Author: Davis, Jini

From Classroom to Community: Public Health Nutrition Students Drive Local Impact in Hartford

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Public Health Nutrition students at UConn Health are gaining hands‑on, community‑centered experience thanks to Dr. Angela Bermúdez‑Milán’s innovative approach to teaching public health practice. Through a partnership with the Keney Park Sustainability Project and local health programs, students are applying classroom learning directly to real community needs.

In her Public Health Nutrition course, Dr. Bermúdez‑Milán integrates public health practice, program evaluation, and community engagement. MPH students—including Lisbeth Moran and Michael Raizin—spent time at the Keney Park garden learning about hydroponics, urban farming, and the food hub program. Their work extended beyond observation: students collaborated with program leaders to evaluate existing recommendations from previous consultants and helped strategize how to put those recommendations into action.

During National Public Health Week, Dr. Bermúdez‑Milán also presented findings from a community‑based participatory pilot study conducted with the Hartford Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program at Keney Sustainability Park. The study, Barriers to Farmers Market Voucher Redemption among Hartford WIC Participants, aims to strengthen WIC benefit use and inform future childhood obesity interventions. This work was supported through a collaboration between the UConn Health Department of Public Health Sciences and the ICR/Community Research Alliance (CRA), funded by the Health Net, Inc. Chair in the Department of Public Health Sciences.

The partnership continues to grow. Herb Virgo, Director of the Keney Park Sustainability Project, is exploring new ways to bring fresh produce and nutrition education directly to Hartford communities. Plans include cooking demonstrations using garden-grown vegetables and a repurposed mobile bus that will deliver fresh produce to neighborhoods with limited grocery access.

Students will play an active role in these initiatives, gaining first‑hand experience in collaborative public health practice, community engagement, and program implementation. This partnership exemplifies how applied learning can prepare future public health professionals to address real‑world challenges with creativity, cultural humility, and community partnership.

For more information, contact Dr. Angela Bermúdez‑Milán at bermudez-millan@uchc.edu.

To learn more about the Keney Park Sustainability Project, visit: https://keneyparksustainability.org/

12th Week- Spring 2026 – Wednesday Night Session

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Stacey Brown speaking

As part of the Spring 2026 12th Week Enrichment series, and during National Public Health Week (April 6 to 12), MPH students gathered Wednesday evening for a program focused on reflection, learning, and accountability in health systems.

The evening began with a Student Advisory Session, providing MPH students the opportunity to meet with faculty advisors, reflect on their progress, and connect with peers. This dedicated advising time fostered mentorship and dialogue while reinforcing the importance of academic planning and professional growth within the program.

public health students holding signs

Students then watched a screening of SHUFFLE, a documentary that investigates fraud within the addiction treatment industry. Through personal accounts and reporting, the film examines how profit motives, weak oversight, and gaps in regulation can harm people seeking recovery. It also raises broader questions about ethics and responsibility in public health.

For many students, the film offered a challenging and eye‑opening perspective on the U.S. healthcare system. Student reflections noted how SHUFFLE highlighted the contradiction between high national healthcare spending and persistently poor health outcomes, particularly in the context of substance use disorder treatment. Several students shared that the documentary deepened their understanding of how predatory treatment networks operate and how structural gaps can cause significant harm to vulnerable populations.

A key highlight of the evening was the live discussion with the film’s producer, which allowed students to engage directly with the investigative process behind the documentary. Students appreciated the opportunity to ask questions, unpack real‑world implications, and explore how policy, regulation, and accountability intersect with public health practice. Many reflected that the conversation helped connect the film’s themes to coursework and professional responsibilities within applied public health.

Student feedback emphasized the value of pairing the screening with discussion. Participants described the session as thought‑provoking and informative, particularly in expanding their understanding of insurance systems, addiction treatment, and the ethical responsibilities of public health professionals. Several students noted that the experience reinforced the importance of advocacy, regulation, and systems‑level thinking in protecting communities and improving health outcomes.

The event reflected the goals of National Public Health Week by encouraging students to examine complex challenges through real-world examples. It also served as a reminder that public health leadership requires technical knowledge, ethical judgment, and a commitment to meaningful change.

