Alan was a creative researcher and lab director in molecular biology whose interest in the evolution of feathers led to 70 scientific papers and book chapters. His interests in science were broad, and he was extremely well read, including publication of about 150 book reviews. He edited Volume X of Chemical Zoology and, with UConn Professor George Clark, the centenary volume Perspectives in Ornithology for the American Ornithologists Union. He brought broad-minded discernment to scholarly publication for 10 years as editor of The Auk, the former journal of the American Ornithologists’ Union, and for 3 years as editor of CBE Views, published by the Council of Biological Editors. He was a member of the “Dream Team” that visited China in 1997 to study the then-recently discovered fossils of feathered dinosaurs.

He was a caring and supportive colleague, doctoral and post-doctoral advisor, as well as an informative and charismatic speaker in the lecture hall, at professional meetings of scientific societies, and on river and ocean voyages co-organized by the Museum of Natural History in New York and Discovery Tours. Adventure in retirement included a 2000-2001 voyage aboard a 33 ft sailboat, “Mokita,” with his wife Mary Jane Brush from Maine south to the Florida Keys. Part of the voyage was retracing the path of the early naturalist Mark Catesby.  They examined the state of nature then and now and published a volume with Alan’s words and Mary Jane’s watercolors (M.J. Brush and Alan H. Brush. 2018. “Mark Catesby’s Legacy: Natural History Then and Now.” The Catesby Commemorative Trust).

Alan was born in Rochester, New York, on September 29, 1934, to Martin and Rebecca Elizabeth “Betty” Brush (nee Trott). He grew up in Los Angeles with his younger brother, the late Richard (Sharlene) Brush, and was educated in LA public schools and at the University of Southern California. His Army service included tracking the persistence of radiation fallout for the Atomic Energy Project at the then-new UCLA campus facility for nuclear medicine and at the Mercury, Nevada, test site. His graduate degrees in Zoology were both conferred by UCLA, and he held a post-doctoral appointment at the Cornell Ornithology Lab. Alan cheered college football and men’s and women’s basketball for both the Trojans and Bruins as well as the UConn Huskies.

Among Alan’s many superpowers was a life-long talent for forming and maintaining loving friendships. He was generous, thoughtful, and curious, qualities that drew people of all ages and walks of life to him all the way from high school through a long and productive retirement. Alan had a fundamentally happy disposition and amplified joy in the lives of family, neighbors, friends, colleagues, and members of many communities. He will be missed by all.

There will be a Celebration of Life at “The Hounds” in Stonington, (https://www.thehoundsstonington.com/) on Thursday, August 13, gathering 11:30 am and service at noon. Donations in Alan’s memory may be directed toward Pittsburgh’s Reconstructionist Congregation Dor Hadash (here or https://www.dorhadash.net/donations), where daughter Lisa is a long-time member, for tikkun olam – repair of the world – after the mass shooting on October 27, 2018.

Hawke filled out forms, emergency contacts, and other paperwork, hoping to get a “mystery childcare spot that was hopefully available.”

“Needless to say, my son came to work with me that Monday,” she says. “In the end, the best that I could do to cobble this childcare I needed was 30 hours a week across two different programs, one of which was in a neighboring town in the opposite direction that I had to go to in. For my son, this meant a lot of dysregulation … trying to adjust to two sets of classroom expectations and to different routines every day.”

Since 30 hours of childcare wasn’t enough to cover a full time job, she made up for the time by working late into the night, early in the mornings, and occasional weekends, and still struggled to pay for the care that cost more than her mortgage.

“And that was just during the school year. When my (8-year-old) daughter was no longer in her elementary school program, she would need care as well,” Hawke says.

Hawke, who now works as a deputy director of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, shared her personal story during a press conference held July 22 at the UConn School of Social Work in Hartford. There, media and members of the community gathered to hear the results of the new statewide survey conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

“Finding affordable, reliable childcare remains one of the biggest challenges facing Connecticut families,” said Samantha Lawrence, assistant research professor at the UConn School of Social Work and principal investigator of the 2025 Connecticut Parent/Caregiver Survey study. “Parents and caregivers are the experts on what it takes to make childcare work in their daily lives. This survey brings thousands of those experiences into view, helping us see both the challenges families face statewide and the important differences from town to town and family to family.”

The survey offers one of the most comprehensive snapshots of Connecticut families’ childcare experiences and establishes a baseline for measuring the impact of future state investments. Based on responses from 3,719 parents and caregivers across the state, the researchers found that 53% of respondents believe childcare is too expensive. Nearly one-third (30%) said they were actively searching for childcare, on a waiting list, or both, while more than one-third (35%) reported that their current childcare arrangement does not fully meet their family’s needs.

Additionally, across nearly every community, Lawrence reported, that parents and caregivers sought childcare “where children would feel safe, where children could learn and develop, where they would feel comfortable leaving their child, and where care was affordable,” she said. “Taken together, these findings provide a richer understanding of how families experience childcare, helping us better understand the challenges families share and how those experiences differ across Connecticut.”

Families Continue to Face Significant Barriers

Lawrence and her 10-person team discovered the survey revealed substantial differences in childcare access across Connecticut communities.

Families with toddlers reported some of the greatest difficulties, with nearly half actively searching for care or waiting for an opening. Lower-income families were also more likely to report unmet childcare needs and challenges accessing financial assistance.

Regional disparities were equally striking. In one seven-town area of northeastern Connecticut, 71% of families reported searching for childcare, being on a waiting list, or both—the highest rate among the 48 local areas included in the survey.

The survey, which was funded by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood through the federal Child Care and Development Fund, also incorporated parent leadership throughout the research process, with a Parent Committee helping shape survey questions and outreach efforts.

“The survey findings validate what I heard over and over from parents while we were out in the community,” said Adriana Warkoski, a member of the survey’s Parent Committee and a Parent Ambassador with OEC’s Parents Connecting Parents program. “From city to city and town to town, the message was the same: childcare costs too much, the process is too complicated, and families wait too long for an opening. If Connecticut wants a childcare system that really works, it has to be built around what Connecticut families really need.”

