{"id":5717,"date":"2026-04-27T12:56:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/public-health-sciences\/?p=5717"},"modified":"2026-05-04T10:04:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T14:04:28","slug":"dr-angela-bermudez%e2%80%91milan-leads-community%e2%80%91driven-research-to-nutrition-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/public-health-sciences\/2026\/04\/27\/dr-angela-bermudez%e2%80%91milan-leads-community%e2%80%91driven-research-to-nutrition-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Angela Berm\u00fadez\u2011Mil\u00e1n Leads Community\u2011Driven Research to Nutrition Access"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Angela<\/a><\/p>\n

Public Health Nutrition students at UConn Health are gaining hands\u2011on, community\u2011centered experience thanks to Dr. Angela Berm\u00fadez\u2011Mil\u00e1n\u2019s innovative approach to teaching public health practice.<\/strong> Through a partnership with the Keney Park Sustainability Project and local health programs, students are applying classroom learning directly to real community needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

In her Public Health Nutrition<\/em> course, Dr. Berm\u00fadez\u2011Mil\u00e1n integrates public health practice, program evaluation, and community engagement. MPH students\u2014including Lisbeth Moran and Michael Raizin\u2014spent time at the Keney Park garden learning about hydroponics, urban farming, and the food hub program. Their work extended beyond observation: students collaborated with program leaders to evaluate existing recommendations from previous consultants and helped strategize how to put those recommendations into action.<\/span><\/p>\n

During National Public Health Week, Dr. Berm\u00fadez\u2011Mil\u00e1n also presented findings from a community\u2011based participatory pilot study conducted with the Hartford Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program at Keney Sustainability Park. The study, Barriers to Farmers Market Voucher Redemption among Hartford WIC Participants<\/em>, aims to strengthen WIC benefit use and inform future childhood obesity interventions. This work was supported through a collaboration between the UConn Health Department of Public Health Sciences and the ICR\/Community Research Alliance (CRA), funded by the Health Net, Inc. Chair in the Department of Public Health Sciences.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Angela<\/a><\/p>\n

The partnership continues to grow. Herb Virgo, Director of the Keney Park Sustainability Project, is exploring new ways to bring fresh produce and nutrition education directly to Hartford communities. Plans include cooking demonstrations using garden-grown vegetables and a repurposed mobile bus that will deliver fresh produce to neighborhoods with limited grocery access.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students play an active role in these initiatives, gaining first\u2011hand experience in collaborative public health practice, community engagement, and program implementation.<\/strong> This partnership exemplifies how applied learning can prepare future public health professionals to address real\u2011world challenges with creativity, cultural humility, and community partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information, contact Dr. Angela Berm\u00fadez\u2011Mil\u00e1n at bermudez-millan@uchc.edu<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about the Keney Park Sustainability Project, visit: https:\/\/keneyparksustainability.org\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n