MPH 12th Week Schedule – Spring 2026

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This event series 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, April 7, 2026 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Virtual Webinar
Topic: Putting Equity in Practice at the CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services
Speaker: Samia Hussein, DrPH, MPH
Director at CT Mental Health & Addiction Services

Register Here

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 5:30 PM

Students please check your inbox to register for Wednesday’s event.

RSVP Form

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.

‘SHUFFLE’ Documentary Discussion
SHUFFLE exposes the insurance-driven cycle of addiction treatment fraud through personal stories and investigative reporting. For MPH students, the film offers a compelling look at how public policy, health systems, and profit incentives intersect and how structural failures can put vulnerable populations at risk. The screening invites critical discussion around ethics, regulation, and the public health role in addressing substance use and health system accountability.

Students will have the opportunity to engage directly with the film’s producer following the screening. Come prepared with questions and ready to discuss real‑world public health issues.

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

Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Virtual Webinar
Topic: The Mouth as a Mirror: Oral Health & Pregnancy
Speaker: Dr. Brianna Muñoz, DMD, MPH
Pediatric Dentist & CEO
Twinkle Tooth Pediatric Dentistry

Register Here

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.

MPH Students, Alum & Faculty Present at UConn’s 2026 Health Equity Research Symposium

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On March 26, UConn’s 2026 Health Equity Research Symposium & Poster Session brought together students, faculty, researchers, and community partners to explore how collaboration and applied frameworks can drive meaningful progress toward health equity. Rooted in the theme “Rooted in Connection: Co‑Creating Equity Through Collaboration,” the symposium emphasized translating equity principles into action across research, teaching, and practice.

A highlight of the symposium was the panel “Foundations of Health Equity: From Frameworks to Practice,” a session designed to ground attendees in core health equity principles and examine how these frameworks are applied across disciplines.

  • Dr. Stacey Brown, Program Director
  • Dr. Mayte Restrepo‑Ruiz, Public Health Sciences faculty
  • Dr. Samia Hussein, MPH alumna

Together, the panelists explored how foundational equity frameworks inform public health teaching, research, and real‑world action. Their discussion emphasized the importance of moving beyond theory to practice—connecting academic work with community‑centered solutions and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The presence of MPH leadership, faculty, and alumni on this panel underscored the program’s role in shaping public health professionals who are prepared to address structural inequities at local, state, and national levels.

MPH students also contributed to the symposium through research poster presentations, sharing work that reflects a wide range of public health interests and equity‑focused inquiry. The poster session created space for dialogue between students, faculty, practitioners, and community members, reinforcing the symposium’s goal of bridging research and practice.

Through these presentations, students demonstrated how MPH training translates into applied research and community‑relevant public health questions—an essential component of advancing health equity.

The 2026 Health Equity Research Symposium highlighted the strength of UConn’s public health community and the central role of students and faculty in advancing equity‑driven work. For the MPH Program, participation in the symposium reflects a broader commitment to preparing graduates who can critically engage with health inequities and contribute to solutions grounded in evidence, collaboration, and community voice.

Careers in Public Health & Healthcare Event

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Register here: https://shorturl.at/gOCNy

The UConn Department of Public Health Sciences and Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills invite students from all majors to connect over lunch while discussing current public health topics and exploring future career paths.

📍 Lunch and drinks provided
🤝 Meet students interested in health careers
💡 Learn about public health pathways and graduate school

All students welcome.

What Is Applied Public Health?

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What “Applied” Really Means Within Our Program

Public health careers in the 21st century demand proficiency interprofessional collaboration, encompassing skills relevant to system-level strategies addressing health within the context of our environment and social structures. Our program’s distinct concentration on Interprofessional Public Health Practice brings medical, dental, social work, law, pharmacy and public health students together with to share and collaborate on learning and service project.  Our concentration also reflects a commitment to the practice of public health where students receive ample exposure and interaction with public health professional who one day will be their peers in protecting the health and well-being of our citizenry. Our program is made up of a dynamic community, where students, alumni, faculty, and community partners work together to shape our public health systems and services. When considering the landscape of public health in Connecticut, the impact of our program cannot be overstated.