View all of the survey’s key findings.

Research That Informs Policy

Initial investments from the endowment have supported up to 1,000 new Early Start CT childcare spaces and an 8% increase in provider payment rates. By repeating the survey every two years, researchers and policymakers will be able to measure whether those investments improve families’ experiences over time.

“Parents are at the center of our work to support young children,” said OEC Commissioner Elena Trueworthy. “Parent voice and leadership are critical because they inform our agency about family needs and their priorities for safe, quality childcare. This Parent/Caregiver Survey provides data to guide our decisions as we build a sustainable early childhood education system that works for families across the state.”

Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon said the findings underscore why continued investment is needed.

“As the parents of two young children, my wife and I know firsthand what this survey confirms: childcare is unaffordable for most working families,” Scanlon says. “The goal of the new Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment is to make it affordable, and this continuing survey will help track our progress when it comes to the important mission of lowering childcare costs for families in our state.”

State Treasurer Erick Russell, who is charged with administering, investing, and distributing funds in the Early Childhood Education Endowment, stressed the importance of investing in early childcare. The reality, he said, is parents aren’t  reentering the workforce because they’re going to spend more on childcare than they’d earn at the job. “And [there are] folks who have been sitting on wait lists for some time, trying to get access to care. The reality is unfortunate,” he said.

“For a long time, we’ve talked about childcare as simply an expense. And the reality is that if we continue to make these investments in this system, in people, in being able to provide more affordable care, it has a net return for the state,” Russell said. “This is all beneficial when you look at this from a long term perspective. As we know, as we get more people back to work, as we provide more quality affordable options for families, that this is all going to be something that is lifting up our state that’s going to help fill these 80,000 jobs that we have available in the state.”

Next Steps

“Childcare is essential infrastructure,” said School of Social Work Dean Laura Curran. “It supports children’s development, makes work possible for parents and caregivers, strengthens family economic security, and helps communities thrive. Decisions about childcare policy and public investment should therefore be grounded in a clear understanding of what families experience in their daily lives.”

That commitment, she said, is “at the heart of” the OEC–UConn School of Social Work Partnership and the Connecticut Parent/Caregiver Survey. “These findings bring thousands of families’ experiences into the public conversation and connect what parents and caregivers reported with the leaders who shape state policy and investment.”

Lawrence’s team conducted the survey during fall 2025 both online and in person, offering it in four languages with assistance from approximately 140 community partners across Connecticut. The collaborative approach helped ensure participation from families representing a wide range of communities and experiences.

In the upcoming weeks, Lawrence and her team plan to distribute the survey findings to community partners and families through a one-page fact sheet and an e-mailed animated video, available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish.

These findings are especially timely as Connecticut continues making major investments in its early childhood system,” Lawrence said. “Because this survey is designed to be repeated every two years, [our] findings establish an updated benchmark that will allow us to measure change over time, not only whether policies and programs evolve, but whether families themselves experience meaningful improvements in access, affordability, and the ability to find childcare that meets their needs.”

Watch the entire press conference on Connecticut Network (CT-N) and view more survey results and photos of the press conference below and in this online photo gallery. (Graphics by Sabina Bandhari, ’26 Ph.D.)

For more information about the survey, contact Samantha Lawrence.

“We are pleased to share the fourth issue of the Neag School of Education Journal,” reads a letter from the journal’s board members in the 2026 issue. “We take pride in providing a supportive “testing-ground” for graduate authors to refine their original work in collaboration with our graduate-led editorial board. Fundamentally, the Neag School of Education Journal is committed to the growth and development of emergent educational researchers across fields. After much hard work and dedication from our authors and editorial board, we are thrilled to unveil the culmination of their efforts – six pieces that showcase the excellence of our 2026 edition.”

The Neag School of Education Journal is an editor-reviewed, open-access, annual journal. Founded and run by graduate students and published online through the Neag School, its primary purpose is to offer a platform for graduate students and education professionals to share their research and knowledge with academic communities. It also hopes to broaden and deepen the literature of education as written and experienced by graduate students and early-career scholars. Eight UConn graduate students make up the journal’s current board.

The journal prizes pieces that seek to “improve education and social systems in order to facilitate increasingly effective, equitable, and socially just practices for educators and practitioners from a variety of fields, perspectives, and theoretical lenses as they serve their local communities.”

The six articles accepted and published in the 2026 issue are:

• “Integrating Human Rights and Social Justice Education through Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education in Sub-Saharan Africa” – a proposal for a justice-oriented framework that integrates Human Rights Education (HRE) and Social Justice Education (SJE) within Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) by drawing from linguistic human rights scholarship, critical pedagogy, and postcolonial theory.
• “Co-Generating a Dissertation: Camaraderie, SEL Competencies, and the Cohort Community” – a reflective narrative of the author’s journey through a Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning (SEAL) doctoral program focused on the value of community.
• “The Politics of Language: Linguistic Justice and the Unfinished Revolution in Myanmar’s Education” – an essay that argues that Myanmar’s current educational crisis is the direct outcome of a long-unresolved struggle over linguistic justice by tracing how successive regimes have mobilized schools to impose centralized authority.
• “Evaluating Two-Way Immersion Programs: A Literature Review of Their Role in Advancing Equity for Emergent Bilingual Learners” – an examination of how U.S.-based Two-Way Immersion (TWI) programs promote academic equity and biliteracy for K–12 Emergent Bilingual Learners.
• “Easier Said Than Taught: Navigating the Development and Application of Critical Thinking” – a narrative literature review of scholarly research of Critical Thinking (CT) development for students.
• “From Classroom to Community Spaces: The Intersection of Peace, Democracy Education, and Public Dialogue in Norway” – a pilot study that explores how facilitated public dialogue in Norway extends democratic learning from K-12 schooling into community spaces that confront racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.

