Author: Julia A Szczech

PHS Supports CIRI Through Community Donation Effort

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Julia A Szczech

The Department of Public Health Sciences recently had the opportunity to give back to the community through a donation initiative benefiting the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI).

Thanks to the generosity of the UConn School of Dental Medicine, our department delivered nearly 800 dental hygiene products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss, to support CIRI’s workshops and meet the everyday needs of the individuals and families they serve.

CIRI has long been a vital resource in Connecticut, providing compassionate, high-quality legal, social, and educational services to refugees, immigrants, and survivors of human trafficking and torture. In addition to helping individuals navigate complex systems and rebuild their lives, the organization works to ensure that families have access to essential resources that promote health, dignity, and well-being.

Access to basic hygiene products is an important, yet often overlooked, aspect of public health. Items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste play a significant role in preventing disease, promoting overall health, and supporting quality of life. By contributing these essentials, our department and partners hope to help reduce barriers to care and support the health of community members across Connecticut.

This donation effort reflects our department’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, health equity, and service. Collaborations like these demonstrate the power of partnership and the meaningful impact that can be made when organizations come together to address community needs.

We are grateful to the UConn School of Dental Medicine for their generous contribution and to CIRI for the incredible work they do every day in supporting some of Connecticut’s most vulnerable populations. We look forward to continuing opportunities to partner with organizations that advance health, equity, and community well-being.

Learn how you can help: https://health.uconn.edu/public-health-sciences/2026/05/18/2026-spring-cleaning-donation-drive/

Dr. Stacey Brown Keynote Speaker-2026 Women’s Advance Conference

Posted on June 3, 2026June 3, 2026 by Julia A Szczech

Dr. Stacey Brown was invited to deliver the keynote address at the UConn Women’s Advance Conference. Her presentation, Leading While Human: Authenticity, Courage, and the Small Acts That Change Us, encouraged attendees to think differently about leadership, emphasizing connection, courage, visibility, and the everyday interactions that shape people’s lives. Through stories drawn from public health, education, and personal experience, Dr. Brown explored how meaningful leadership often emerges through the willingness to take risks before feeling fully ready. The keynote also challenged perfectionism, particularly among women leaders, and highlighted the importance of creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to grow. Attendees participated in reflection activities centered on bravery, belonging, and leading with humanity.

Empowering Students to Improve Classroom Air Quality

Posted on June 3, 2026June 3, 2026 by Julia A Szczech

Dr. Misty Levy-Zamora and her research team have made great strides in environmental health. This initiative focuses on empowering students and teachers to improve their own classroom environments using low-cost, do-it yourself air filtration systems known as Corsi-Rosenthal boxes.

These devices are constructed from a box fan and MERV-13 filters, and our research has shown them to be highly effective at reducing the concentration of viruses, wildfire smoke, and other harmful particulate matter. The newly published NSTA lesson plan, “How can we clean our classroom’s air?”, provides a comprehensive framework for middle school students to engage in hands-on STEM learning.

Students define air quality as an engineering challenge, build their own purifiers, and analyze the resulting data. This project not only teaches critical scientific principles but also results in a tangible improvement to the health of the school community.

The full lesson plan can be accessed here

Dr. Megan O’Grady Awarded NIH Grant for OUD Research

Posted on June 3, 2026June 3, 2026 by Julia A Szczech

Dr. Megan O’Grady, Associate Professor in Public Health Sciences, was awarded a new NIH/NIDA R34 grant titled “Measurement-Based Care as an Implementation Strategy for Long-Acting Injectable Medications for Opioid Use Disorders in CCBHCs”. This 3-year project is a collaboration between UConn Health, UConn Storrs (School of Pharmacy), and Community Health Resources Inc (a community-based behavioral health services provider) to improve use of long-acting injectable medications for opioid use disorders in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

Distinguished Career Award Recipient – Jennifer Sussman

Posted on September 19, 2025September 19, 2025 by Julia A Szczech

Jennifer Sussman, Research Associate II, received a Distinguished Career Award at the Connecticut Prevention Summit on September 9th, 2025, that brought together state agency and prevention stakeholders from across the state. Jennifer was awarded this because of her decades of work to make data more accessible to state, regional, and community partners to aid in substance use prevention services planning, implementation, and sustainability. She has been an integral part of our department’s team as the coordinator of the Center for Prevention Evaluation and Statistics. A well-deserved award, congrats to Jenn!