Manisha Juthani, MD
Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health
Dr. Manisha Juthani is the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Juthani is the first Indian American to serve as a commissioner in the State of Connecticut. She served as professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine through September 2024 and currently serves as an adjunct professor of medicine. She served as Director of the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program from 2012 to 2021. Juthani received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, completed Internal Medicine residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell campus, and served as chief resident at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She came to Connecticut in 2002 as an Infectious Diseases fellow at Yale School of Medicine.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Juthani was a leader in the COVID response at Yale, which led to her appointment as Commissioner of CT DPH in 2021. In the early days of the pandemic, she was a voice to help educate the public in both local and national media outlets, a role she was able to expand in her role as Commissioner. Upon joining CT DPH, she helped guide Connecticut out of the pandemic and worked to revitalize areas of public health, such as gun violence, maternal health, opioid use, and sexually transmitted diseases, that were exacerbated during the pandemic.
As she continues in her role as DPH Commissioner, Juthani has shifted her core vision to “Preserve and Protect Core Public Health Principles and Services.” As Connecticut is presented with new public health challenges, she remains committed to preserving public health achievements made over the years, including improvements in regulatory oversight in healthcare, drinking water, and environmental health, which includes food safety. It is more important than ever to highlight the importance of vaccines, control of infectious diseases, road safety, and healthier mothers and babies. Clear, accurate communication about public health risks is vital to her mission. She continues to advocate for health as a human right, which is the core vision of CT DPH. Juthani is on the UConn Health Board of Directors.
Student Speakers
School of Medicine: Daniella Dennis
Daniella Dennis was born in New Britain, Connecticut, as the youngest of four with an older brother and two sisters. Her parents were born and raised in Jamaica and immigrated to America in the late 1990s. Dennis’ mother introduced her to the medical field. Her mother was a certified nursing assistant at a rehabilitation center. In elementary school after school, Dennis would visit her mother at work and ended up shadowing different healthcare professionals, including physicians.
She then furthered her exploration of medicine at New Britain High School, which had a Health Career Academy for students interested in pursuing the health professions. This exploration allowed Dennis to matriculate to Central Connecticut State University and obtain her bachelor’s degree in 2018 in Biomolecular Sciences and Community Engagement. For two years, she worked as an EMT and a patient care technician at Hartford Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic before enrolling at the UConn School of Medicine in the Fall of 2021. During medical school, she was involved in various activities, including serving as secretary of the Student National Medical Association and the Gold Humanism Society.
Following graduation, Dennis will stay in Connecticut and at UConn to complete her residency at UConn Health in Emergency Medicine. She credits her family for their love and support through this journey, her classmates for always being there to help, and most importantly mentors for guiding her throughout every step of the way. Her biggest advice to all students: no matter what stage you are at, you can never have too many mentors.
School of Dental Medicine: Kristina Dubois
Kristina Dubois grew up in Mendon, Massachusetts, where her creativity and love for art and music began at an early age. Guided by a deep sense of empathy and a passion for helping others, she naturally gravitated toward a career in healthcare.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition to excelling academically, Dubois was a dedicated mentor in the “Big Brother Big Sister” program, an experience that further fueled her commitment to making a meaningful impact. During her senior year, she completed an honors thesis exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their long-term effects on both mental and physical health.
Following college graduation, Dubois worked full-time as a dental assistant, gaining invaluable hands-on experience at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time solidified her decision to pursue dentistry and provided her with critical insights that helped prepare her for dental school.
At UConn, Dubois not only received a world-class education, but also built lifelong friendships—and met her fiancé, Ronak. She looks forward to beginning her career in general dentistry as an associate in a private practice. With Ronak pursuing his dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, the two, along with their three precious cats—Juniper, Opie, and Corduroy—will soon be relocating to New Jersey.
As she reflects on her time at UConn, Dubois is deeply grateful for the education, mentorship, and relationships that have shaped her both personally and professionally.
The Graduate School: Kristina Delgado
Kristina Delgado was born in Mexico City, Mexico, raised in Cuenca, Ecuador, and moved to the U.S. at 18. Growing up in a multicultural household, she developed resilience, a strong work ethic, and a deep appreciation for diversity. Seeking purpose, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where she achieved the highest rank within her enlistment and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Her military service strengthened her leadership and teamwork skills while exposing her to critical gaps in healthcare, igniting her passion for biomedical research.
Determined to make an impact, she earned her bachelor’s degree, graduating summa cum laude in Biological Sciences from Georgia State University. She then gained hands-on experience in infectious disease research at the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory at Plum Island, working in high-containment BSL-3 laboratories studying transboundary diseases. This experience deepened her passion for immunology and vaccine development, leading her to UConn Health to pursue a Ph.D. in Immunology.