In addition to providing graduate students and early-career scholars an opportunity to share their work more widely, the editors say the journal fosters collaboration among students and their colleagues. It also helps to demystify the publishing process and supports editors as they move toward publishing their own work in the field. Making the journal open access was also important, ensuring that its content could serve as an available source of information for current and future practitioners. Importantly, authors maintain their copyright and thus can work on their pieces after publication for future submission elsewhere – a feature aligned with the journal’s orientation toward building authors’ capacity and opportunities.

The journal recently accepted manuscripts for its fifth issue, which will be published in 2027. Submissions for the 2028 issue will open in Summer 2027.

“We have many fantastic and dedicated people to thank for the realization of our fourth issue,” the letter from the board says. “We owe an immense debt of gratitude to Dr. Jennie Weiner, our founding advisor, whose tireless dedication to this journal and to students has shaped everything we do. Dr. Weiner concludes her service with this edition, and we are deeply grateful for her leadership and the enduring lessons she has imparted to us as reviewers and researchers. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jason Irizarry, our dean, whose enthusiastic support from the journal’s inception has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student research and development. … Finally, thank you to the authors of the pieces featured in this issue and all who submitted work. It goes without saying that this would be impossible without your contributions. We are immensely proud to feature your work in this issue.”

To learn more about the Neag School of Education Journal, visit education.uconn.edu/neag-journal.

Only yards away and 65 years, 10 months, and 27 days prior, Blanks’ great-granduncle Otis “Sonny” Wade ’59 (CLAS) donned a black cap and gown for his commencement at the old Memorial Stadium on June 14, 1959. That year, the University held a single ceremony — compared with 16 today. Albert Nels Jorgensen, known now for his namesake on-campus theater, was the University president and conferred the degrees.

Wade was among just dozens of Black students enrolled at the University at the time. He’d transferred to UConn after starting his college career at Morgan State, a historically Black college. He was homesick, according to family lore, and his older sister traveled to Maryland to bring him back.

Now 92, Wade struggles with his memory, but lights up when asked about his UConn days. He joined the Beta Sigma Gamma fraternity, one of only two on campus at the time that accepted non-white students. Wade lived in on-campus fraternity housing and played stand-up bass in a trio hired for dances and social gatherings on campus and around Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“Those were some days,” he says, quick to shake his head when asked if they got up to any mischief. All good clean fun, it seems.

Read on for more.

The award, currently in its fourth year, recognizes a faculty member for their exceptional junior faculty mentoring activities.

“Mentoring is a critical component of professional growth for all our early and mid-career career faculty” stated Dr. Anna Dongari-Bagtzoglou, associate dean of faculty affairs in the School of Dental Medicine. “Faculty mentors who participate in our formal junior faculty mentoring program or are part of an informal collegial mentoring network in our School can contribute significantly to their mentees’ academic success and career satisfaction. This is a tremendous recognition and a well-deserved award for Drs. Duncan and Kshitiz.”  

Duncan was nominated for this award by several clinical faculty members. The nominating faculty described her as an invaluable mentor and source of support, while others stated that the distinguishing factor of her mentorship is not only the depth of her knowledge and experience, but her genuine investment in the success of others. Duncan, the nominating faculty said, has created an environment in which junior faculty feel supported and empowered.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award from colleagues I admire and respect, said Duncan. “Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to learn from mentors who generously shared their wisdom, challenged me to grow, and influenced the way I approach my work and mentorship. One of the greatest privileges of my career has been the opportunity to mentor and support colleagues as they navigate their own professional journeys. While I may have been in a position to offer guidance and encouragement, I have found that these relationships are never one-sided. I have learned so much from those I have had the opportunity to mentor—their ideas, perspectives, curiosity, and dedication have enriched my own journey and reminded me of how much we all gain from one another.”

As a research-intensive faculty, Kshitiz has provided mentorship to several junior faculty by offering guidance and supporting the development of their grant applications as independent investigators, as well as providing opportunities for collaborations. The nominating faculty noted that his mentorship has helped trainees secure fellowships, publish impactful research, develop independent scientific identities, and pursue ambitious career goals.

“I have been fortunate to find myself surrounded by people of the highest caliber, and it has been a privilege and to be in a position to shape, and be part of their professional trajectory in a little way,” said Kshitiz.

Candidates for the award were reviewed by the Faculty Development Advisory Committee, comprised of senior and junior faculty from basic and clinical sciences. The recipient receives a $1,500 Academic Enhancement fund and a commemorative plaque.

Spanish language story included below. / Encuentra la historia en español abajo.

The Hispanic Health Council (HHC) and the UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) are teaming up to do something about it. With funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI®), HHC’s and HDI’s goal is to increase patient and community voice in decision-making, specifically in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) that helps people make informed healthcare decisions and improves healthcare delivery and outcomes by producing evidence from research guided by patients, their caregivers and the broader health and healthcare community.

To this end, HDI and HHC convened the Patient Action Leaders Advancing Novel, Transformative, Equitable Healthcare community research team (PA’LANTE team), a group of Latina women from Hartford, to identify patient-centered CER priorities and interests that will improve Latina health.

As part of this project, this past Thursday at the Hartford Public Library Park Street Branch, the PA’LANTE team hosted a bilingual English-Spanish community forum focused on amplifying Latina voices to improve healthcare in Connecticut. The forum brought together community members, healthcare providers, and researchers. The PA’LANTE team started by sharing findings from a community assessment they designed and conducted to hear from Latinas about their healthcare experiences and priorities. They heard from 118 Latinas in the greater Hartford area.

