.

  • Faculty members are invited to participate in the virtual webinars on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

  • Students must register for the Wednesday night in-person event using the registration form provided to track attendance.

Event Schedule

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Virtual Webinar
Topic: Health Coverage at Risk: Projected Losses in Medicaid & Access Health CT
Contact: info@ctdatahaven.org
Speaker: Mark Abraham, MPH
Executive Director of DataHaven

This session will explore projected losses in Medicaid and Access Health CT, discussing the implications for healthcare access across Connecticut.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | 5:30 PM

Location: Academic Rotunda

Student Advisory Session (5:30 – 6:00 PM)
Meet with your major advisor and connect with peers for guidance and support.
Faculty are strongly encouraged to attend this session to engage with their advisees.

Relational Dance for Professionals
A dynamic learning program designed to cultivate emotionally intelligent, relationship-centered professionals across diverse fields.
Grounded in three core principles:

  • The Identity of Value

  • The Practice of Connection

  • The Power of Consistency

Program Director Updates
Hear the latest news from the Program Director, including department updates, important reminders, and upcoming opportunities.

Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Virtual Webinar
Topic: Working with Public Data: Resources & Guidance from CT Data Collaborative
Contact: jill@ctdata.org
Speaker: Jill Walsh
Senior GIS & Data Analyst, CT Data Collaborative

This webinar offers practical insights into accessing and using public data effectively for research and program evaluation.

Reminders

  • Attendance is mandatory for students at all events.

  • Faculty are encouraged to attend the Wednesday advisory session in person.

  • Students must complete the registration form for the Wednesday night event to confirm attendance.

PHLAME Event – Communicating for Career Success

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You can’t prepare for every interview question—but you can prepare to communicate with confidence. This workshop explores interview etiquette and formats, provides strategies for answering tough questions, and reviews the essentials of professional communication, including outreach and strategic thank-you messages. We will also discuss the effective use of GenAI to support your communication goals. Attend this session to strengthen your ability to convey the best of what you have to offer with clarity, professionalism, and purpose.

Join us for this valuable session from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM on October 21, designed to help you strengthen your interview skills and professional communication in public health and beyond.

This session is offered virtually. The registration link is attached below.

Please email publichealth@uchc.edu if you encounter any issues with the link to join virtually.

Register here

MPH Fall ’25 Students Give Back at Hartford Service Event

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Students smiling in a group photo

This fall, our MPH students kicked off the semester with an afternoon of service at the Metropolitan AME Zion Church in Hartford.

Led by Dr. Amy Hunter, the students partnered with SAVE (Saving African American Village), a local organization that collaborates with Amazon each month to bring essential household items to community members in need. These items are distributed at no cost through a monthly community store hosted at the church.

As part of the service event, MPH students worked together to prepare donations, organize supplies, and set up the space for the upcoming community store. Their efforts directly support families across Hartford, helping ensure that vital resources are accessible to those who need them most.

“Today is about more than just preparing for tomorrow’s store,” said Dr. Hunter. “It’s about showing our students what it means to be involved in public health at the community level and the impact they can make.”

Events like this are a cornerstone of the MPH experience at UConn. Beyond the classroom, students gain hands-on opportunities to engage with communities, support health equity initiatives, and build relationships that shape their future careers in public health.

We are proud of our Fall ’25 MPH cohort for demonstrating the spirit of service and leadership that defines public health.

Help Us Make a Difference This Summer

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The Department of Public Health Sciences at UConn Health is proud to host a food drive benefiting Hands On Hartford, a local organization dedicated to strengthening community safety nets and addressing food insecurity.

As Hands On Hartford has shared, “We are seeing record numbers of participants utilizing our community pantry, and spring/summer is generally when food donations are slow.” That’s why your support is more crucial than ever.

Collection Dates:
July 9 – August 13

Drop-Off Locations:

  • Academic Entrance Lobby

  • Munson Road Main Entrance Lobby

  • 195 Farmington Avenue, Ste 2100

Most Needed Items Include:
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables
Beans
All Non-Perishable Items
Full-Size Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc.)
Breakfast Foods (cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix)

By contributing, you’re directly helping to stock pantry shelves for families and individuals in need. Whether you’re a staff member, student, or local partner, your donations matter.

For questions or concerns, please contact us at (860) 679-5470.
Together, we can show what it means to care in action.

Take a look at some of our past donation drives!

