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.