Manuela Reyes, PA’LANTE team member, highlighted some of the findings. “Aquí hay algo que nos llamó mucho la atención. En la encuesta, muchas mujeres dieron calificaciones positivas: el 66% dijo que su doctor las escucha. Pero cuando les dimos espacio para escribir con sus propias palabras, contaron una historia diferente. Solo el 8% dijo que el doctor les pregunta su opinión. Muchas de nosotras crecimos pensando que al doctor no se le duda ni se le pregunta, que solo se le hace caso. Por eso, a veces decimos que todo está bien, aunque por dentro tengamos dudas. También vimos que las mujeres sin seguro médico se sintieron menos tomadas en cuenta. Y que la salud mental fue donde menos contentas se sintieron.”

“Here’s something that caught our attention. In the survey, many women gave positive ratings: 66% said their doctor listens to them. But when we gave them space to write in their own words, they told a different story. Only 8% said the doctor asks for their opinion. Many of us grew up thinking that the doctor is not doubted or asked, that he is only listened to. That’s why we sometimes say that everything is fine, even if inside we have doubts. We also saw that women without health insurance felt less taken into account. And that mental health was where they felt least happy.”

Julissa Díaz, PA’LANTE team member, concluded with the main takeaways from the assessment. “Cuando las mujeres hablaron con sus propias palabras, pidieron cinco cosas, una y otra vez. Uno: que las escuchen. Dos: que las traten con respeto y las incluyan en las decisiones. Tres: que les hablen en su idioma. Cuatro: que les den información clara con explicaciones. Y cinco: que les den más tiempo en la cita. Cinco cosas sencillas pero importantes. Cinco cosas justas.”

“When the women spoke in their own words, they asked for five things, over and over again. One: that they listen to them. Two: that they treat them with respect and include them in decisions. Three: to be spoken to in their language. Four: that they give them clear information with explanations. And five: that they give them more time at the appointment. Five simple but important things. Five fair things.”

Following the presentation of findings, two community members gave testimonials on their healthcare experiences. Yaritza Mogollon Alicea spoke about being a new mother who was excited to breastfeed her baby but experienced significant difficulties breastfeeding. She repeatedly sought support, but none was provided. Mogollon Alicea said, “Me pregunto cuántas otras madres, madres primerizas, querrían dar el pecho pero se rendirían porque esperaron ayuda que nunca llegó.”

“I wonder how many other mothers, first-time mothers, wanted to breastfeed but gave up because they waited for help that never came.”

Another community member, Luisa Joya, highlighted barriers that Latino communities face in accessing healthcare and outlined potential solutions. “Creo que ofrecer más información en español, facilitar el acceso a intérpretes y brindar apoyo para el uso de herramientas tecnológicas ayudaría a mejorar significativamente la experiencia de muchas personas de nuestra comunidad.”

“I believe that providing more information in Spanish, making interpreter services more accessible, and offering support in using technology would significantly improve the healthcare experience of many people in our community.”

The PA’LANTE team then guided the audience in an activity to hear their reactions to the information presented and their own experiences. These themes resonated with forum attendees, who spoke to a variety of topics, including the importance of mental health, diabetes care, reducing health insurance discrimination, holding hospitals accountable for investing in communities, and listening to patients.

Kenneth A. Barela, CEO of HHC, underlined the importance of this work. “True health research begins by listening. This gathering reflects the heart of the PA’LANTE initiative, bringing community members, researchers, and healthcare partners together as equal voices in shaping the future of Latina health. Through our partnership with HDI and support from PCORI®, we’re building a model where community experience is valued as essential evidence, ensuring that future research is grounded in the priorities, lived experiences, and aspirations of the people it is intended to serve.”

Dr. Linda Sprague Martinez, UConn Health HDI director and UConn School of Medicine professor, spoke to the impact of this initiative. “Addressing health disparities necessitates patients leading the way in defining research priorities. The PA’LANTE team is developing a patient‑centered comparative effectiveness research agenda for Latina health in Connecticut that is rooted in lived experience and community power. When Latina women set the agenda, we move beyond documenting disparities, we build the evidence needed to transform systems, so they finally respond to the people they are meant to serve.”

As equitable research partners, the PA’LANTE team is leveraging their lived experience and expertise to influence research to be more patient-centered, relevant and useful. Both this forum discussion and their assessment findings will inform the development of patient-centered CER priorities and interests to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes among Latinas in Connecticut.

PA’LANTE means “keep moving forward”. The PA’LANTE community research team is a group of Latina women from Hartford, CT who came together to improve healthcare for Latinas in their communities. PA’LANTE formed from Mujeres Empoderadas en Acción or the Women’s Empowerment Support Group at HHC.

The mission of HHC is to promote equity and address health disparities for Hispanics, Latinos, and other vulnerable communities through research, advocacy, and culturally resonant services.

Acknowledgements: This project was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute® (PCORI®) Eugene Washington PCORI® Engagement Award (EACB-38982).

Note, the statements presented in this publication are solely the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI®.

Líderes de Acción de Pacientes Avanzando una Atención Médica Novedosa, Transformadora y Equitativa (PA’LANTE): Amplificando las voces de las latinas para mejorar la atención médica en Connecticut

En Connecticut, las personas latinas experimentan importantes inequidades en salud agravadas por disparidades sociales y económicas. Las disparidades de salud en Hartford son significativas, y las mujeres latinas enfrentan una carga desproporcionada de condiciones crónicas debido a factores históricos que han creado condiciones opresivas basadas en el género, la raza y la etnicidad.

El Consejo Hispano de Salud (HHC) y el UConn Instituto de Disparidades en Salud (HDI) están trabajando juntos para abordar esta situación. Con financiamiento del Instituto de Investigación de Resultados Centrados en el Paciente (PCORI®), el objetivo de HHC y HDI es aumentar la participación de los pacientes y la comunidad en la toma de decisiones, específicamente en la investigación comparativa de efectividad clínica centrada en el paciente (CER, por sus siglas en inglés), que ayuda a las personas a tomar decisiones informadas sobre su atención médica y mejora la prestación de servicios y los resultados de salud al generar evidencia basada en investigaciones guiadas por pacientes, sus cuidadores y la comunidad de salud y atención médica en general.