Delgado’s doctoral research in the Spirochete Research Laboratories focused on syphilis vaccine development, leading to groundbreaking tools and novel insights into Treponema pallidum pathogenesis and immunity. She’s co-authored multiple publications, including four first-author papers in prestigious journals. Delgado is deeply committed to fostering diversity in STEM. As an active member of UConn Health’s DEI committee, she advocates for equitable opportunities in science and has helped mentor and train the next generation of scientists.
She is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her family, friends, and the invaluable mentorship of Drs. Justin Radolf, Kelly Hawley, and Melissa Caimano, whose guidance has been instrumental in shaping her scientific journey. She remains steadfast in her commitment to advancing biomedical research while continuing to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists.
School of Medicine: Kristina Dubois
Kristina Dubois grew up in Mendon, Massachusetts, where her creativity and love for art and music began at an early age. Guided by a deep sense of empathy and a passion for helping others, she naturally gravitated toward a career in healthcare.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In addition to excelling academically, Dubois was a dedicated mentor in the “Big Brother Big Sister” program, an experience that further fueled her commitment to making a meaningful impact. During her senior year, she completed an honors thesis exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their long-term effects on both mental and physical health.
Following college graduation, Dubois worked full-time as a dental assistant, gaining invaluable hands-on experience at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This time solidified her decision to pursue dentistry and provided her with critical insights that helped prepare her for dental school.
At UConn, Dubois not only received a world-class education, but also built lifelong friendships—and met her fiancé, Ronak. She looks forward to beginning her career in general dentistry as an associate in a private practice. With Ronak pursuing his dream of becoming an orthopedic surgeon, the two, along with their three precious cats—Juniper, Opie, and Corduroy—will soon be relocating to New Jersey.
As she reflects on her time at UConn, Dubois is deeply grateful for the education, mentorship, and relationships that have shaped her both personally and professionally.
School of Dental Medicine: Anthony Pérez-Pino
Anthony Pérez-Pino was born in Miami, Florida, to a proud Cuban family. He will be the first in his family to pursue a doctoral degree in the United States. He graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. During his high school years at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, he grew to adopt the school’s motto “men for others” and knew he wanted to dedicate his life to serving others. During his time in dental school, he served as a leader in several organizations such as the Hispanic Student Dental Association/Student National Dental Association (HSDA/SNDA), Hartford Health Education Program, American Student Dental Association (ASDA), Orthodontics Interest Group, and served as a student representative for the Office of Admissions. Throughout this time, he developed a profound passion for mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals, including underclassmen who are interested in pursuing dental specialties. He has co-authored multiple manuscripts with his underclassmen mentees for submission to prestigious journals in Orthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He also published multiple research studies in the realm of orthodontics, artificial intelligence, and dental public health. Furthermore, he has extensively worked in the field of Orofacial Pain and TMD, an emerging specialty, with a manuscript pending publication. After graduating, Pino will continue his education in an Orthodontics residency at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. There, he aims to acquire the skills necessary to make a lifelong impact on his patients and serve his community. He gives special thanks to the wonderful faculty at UConn, his family, loving partner Alexandria, friends, classmates, and mentors for guiding him. They have all played a significant role in helping him achieve the degree of his dreams from UConn.
The Graduate School: Nuratu Quarshie
Master of Public Health student Nuratu Quarshie was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and was raised in Accra, Ghana. In May 2021, she graduated from Westminster College, MO, with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Public Health, where she occupied various leadership positions, such as senator of the student government association, peer health educator, student ambassador, and president of two organizations. Her academic excellence led to her induction into Tri-Beta, a biology honor society, recognizing her scholarly achievements.
Driven by her passion for global health, Quarshie founded the Health Haven Foundation for marginalized communities in Ghana, which aims to provide accessible and comprehensive primary care services. Under her leadership, the foundation launched the Access Health Initiative, securing a $10,000 grant to further its impactful work. She is also actively engaged in efforts to provide nutritious meals for primary school students in Tanzania, acknowledging the interdependence of health and education.
Quarshie's dedication extends beyond borders, as she mentors young girls in Cape Coast, Ghana, empowering and guiding them to pursue careers in public health and STEM fields. Her capstone project, "Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health Through Mobile Clinic Services for Women in Sub-Saharan Africa," reflects her innovative approach to addressing critical health disparities. Quarshie 's impact continues to resonate in her advocacy and education efforts at the Women's Center at UConn Storrs, where she worked under the Violence Against Women’s Prevention Program (VAWPP). She also worked with the New Britain Health Department for her practicum project, contributing to the development of a Community Health Needs Assessment and Health Improvement Plan.
After graduation, she plans to work in the global health sector in her pursuit of a more equitable world.