Publications

The UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) is committed to advancing equity through rigorous research, community partnership, and public engagement. On this page, you will find our annual reports, project‑based publications, public testimonies, and recent scholarly works. These materials reflect our ongoing efforts to illuminate inequities, elevate community voices, and drive systems‑level change across Connecticut and beyond. If you would like more information about any of these works, you are welcome to contact HDI or the authors directly. Please use the recommended citations available within each document.

CREPH Strategic Plan

HDI FY25 Annual Report

Recent Scholarly Publications

  1. Frederick, N.N., Bennett, A., Bingen, K., Cherven, B., Chevalier, L.L., Demedis, J., Freyer, D.R., Nguyen, A., Nowobilski, M.K., Pitter, T. and Quinn, G.P., 2026. The Development and Refinement of a Web‐Based Sexual Health Education Intervention for Pediatric Oncology Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers Caring for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, p.e70200.
  2. Wallerstein, N., Eder, M. M., Carter-Edwards, L., Castro-Reyes, P., Gangarova, T., Martinez, L. S., & Michener, L. (2026). Institutional transformations for authentic community engaged and participatory research. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 10(1), e60.
  3. Sprague Martinez, L., Rocco, M., Scott, J. C., Bergson, A., Kitchen, M., Dakin, A., ... & Walter, A. W. (2025). The Use of Community Engagement in Implementation: Successes and Challenges From the Implementation and Adaptation of Bundled HIV Interventions for Black Women. Health Expectations, 28(5), e70465.
  4. Sprague Martinez, L. S., Scott, J. C., Rocco, M., Miranda, M., Tucker, C., & Walter, A. W. (2025). Critical Reflections From the Black Women First Initiative. American Journal of Public Health, 115(9), 1500–1507.
  5. Brugge D, Eliasziw M, Thanikachalam M, Kuchhal V, Morson C, Vazquez-Dodero T, Mertl A, Tallam P, Kunwar S, Sprague Martinez L, Rashid HS. Effect of HEPA filtration air purifiers on blood pressure: a pragmatic randomized crossover trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2025 Aug 26;86(8):577–89.
  6. Gibson, E. B., Glasgow, L., Nouvong, M., McGladrey, M., Freedman, D., Chassler, D., ... & Martinez, L. S. (2025). Implementing and documenting cultural adaption of evidence-based practice strategies to reduce opioid overdose deaths: Examples and lessons from the HEALing communities study. Discover Public Health, 22(1), 296.
  7. Scott JC, Rocco M, Kitchen M, Solomon-Brimage NA, Chen CA, Latimer JM, Davies G, Wheeler J, Furton L, Sprague Martinez L, Rajabiun S. Intersectional HIV stigma among Black women: Regional differences and implications from the Black women first initiative. American Journal of Public Health. 2025 Apr;115(S1):S75–84.
  8. Walter, A. W., Rocco, M., Scott, J. C., Carhee, A., Ayafor, V., Goodwin, R., ... & Martinez, L. S. (2025). Beyond survival: harnessing sustainability frameworks to assess and support programs implementing bundled interventions for Black Women With HIV. American Journal of Public Health, 115(S1), S28–S37.
  9. Martinez LS, Howard RC, Rocco M, Pamphil J, Chassler D, Augsberger A, Battaglia TA, Lobb R. Time, trust, and relationships: Creating a culture of community engagement to advance translational research through resource allocation, modeling, and recognition. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 2025 Jan;9(1):e245.
  10. Battaglia, T.A., King Jr, K.I., Richmond, A., Christenson, E., Lobb, R., Augsberger, A., Bora, C., Tringale, S.M., Martinez, L.S. and Williams, C.T., 2025. Assessing a community health center-driven process for engaging with translational scientists: What will it take?. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 9(1), p.e177.
  11. Hamilton, G.A., Martinez, L.S., Barocas, J.A., Chassler, D., Murphy, S.M., Ryan, D., ... Battaglia, T. (2025). The Process and Cost of Developing a Community Advisory Board Focused on Opioid Overdose Deaths. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action 19(3), 335–343. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2025.a970161.
  12. Chassler, D., McClay, C., D'Onfro, M., Battaglia, T., Macone, A., Kimball, J., ... Martinez, L.S. (2025). "… Work Really Is Being Done and It's Very Worthwhile …": Reflections from Community Advisory Board Members. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action 19(2), 219–226. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2025.a965359.
  13. LoCurto, J., Lange, B. C., Iverson, M. G., Chang, R., & Pitter, T. (2024). A systematic review of organizational assessments related to racism and equity. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 11(3), 1685-1700.