Con este propósito, HDI y HHC convocaron al equipo comunitario de investigación Líderes de Acción de Pacientes que Promueven una Atención Médica Nueva, Transformadora y Equitativa (PA’LANTE), un grupo de mujeres latinas de Hartford, para identificar prioridades e intereses de CER centrados en el paciente que mejoren la salud de las latinas.

Como parte de este proyecto, el jueves pasado en la sucursal Park Street de la Biblioteca Pública de Hartford, el equipo PA’LANTE organizó un foro comunitario bilingüe en inglés y español enfocado en amplificar las voces de las latinas para mejorar la atención médica en Connecticut. El foro reunió a miembros de la comunidad, proveedores de atención médica y investigadores. El equipo PA’LANTE comenzó compartiendo los hallazgos de una evaluación comunitaria que diseñaron y llevaron a cabo para conocer las experiencias y prioridades de las latinas con respecto a la atención médica. Escucharon a 118 mujeres latinas del área metropolitana de Hartford.

Manuela Reyes, miembro del equipo PA’LANTE, destacó algunos de los hallazgos. “Aquí hay algo que nos llamó mucho la atención. En la encuesta, muchas mujeres dieron calificaciones positivas: el 66% dijo que su doctor las escucha. Pero cuando les dimos espacio para escribir con sus propias palabras, contaron una historia diferente. Solo el 8% dijo que el doctor les pregunta su opinión. Muchas de nosotras crecimos pensando que al doctor no se le duda ni se le pregunta, que solo se le hace caso. Por eso, a veces decimos que todo está bien, aunque por dentro tengamos dudas. También vimos que las mujeres sin seguro médico se sintieron menos tomadas en cuenta. Y que la salud mental fue donde menos contentas se sintieron.”

Julissa Díaz, miembro del equipo PA’LANTE, concluyó con los principales aprendizajes de la evaluación. “Cuando las mujeres hablaron con sus propias palabras, pidieron cinco cosas, una y otra vez. Uno: que las escuchen. Dos: que las traten con respeto y las incluyan en las decisiones. Tres: que les hablen en su idioma. Cuatro: que les den información clara con explicaciones. Y cinco: que les den más tiempo en la cita. Cinco cosas sencillas pero importantes. Cinco cosas justas.”

Después de la presentación de los hallazgos, dos miembros de la comunidad compartieron testimonios sobre sus experiencias con la atención médica. Yaritza Mogollon Alicea habló sobre su experiencia como madre primeriza que estaba emocionada por amamantar a su bebé, pero enfrentó dificultades significativas con la lactancia. Buscó apoyo repetidamente, pero no recibió ayuda. Mogollon Alicea dijo: “Me pregunto cuántas otras madres, madres primerizas, querrían dar el pecho, pero se rendirían porque esperaron ayuda que nunca llegó.”

Otra miembro de la comunidad, Luisa Joya, destacó las barreras que enfrentan las comunidades latinas para acceder a la atención médica y presentó posibles soluciones. “Creo que ofrecer más información en español, facilitar el acceso a intérpretes y brindar apoyo para el uso de herramientas tecnológicas ayudaría a mejorar significativamente la experiencia de muchas personas de nuestra comunidad.”

Luego, el equipo PA’LANTE guió a la audiencia en una actividad para escuchar sus reacciones a la información presentada y conocer sus propias experiencias. Estos temas resonaron con los asistentes al foro, quienes hablaron sobre una variedad de temas, incluyendo la importancia de la salud mental, el cuidado de la diabetes, la reducción de la discriminación relacionada con los seguros médicos, la responsabilidad de los hospitales de invertir en las comunidades y la importancia de escuchar a los pacientes.

Kenneth A. Barela, director ejecutivo de HHC, destacó la importancia de este trabajo. “Las verdaderas investigaciones de salud comienzan escuchando. Esta reunión refleja el corazón de la iniciativa PA’LANTE, reunir a miembros de la comunidad, investigadores y socios de atención médica como voces iguales para dar forma al futuro de la salud de las latinas. A través de nuestra colaboración con HDI y el apoyo de PCORI®, estamos construyendo un modelo donde la experiencia de la comunidad se valora como evidencia esencial, asegurando que las futuras investigaciones estén basadas en las prioridades, experiencias vividas y aspiraciones de las personas a quienes tienen la intención de servir.”

La Dra. Linda Sprague Martínez, directora de HDI y profesora de UConn Health, habló sobre el impacto de esta iniciativa. “Abordar las disparidades de salud requiere que los pacientes lideren el camino en la definición de prioridades de investigación. El equipo PA’LANTE está desarrollando una agenda de investigación comparativa de efectividad centrada en el paciente para la salud de las latinas en Connecticut, basada en experiencias vividas y en el poder de la comunidad. Cuando las mujeres latinas establecen la agenda, vamos más allá de documentar las disparidades; construimos la evidencia necesaria para transformar los sistemas, para que finalmente respondan a las personas a quienes están destinados a servir.”

Como socios equitativos en la investigación, el equipo PA’LANTE está aprovechando sus experiencias vividas y conocimientos para influir en investigaciones más centradas en el paciente, relevantes y útiles. Tanto la discusión del foro como los hallazgos de la evaluación informarán el desarrollo de prioridades y intereses de CER centrados en el paciente para mejorar la prestación de servicios de salud y los resultados entre las latinas en Connecticut.

PA’LANTE significa “seguir avanzando.” El equipo comunitario de investigación PA’LANTE es un grupo de mujeres latinas de Hartford, CT, que se unieron para mejorar la atención médica para las latinas en sus comunidades. PA’LANTE se formó a partir de Mujeres Empoderadas en Acción, o el Grupo de Apoyo para el Empoderamiento de Mujeres de HHC.

