Month: March 2026

Department of PHS Proudly Supports the Black Family Wellness Expo

 

On March 21, 2026, the Department of Public Health Sciences was proud to sponsor and host a table at the Black Family Wellness Expo. It was a powerful community event dedicated to advancing health equity and addressing health disparities through education, connection, and access to resources.

The Expo brought together families, community organizations, and health advocates for a day focused on wellness, prevention, and empowerment. Attendees had access to free health screenings, educational materials, and trusted resources designed to support healthier individuals and families. For our department, the event represented an important opportunity to engage directly with the community and share practical tools that promote healthy living.

Throughout the day, faculty and staff connected with families, answered questions, and distributed healthy recipes from the Department of Public Health Sciences cookbook—a resource developed to make nutritious, culturally relevant meals more accessible. These conversations reinforced the value of meeting people where they are and providing information that can be immediately applied in everyday life.

“It was truly gratifying to learn that the community regards UConn as a pillar of educational support. Many families expressed their appreciation to Public Health Sciences for sharing healthy recipes from our department cookbook.” ~ Jini Korcz

Hearing directly from families about the impact of UConn’s presence underscored the importance of sustained community partnerships. Events like the Black Family Wellness Expo highlight how academic institutions can play a meaningful role beyond campus—supporting prevention, education, and trust-building in the communities we serve.

The Department of Public Health Sciences remains committed to advancing health equity through community‑engaged research, education, and outreach. We are grateful to the organizers, partners, and families who made this event such a meaningful success, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.

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Dr. Angela Bermúdez-Millán Keynote Speaker for Health Symposium

We were proud to have Dr. Angela Bermudez-Millan, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, serve as the keynote speaker at the 63rd Connecticut High School Science and
Humanities Symposium hosted by UConn Health.

Dr. Bermúdez‑Millán shared her work as a public health nutrition researcher, focusing on the social determinants of health and food insecurity—while inspiring the next generation of scientists to pursue research rooted in community impact and health equity.

Thank you for empowering Connecticut’s future STEM leaders with your passion, research, and commitment to public health.

Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/eGXMayVS

PHS Shines at CPHA Conference 2026

The Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA) held its Annual Conference on Tuesday, March 10, at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. This year’s theme was entitled: Public Health Matters: People. Purpose. Progress. This highlighted how public health grows from the collective actions we take to support healthier communities.

Reflecting that theme, the Department of Public Health Sciences distributed a garden‑to‑table cookbook paired with seed packets. Attendees were able to get a bag with a seed starter kit, an assortment of seeds, and the cookbook. The idea was simple but powerful: public health begins with what we cultivate – literally and figuratively. Planting seeds mirrors the work of public health professionals who invest in people, nurture community well‑being, and help progress take root. The cookbook, featuring recipes from our faculty inspired by the very seeds shared with attendees, underscored how everyday choices around food, environment, and community shape healthier lives.

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.

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The Decline of Teen Sleep: A Public Health Issue We Can’t Ignore

New national data shows that teens across the U.S. are sleeping far less than they used to — and the trend is accelerating. A new analysis from UConn researcher T. Greg Rhee, published in JAMA, reveals that more than half of teens now report getting under five hours of sleep per night, a level associated with emotional, cognitive, and physical health risks. The percentage of teens getting the recommended eight hours has dropped sharply since 2007, and the decline spans all demographic and behavioral groups. Researchers argue that societal factors — from school schedules to evening demands — may be driving the crisis and call for population‑level interventions.

Read the full article here