Public Health Matters: UConn Faculty and Students Champion Equity and Community Voices at CPHA

More than 300 public health professionals, students, researchers, and community leaders gathered at the University of Saint Joseph for the 2026 Connecticut Public Health Association (CPHA) Annual Meeting, Public Health Matters: People, Purpose, Progress. UConn School of Medicine and its UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) were prominently represented throughout the day, contributing a wide range of presentations that underscored the institution’s commitment to advancing health equity across Connecticut.

A Keynote Framing the Urgency of Public Health Today
The conference opened with a critically reflective keynote delivered by Dr. Jeffrey F. Hines, Vice President of the Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights at UConn and UConn Health. His opening slide read, “Public Health Matters: People, Purpose, Progress…Especially Today.”

*Dr. Jeffrey F. Hines delivering the keynote address for the 2026 CPHA Annual Meeting. He is Vice President of the Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights at UConn and UConn Health.*

“The especially today piece is so critically important based on the cultural and political climate that we are in,” Hines said. “There is a narrative around disbelief in science and skeptics of the benefit and value of public health. Now more than ever we need public health. Measles outbreaks. Upcoming Medicaid cuts. Decrease in SNAP benefits. Worsening vaccination hesitancy. These affect the lives of us all, especially vulnerable communities that continue to disproportionately share the bulk of this harm. Public health acknowledges the lineage of harm and acts to make a difference.”

His remarks set the tone for a day centered on collective responsibility, community partnership, and the essential role of public health in safeguarding well‑being.

A Full Day of Learning, Collaboration, and Community Engagement
Following the keynote, attendees moved through a packed agenda of oral presentations, posters, and interactive sessions led by researchers, practitioners, and students from across the state. Topics ranged from racial equity and maternal health to climate resilience, food access, and the future of governmental public health. UConn’s presence was felt in nearly every session block, underscoring the institution’s leadership in applied public health research and practice.

HDI Showcases Participatory Research and Equity‑Centered Policy Work
The UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) led a 75‑minute panel titled “The Connecticut Commission on Racial Equity and Public Health Strategic Plan: The Value of Resident Engagement in State Health Equity Planning.” The session highlighted the participatory planning process used to develop the state’s strategic plan and emphasized the importance of resident voice in shaping equitable public health policy.

*Gillian Betz, MPH of the UConn Health Disparities Institute presenting research findings at 2026 CPHA Annual Meeting.*

HDI faculty, staff, and students delivered six additional presentations, including:

Patient Action Leaders Advancing Novel, Transformative, Equitable (PA’LANTE) Health Care
Eliminating Racial Inequities in Connecticut: Policy Recommendations for Promoting Health and Wellbeing
From Community‑Centered Research to Policy: Building Health Equity Leaders with the HEAR Program
Community Vulnerability and Economic Well‑Being: Estimates of Health Disparities Effects of Federal Policies Reducing Medicaid Coverage on Connecticut’s Communities
Policy Pathways to Eliminating Racial Inequities in Connecticut: Housing, Environment, and Communities
Forming a Community‑Led Collective to Advance Menopause Equity in Connecticut

“As a new faculty member at the UConn Health Disparities Institute, this was the first time I participated in the CPHA conference,” said Dr. Monika Doshi, assistant professor of Public Health Sciences and Core HDI faculty member. “The conference did a good job of bringing together a diverse group of public health advocates—including researchers, practitioners, and students—facilitating important dialogues and collaborations. The message of the day underscored the notion of doing work with communities instead of for communities. It was wonderful to be in the company of so many dedicated public health advocates and to learn about the critical work they are doing with communities around the state.”

Public Health Sciences: Planting Seeds for Healthier Communities
Reflecting the conference theme, the Department of Public Health Sciences distributed a garden‑to‑table cookbook paired with seed packets. Attendees received a seed starter kit, an assortment of seeds, and a cookbook featuring recipes inspired by the very seeds shared. The symbolism was intentional: 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 department was also strongly represented throughout the conference. Ten MPH students presented 14 posters, joined by MPH alumni and a current Ph.D. student. Faculty and researchers contributed a presentation titled “Community Matters: Patterns of ACEs in Adolescents Across Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas in Connecticut,” offering important insights into the experiences of youth across the state.