La misión de HHC es promover la equidad y abordar las disparidades de salud para las comunidades hispanas, latinas y otras comunidades vulnerables mediante investigación, defensa y servicios culturalmente resonantes.

Descargo de responsabilidad: Las declaraciones presentadas en esta publicación son responsabilidad exclusiva de los autores y no necesariamente representan las opiniones de PCORI®.

Reconocimiento: Este proyecto fue financiado mediante el Premio de Participación Eugene Washington del Instituto de Investigación de Resultados Centrados en el Paciente® (PCORI®) (EACB-38982).

In April, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reported that they were seeing more ticks submitted by the community for testing than they usually do at that time of year, likely due to warmer, wetter weather creating ideal conditions for ticks to breed.

The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), which offers testing services for ticks sent into the lab, has not seen a similar spike.

Last year, the lab identified 391 ticks total. Approximately 25% of deer ticks tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen that causes Lyme disease. Maureen Sims, CVMDL laboratory technician, says these numbers are currently expected to be about the same this year.

“One thing we like to point out is that our data is somewhat biased,” Sims says. “We’re not going out and actively collecting ticks ourselves. It depends on what people submit to us.”

This matches what Tom Worthley, UConn Extension professor of forest sustainability, says he has been seeing in the field (and woods).

“I haven’t seen a tremendous amount more,” Worthley says. “What I have observed is that when I’m in the field with students or I’m in the field with groups or I’m in the field by myself, somebody, not everybody, but somebody always finds a tick on them.”

Most of the samples the CVMDL receives come from Connecticut and elsewhere in New England. Sims says most ticks are ones people find on themselves, with a smaller portion having been attached to dogs, and very rarely, other animals.

The most common tick the CVMDL identifies is the deer tick, followed by dog ticks. They have also received lone star tick submissions for over 15 years. Lone star ticks are the most common carrier of a sugar molecule called alpha-gal. In some hosts, this can lead to an immune response that causes an allergic reaction to red meat. New evidence has shown that alpha-gal transmission can be associated with other species of ticks too.

“Each year, the lone star ticks have increased,” says Zeinab Helal, CVMDL research associate. “There’s been a gradual increase every year for the submission of lone star ticks.”

The CVMDL has also seen an increasing number of Asian longhorned ticks from areas near the New York border.

CVMDL has identified ticks testing positive for carrying Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Borrelia lonestari infections. Borrelia burgdorferi is the most common pathogen by far.

“We’re testing for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, we’re not actually testing for Lyme disease,” Sims says. “Lyme disease is a condition that’s caused by infection and is only diagnosed by a healthcare professional.”

“They will hide out in the ground, or near the ground, and wait for more moderate and more humid conditions to take place when they come out. They’ll forage or exhibit what is called ‘questing behavior,’” Worthley says. “They climb up on a tall stalk of grass or a branch of some shrub and hang out at the very tip of it waiting for some warm-blooded creature to walk by that they can grab onto.”

While ticks are attracted to warm blood, bug spray can disrupt their ability to actually latch onto you.

“They’re attracted to you by those means, but their final decision about whether to take the bite comes from sensers in their feet that let them know they’re on a surface where there’s blood right below,” Worthley says. “Repellents keep them from biting you because they’ll be attracted to the blood smell, and when they touch your skin and that material is there, their feet will say ‘uh uh, you don’t want to touch this,’ so it will keep them from choosing to bite.”

If you are spending time outdoors, UConn’s experts say to be sure to do a tick check afterwards. While outside, using bug spray and wearing long, light-colored clothes, including tucking wide pant legs into your socks, can help keep ticks away. Those spending extended time outdoors can also treat their clothes with a chemical called permethrin that is toxic to ticks.

“Don’t let the ticks keep you from enjoying the outdoors,” Worthley says. “Just be aware and be diligent about doing the tick check at the end of the day.”

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

“By age 10, I was putting hot sauce on everything, even pancakes,’’ Maloney says.

Today, Maloney is the founder and owner of 13 Stars Hot Sauce, a veteran-owned small business with six sauces “ranging from mild to wild.”

Maloney attended UConn’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) in July, seeking guidance on how to raise capital and increase production of his award-winning sauces. Now available in 50 stores, he hopes to soon get 13 Stars Hot Sauce into hundreds of retail locations.

EBV Graduates Offer Businesses from Food to Tourism

Maloney is one of 21 U.S. military veterans to participate in this year’s  Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, a nationally recognized program offered through UConn’s Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI). The one-year program, which included July’s intensive, in-person bootcamp, drew six participants from Connecticut, many more from the Northeast, and others from as far away as California and the Virgin Islands.

“The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans is a lifechanging experience,’’ says program manager Nicholas Martinelli. “When our military members leave the service, everything they know goes away, including their purpose. That’s why so many go into entrepreneurship, because it enables them to lead with a purpose. This program helps them move on to the next stage in their life.’’

“Every year it becomes more and more challenging to select the entrepreneurs to participate in the program. They are all so talented and the business ideas they have are fascinating,’’ says Martinelli, noting that the program, founded in 2009, now includes more than 300 alumni.

The Class of 2026 included veterans Ena McPherson, who is creating a hair-replacement business for cancer patients and others; Noah Blanco, who is starting a residential elevator venture; Kendal Karstens, who is offering European tourism trips for military servicemembers; Laurasha Lovett, who is creating a luxury skin-care brand; and Daniel Monroe,  a Connecticut chef looking to provide fresh and healthy foods in gym vending machines.

Participants benefit from the wisdom of faculty and other business experts. This year, Rob Levin, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a marketing expert who has worked for WWE and Nickelodeon, guided veterans in developing robust marketing plans. Accounting Professor Wayne Bragg taught veterans how to determine costs for their services and products and helped them determine their break-even mark. Michelle Cote, lead instructor for CCEI and currently serving as interim director of the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, taught the class how to create a strong business model.

This year, the bootcamp was sponsored by PMI U.S., which provided $25,000 in prize money for the aspiring entrepreneurs. The award fund was up more than $7,000 from last year.

