Research That Meets Real-World Needs

Students explored a wide range of pressing public health topics across Connecticut and beyond. One project examined access to over-the-counter birth control using a statewide “mystery caller” approach, highlighting gaps in availability and consistency across pharmacies.

Other students focused on chronic disease epidemiology, including research on long-term metformin use and its potential association with gastrointestinal cancer risk.

Accessibility and inclusion were also key themes, with one student developing a structured module designed to make dance recreation spaces more inclusive through education and assessment tools.

Addressing Health Equity in Connecticut

Several projects centered on underserved populations and health equity. Research on migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Connecticut identified critical barriers to healthcare, including access challenges, unmet health needs, and factors that influence care-seeking behavior.

These findings point toward actionable solutions, such as expanding mobile clinics and increasing investment in community health workers to better serve vulnerable communities across the state.

From Classroom to Career

Beyond the research itself, the poster session highlighted where these future public health professionals are headed next.

Graduates are moving into a variety of impactful roles, including:

• Residency programs in internal medicine and anesthesiology
• Careers in clinical and research settings
• Positions in government and public health agencies

These next steps reflect the program’s strong emphasis on applying public health training in real-world settings—whether through patient care, research, or policy work.

A Launchpad for Impact

The MPH Poster Session is more than a capstone—it’s a launching point. Students leave not only with research experience, but with the skills to translate data into action, advocate for communities, and contribute to meaningful change in public health.

As this year’s graduates step into the next phase of their careers, their work continues to shape healthier communities across Connecticut and beyond.

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.