Applied vs. Theoretical Public Health

Applied public health focuses on solving specific, real-world health problems by collecting and acting on data, while theoretical public health focuses on building generalized knowledge, frameworks, and models to understand health phenomena. Applied public health is action-oriented (e.g., creating a vaccination program), while theoretical public health is knowledge-oriented (e.g., studying the social determinants of health to build a model for behavior change)

In some of our classes we teach topics that cover course covers AI, automation, design and data software systems; so they can communicate in the field no matter if they are an environmental researcher, policy maker or biostatistician. The purpose of our classes are to help public health professionals become more advanced with various tools and technology many struggle with after graduation.

You can learn more about our curriculum and competencies here

Skills Students Gain (community engagement, data use, communication)

This past 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.

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.

How Applied Learning Prepares Students for Careers

Mayra shares how the UConn MPH program prepared her for meaningful, real-world work in the field. She speaks about the skills she gained: from community engagement and program planning to data-driven decision-making; continuing to shape her career. Now working at the Hispanic Health Council, Mayra plays a role in supporting community health efforts that directly intersect with the medical community, highlighting how public health complements clinical care by focusing on prevention, access, and systems-level change.

“Overall, the MPH program has opened doors for me to pursue work in my own community. For a long time I had the desire to give back to my community in a meaningful way. If it hadn’t been for the program, it wouldn’t have led me to interning for the Hispanic Health Council which in turn wouldn’t have led me to working for this current study. I owe much of the opportunities I have encountered to this program and the people who have mentored me along the way. I am very knowledgeable that I am still young and early into my career but that doesn’t mean that I am not excited about what is to come. Because the reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.”

Explore our MPH Program

Explore our other Public Health Programs

Public Health Students at 2026 CPHA Conference

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The department was strongly represented throughout the conference. Ten public health students presented a total of 14 posters, joined by MPH alumni and a current MPH student who delivered an oral presentation. Faculty and departmental researchers also contributed to the program, offering a range of presentations that provided valuable public health insights to the community.

To learn more about the conference, read about it on UConn Today here.

Munch and Mingle: Let’s Talk Public Health

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Munch & Mingle: Let’s Talk Public Health. Tuesday, April 14th in Room SU 320 at 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. UConn Storrs - Student Union

Register here

Join the UConn Department of Public Health Sciences and Allied Health Sciences for a casual and engaging lunch event designed for students interested in health-related careers. This gathering creates a welcoming space to meet fellow students, share ideas, and explore how public health connects to many different health professions.

During the event, students will enjoy lunch while participating in icebreakers and conversations about current issues shaping public health today. Graduate Assistants from the UConn Master of Public Health (MPH) program will also share their personal journeys into public health, along with insights on preparing for graduate school and exploring career paths in the field.

The event will also introduce opportunities such as FastTrack and dual degree options, along with tips on academic advising and navigating the next steps in health-related education. To wrap up the session, students will participate in a short, interactive public health activity designed to spark discussion and encourage collaboration.

Whether you’re exploring career possibilities, considering graduate school, or simply curious about public health, this event offers a relaxed environment to learn, connect, and exchange ideas.

Lunch and drinks will be provided. All students are welcome.

Space is limited so please register to save your spot

How the Public Health Practicum Prepares the Next Generation of Leaders

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A hands-on, two-semester experience preparing students for real-world public health impact.

Public health cannot be learned from a textbook alone. It requires real-world experience, community partnership, and a deep understanding of equity and ethics. The public health practicum bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional practice—giving students the opportunity to make a meaningful difference while preparing for their careers.

What is the Practicum & What Makes Ours Unique

The practicum is a two-semester experience that combines classroom preparation with extended field placements. Students begin by building a strong foundation in professionalism, ethics, advocacy, and health equity. They then apply those skills by working closely with public health agencies and community organizations on mutually beneficial projects.

Through these placements, students gain hands-on experience, contribute to real public health initiatives, and learn what it truly means to work in partnership with communities.

Learning With Purpose

By spending extended time in the field, students move beyond observation to active engagement—supporting programs, research, outreach, and policy efforts that address real public health needs. These experiences help students build confidence, clarify career goals, and understand the impact of public health work on people’s lives.

See the Practicum in Action

Want to hear directly from students and faculty about what makes the practicum so impactful?
Watch the video above to see how this experience prepares students to become thoughtful, skilled, and community-centered public health professionals.

Learn more about the public health practicum, explore placement opportunities, and discover how hands-on learning can shape your future in public health. Explore our website and follow us on social media to stay connected.

Apply to the MPH program here