In addition to intensive classes to enhance their business skills, the aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs make new friends and form a network that will stay with them through their business journeys, Martinelli says.

‘I Need More of This in My Life’

Maloney is a Captain in the U.S. Air National Guard, holding the title of  Combat Communication Officer. After enlisting in the Air Force in 2015, he fulfilled two deployments, the first to Djibouti, Africa, and the second to Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The experience of serving overseas gave Maloney a greater appreciation for family and friends, but also sparked his interest in business.

“When I was deployed, I read a lot of entrepreneurship books and I really wanted to start a business,’’ Maloney says. “I wanted something bigger than myself.’’

His mother, Cheryl, suggested he channel his love of hot sauce into a business, and she remains his best taste-tester, consultant, and product endorser.

Meanwhile, a friend grew a variety of peppers, and Maloney used them to start creating hot sauces, matching peppers with some 85 potential ingredients. The company’s distinguishing advantage is a thick sauce with a right-from-the-garden taste. Every ingredient is sourced domestically when possible.

13 Stars sauces include Dragon’s Breath, the most popular, an Asian-style, mild sauce that goes with everything but is particularly good on salmon. Mean Green, Maloney’s favorite, which took a year to perfect, is a zesty jalapeno and lime sauce that pairs well with hot dogs, tacos, and grilled veggies. Big Red One is a highly versatile, medium savory and classic sauce that “can be tasted but not described,’’ he says. “It could make a dirty shoe taste good. It’s irresistible on pizza, pasta, and ribs.’’

Tango Mango, a sweet heat Caribbean hot sauce, is great on burritos and pulled pork. The super-hot Nuclear Option, is a Louisiana-stye hot sauce that is popular with chili-heads and wings lovers. And F.U.B.A.R (the last three words being: “beyond all repair”) is a “mind-numbing’’ black garlic and reaper sauce and designed to be “as painful as possible for as long as possible.’’

Once he perfected his sauces, Maloney would share samples at events ranging from cookouts to New England Patriot games. He knew he had found success based on customer reactions.

“People would say: ‘I need more of this in my life!’’’ Maloney says.

So far, 13 Stars has won awards at four hot-sauce trade shows. Mean Green took third place at the New York Hot Sauce Expo; and Dragon’s Breath took first in Boston and Providence, and third in Texas.

A percentage of sales support veterans, first responders, and non-profits.

Entrepreneurs are Always Working

As a business owner, Maloney says, the most rewarding and most challenging aspect of the job is making all the decisions and solving every problem.

“I push myself to be the best version of Sean, but am also careful not to burn out. It’s a double-edged sword,’’ he says. “Any entrepreneur can attest to the fact that in the early days your head is down, working, working, working. But you’ve got to find the right balance.’’

Maloney used to do all the cooking himself, but now has a staff of culinary experts at his commercial kitchen in Warren, Rhode Island.

“I wish I had done it sooner,’’ he says. “Initially you have to do everything, and eventually you have to delegate. You can’t do it all.’’

With 13 Stars, named after the original colonies, Maloney wants to honor the melting pot of America and encourage people to come together. Different spices merge Korean, Mexican, and Caribbean-inspired flavors.

“This is about the soul of America and that’s a big part of our philosophy,’’ he says. “I’m humbled that something I crafted and created has been given so much recognition. But at the end of the day, food is a catalyst for conversation and camaraderie. I value that the most.’’

New EBV Hall of Fame Inducts Foundational Leaders

Another highlight of the bootcamp week was the creation of the EBV Hall of Fame and induction of its first honorees. The event honored Michael Zacchea, posthumously, co-founder and director of EBV from 2009 to 2022; Michael Wisniewski, co-founder of EBV; Mehgan Williams, EBV program coordinator who, for 11 years, has been an integral part of the program’s success; professor emeritus Tom O’Brien, a generous donor and supporter of the program; and Norman and Celeste LaCroix, longtime donors and advocates for the program.

Other inductees included former Dean John A. Elliott, a fervent supporter of the EBV; as well as long-time instructors in the program, including accounting faculty Leanne Adams and Wayne Bragg; Michelle Cote, interim director of the Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation; and Bruce Ferris, retired CEO of Prudential Annuity Distributors.

“For 17 years they’ve invested their time, energy, wisdom and financial support to make this program a success,’’ Martinelli says.  “The program wouldn’t be the same without the support of these incredible people.’’

Neurosurgery is a relatively young discipline in medicine, one that began with a focus on survival. Today the focus goes beyond survival to restoring personalities, memories, limb function, even the ability to walk. Dr. Ketan Bulsara, chair of UConn Health’s Department of Neurosurgery, joins Dr. Anthony Alessi to discuss restorative neurosurgery, as well as UConn Health’s elite position when it comes to identifying and treating complex brain tumors, and how UConn is now attracting, training, and producing the next generation of talented neurosurgeons.

We’ve really moved into an age where we’re focused on restorative neurosurgery, restorative for the brain, restorative for the spine.
— Dr. Ketan Bulsara

Listen now:

Find the transcript on Podbean.

Submit questions for “Healthy Rounds” to healthyrounds@uchc.edu.

Support comes from UConn Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Coverys.

The result was Gross’s groundbreaking, Bancroft Prize winning book “The Minutemen and Their World,” which is also celebrating a milestone, as 2026 marks 50 years since it was first published. His inspiration to write the book was a drive to answer the question of why the war started in Concord, and to explore a curiosity piqued by a display at the Minute Man National Historical Park.

“There is a diorama that shows the layout of Minutemen, militia companies, and redcoats on the broad expanse of what would become the field of battle,” says Gross. “Everybody was frozen in time, fixed under glass, and I looked at that as a wonderful patriotic tableau, but everybody is already assigned to a role that hasn’t yet happened. I thought, ‘Well, why don’t I put them all in motion?’”

