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Pradeep Rajbhandari ’23 MPH recently had the opportunity to apply what he’s learned in the classroom while exploring the future of public health. He and dozens of his classmates recently attended a conference that enabled them to network with professionals in the field from across the state, as well as with state public health leaders.

As part of the , Rajbhandari and his fellow Chargers explored topics such as community health and engagement and health disparities. The students also had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions and share their own insights. They met several leaders in the field of public health, including Manisha Juthani, MD, the commissioner of the .

“As a graduate student at the University, I felt so privileged to attend the conference,” Rajbhandari said. “It provided a dynamic in-person platform to learn about the latest research and updates on pressing health issues. The conference was an amalgam of research, networking, and a display of innovative solutions for a society troubled by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.”

‘An active learning environment’

Held in Southington, Conn., the conference enabled more than 50 candidates in the University’s Master of Public Health program to learn about new developments and innovations in the field of public health. Sessions covered timely and pertinent topics such as racial and ethnic health inequities, universal health coverage, and preventive care.

For Dr. Aishwarya Gundawar ’23 MPH, the mentoring session was particularly impactful. She says the conference was a great way to gain a better understanding of public health and healthcare systems at all levels, from local to global.

“The conference provided an active learning environment,” said Gundawar, the recipient of the School of Health Sciences Women Executives in Healthcare Prize for the 2022-23 academic year. “The conference broadened my awareness of the importance of grant writing and networking with healthcare professionals who have been working in my areas of interest. It was an incredible learning experience, and I am grateful to have been a part of it.”

‘It was amazing to see the engagement’

Students learned from the expertise of professionals across the state who shared their experiences in the field, and some students also shared what they’ve learned. Dhaani Dhaani ’23 MPH and Selena Chom ’22, ’23 MPH, who are both completing their degrees in December, presented their research on food insecurity.

"Attending and presenting our research poster at the CPHA was a thrilling learning experience,” said Dhaani. “Presenting at such a prestigious conference strengthened my resume and boosted my confidence. As I prepared for my thesis defense, I found that this experience helped me understand our study more deeply. We also hope that through our research, we can make an impact and offer some potential recommendations to enhance the quality of food pantries on college campuses. We hope to publish our paper by next year.”

"It was amazing to see the engagement from our school and students,” added Chom. “They seemed to really enjoy talking to the healthcare professionals. I was also so proud of Dhaani for presenting our research about food insecurity, a topic I've been passionate about for about three years. I was honored to be in attendance."

‘The practical applications of what we are learning’

In addition to the students who shared their research, Karl Minges, Ph.D., MPH, an assistant professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Leadership, presented a recent study he conducted with Robin Kerkstra, RDH, MSDH, exploring the benefits and challenges of virtual learning during the pandemic. Their findings inform how virtual learning can be used as a method of instruction in hybrid curricula.

Dr. Minges says the conference was a great opportunity for the students, and he was excited they had the opportunity to participate.

“It was a wonderful chance to allow our students to engage with many thought leaders in public health,” he said. “As a director-at-large of the Connecticut Public Health Association and the University’s MPH program director, I found it refreshing to see our students engage in meaningful discussions, present research, network, and attend scientific sessions. We look forward to continuing to offer this experiential opportunity for our students.”

For Rajbhandari, the experience was eye-opening, and he’s grateful for the many opportunities he had at the conference, from the panel discussions to the speed-mentoring event.

“After attending the conference, I realized how conferences can bring well-connected organizations together to share different ideas, resources, and efforts to address important issues,” he said. “It was a common platform to explore the future of public health. I gained better insight into the practical applications of what we are learning inside the classroom.”