  • David Rulnick, Fiscal Administrative Assistant

Dr. Stacey Brown Officially Program Director

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Dr. Stacey Brown smiling

Public Health Program Leadership Transition

After 20 years, Dr. David Gregorio, Professor of Public Health Sciences, has stepped down as director of UConn’s Program in Applied Public Health Sciences, the home UConn’s MPH and PhD degrees.  During his tenure, the program became nationally recognized for its emphasis on interprofessional public health practice, while achieving substantial enrollment growth, expanding its dual degrees options with social work, law, pharmacy and dental medicine, implementing graduate certificates on foundations of public health, disability studies, and the social determinants of health (the substance of which is a requirement of School of Medicine graduates), and facilitating MPH pathways for medical residents and fellows.   Such commitment to education also led to initiation of public health coursework for Storrs student along with a popular FastTrack 4+1 BA/BS+MPH option for UConn undergraduates.  Beginning in Fall 2025, UConn’s PUBH 1001 Introduction to Public Health will be available for credit to Connecticut High Schools through UConn’s Early College Experience.

Dr. Gregorio presently is a Senior Accreditation Visitor for the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and previously served as President of the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) and founding member of the National Board for Public Health Examiners (NBPHE), Inc.  His research and teaching focuses on the application of epidemiology in advancing disease control policy/practices relevant to the social determinants of chronic disease.  In returning to his position with the faculty, Dr. Gregorio will teach a graduate seminar on the Political Determinants of Health along with his undergraduate Introduction to Public Health course that consistently enrolls more than 200 undergraduates.   He a recent recipient of a three year, $1.9M award (“Education-Enhanced Pipeline to a Public Health Science Corps”) from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to foster a statewide culture that promotes public health readiness in communities, while increasing the number and professional abilities of public health workers in Connecticut.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Stacey Brown, Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences, has assumed the position as Director.  She previously served as Associate Program Director and Coordinator of Dual Degree Programs and the Applied Practice Experience, where she led the development of an innovative, two-semester Practicum that now serves as a model for accredited Master of Public Health programs nationwide.

Dr. Brown, a long-standing and deeply engaged member of our academic community brings a wealth of experience, innovation, and collaborative leadership to this role.  A distinguished educator and community-engaged scholar, Dr. Brown has received numerous honors, including the Joan Segal Outstanding Faculty Award (2020), the Health Career Opportunity Programs Faculty Recognition Award (2021), and in 2022, both the UConn Provost’s Distinguished Instructor Award for Excellence in Community Engaged Scholarship and the 100 Women of Color Award for her exceptional contributions to education and community health.

Dr. Brown’s leadership is grounded in deep community engagement. Over the past two decades, she has collaborated with faculty and community partners to develop curricula that illuminate the social, economic, and political determinants of health. She has also spearheaded initiatives in cultural competency, patient advocacy, and behavioral health, with a particular focus on strengthening student learning through partnerships with community-based organizations.

Her commitment to equity and public health is further reflected in her roles as a local and national Fellow with organizations such as UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention and Policy, UConn’s Service-Learning Program, the Connecticut Health Foundation, the Health Equity Leadership Institute, and the Cross-Cultural Health Care Training Program.

She also contributes her expertise as a member of the State of Connecticut Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission and has served on the boards of the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance and Family Life Education. Dr. Brown’s appointment marks a new chapter of growth and innovation for the Program in Applied Public Health Sciences. Please join us in recognizing Dr. Gregorio for his service and congratulating Dr. Brown on this well-deserved recognition and leadership role.

Students Shine at Poster Session and Graduation Dinner

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The UConn Department of Public Health Sciences recently hosted two unforgettable events celebrating student achievement, research, and leadership.
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At the Public Health Poster Session, over 50 MPH students presented impactful research on a wide range of pressing public health issues. From health equity to community engagement, each poster was a testament to the passion and purpose our students bring to the field. The session was a powerful showcase of their dedication to inspiring change through evidence-based solutions.
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Later that night, the department gathered for the Public Health Sciences Graduation Dinner. It was a joyful evening filled with music, food, laughter, and well-earned recognition. Graduates were honored for their academic accomplishments and community contributions, with several students receiving awards for their outstanding work. Guests enjoyed performances by program directors, adding a personal touch to the celebration.
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The evening also marked a meaningful moment of transition as the department expressed deep gratitude to Dr. David Gregorio for his years of leadership, while warmly welcoming Dr. Stacey Brown as she steps into her new role as Program Director this July.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2025, we are so proud of all you have accomplished!
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  • Dr. Stacey Brown presenting to group at the graduation dinner