The book that resulted from this reanimation quickly became a mainstay in American history writing. Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard Brown says that after he read an early copy of the book, he immediately ranked it with the best.

“Now, after 50 years, I am a little bolder: ‘Minutemen and Their World’ is the very best close-up view of the experience of the Revolution—from its earliest glimmers to its aftermath,” says Brown.

For those who wary of diving into history books and encountering dry lists of names, dates, and battles, “Minutemen” is a welcome respite, because the facts are presented in a narrative of social history that reads more like a movie script.

“It’s a funny thing, to write this for the general audience, but now it is kind of a fixture. It was widely used for college courses, and it gathered steam. I continue to receive Google Alerts about people using it. It has reached a wide variety of people, including Revolutionary War re-enactors, while still being read and used by my colleagues in history who are 30 to 40 years younger,” says Gross. “This June, ‘Minutemen’ [was] the featured book of the month in the State of Montana’s series for the 250th.”

With a humanistic approach, Gross says he sought to break through the frozen past and rediscover the stories of the everyday people that underpinned a grander story of the American Revolution.

“I try to write about people in the past from the perspective of the choices they have to make in life, within the constraints of their time. If I can write the narrative in such a way that you’re seeing them that way, you’ll really see them as fellow humans,” says Gross.

Researching the major figures in history is one thing, but finding traces in the past for average citizens requires a different skill set. Gross started combing through often overlooked historical documents like town meeting minutes, deeds, and tax records which he admits can be tedious and boring. In this case, though, it was fortunately exhilarating. After compiling the data, Gross applied computing and statistical analyses to support his hypotheses about the trends he observed.

“At times, I would be reading through document after document, often finding nothing, and other times thinking, how can I make sense of this? I would be looking at passage of land, and find mortgages and think ‘do I have to learn real estate law?’ Going through church records and reading about the covenant, I’d think to myself, what’s a nice Jewish boy like me doing rummaging among these church records? Yet, there were times when, voila, something exciting appeared that I had no idea would be there, and that happened often.”

The records revealed a town that became increasingly divided in the years leading up to the inflection point of “the shot heard ’round the world” at Concord’s Old North Bridge on April 19th, 1775, the day of the first battle of the Revolution. In the book, Gross leads the reader through the events that primed and pushed the colonists to choose where they stood while showing them as people simply trying to live their lives. Gross says that not everything had to do with British imperial policies, but local life was swept up in the mobilization against British authority.

“What was going on with them before British policy and opposition to it began to make its own force felt? It’s not like they’ve all been living thinking, ‘Oh, can’t wait for the American Revolution,’” says Gross.

“Concord and other market centers had leadership who often speculated in Western Massachusetts lands. Those people were getting patronage from the royal government and benefiting many of their neighbors, so ties of material interest could make you conflicted,” says Gross. “I think people thought, ‘Okay, let’s listen to the squire.’ But ultimately, the squires couldn’t contain the building conflict.”

From elementary school lessons to portrayals in popular media, the reasons for rebellion are often boiled down to “no taxation without representation.” However, once the full story of the everyday people is laid out, it becomes clear there was much more to the story. In the case of New England, Gross says he was dubious of the notion that the Revolutionary movement was purely political. Rather, the royal government’s overreach in limiting town meetings and reducing the people’s role in government represented a threat to the colonists’ way of life. A crucial element was the family farm, says Gross: there were too many sons and not enough land for all. Large families over several generations had sharply reduced available acreage, threatening the ability of fathers to support their children as sons and daughters came of age and thereby unsettling intergenerational relations.

“You might say that the people of Concord, Eastern Massachusetts, and Connecticut had problems of what we would now call affordability,” says Gross. “You raise your kids on a farm in Concord, but they can’t afford to live here when they grow up.”

The land pressures damaged family relationships and further unsettled the social order, Gross writes, noting the growing number of landless inhabitants. The ups and downs of Atlantic trade added to the insecurity, driving some merchants into debtors’ prison and creating a class of landless laborers wandering from place to place in search of work.

“Here’s a town that idealizes unanimity and disparages political parties and factions, but in fact, they’re tearing themselves apart,” says Gross. “What does this have to do with the coming of the Revolution? One thing that struck me is they kept emphasizing the need to preserve the inheritance from the founding fathers of New England, the inheritance of liberty that was both political and religious, and defend it and pass it on to their children. I thought, how interesting that they’re stressing the necessity of preserving a heritage that, entirely apart from British policy, was increasingly difficult to pass on to the rising generation.”

Through his research Gross says he came to realize that behind the scenes, those in leadership were doing whatever they could to avoid getting caught up in the swirl of emotion and passion. This, of course, was futile. A tipping point came in late 1774, when most of the town leaders who remained loyal were discredited, forcing some to flee and seek refuge behind British lines in occupied Boston.

“Historians and the general public often like to imagine the American Revolution was this incredibly learned discussion and debate over British law and policies and the like, but much of the discussion involved essentially Patriot crowds and mobs threatening people who didn’t go along. If you were in Boston and you didn’t approve the boycott for the boycott of British goods, you could be declared an enemy to the country.”

While the country geared up to celebrate the bi-centennial in the mid-1970s, Gross says he was determined to expand the narrative and tell the stories of women and Black people as actors in the Revolutionary drama. Gross traced the stories of Concord’s Black residents before, during, and after the war. Five of these enslaved men – Philip Barrett, Brister Cuming, Cato Ingraham, Caesar Minot, and Frank – were barred by law from militia service, so were ineligible for the Minutemen companies. Even so, with the outbreak of war, slavery waned as an institution in Massachusetts, and Black men affirmed their liberty through military service. In a telling instance, Gross notes that the enslaved Black man known as Brister Cuming – held in bondage by Concord’s leading man and reluctant rebel John Cuming – took on a new name in 1779, when he enlisted in the Continental army. He was now Brister Freeman, a proud citizen of the new republic.

A slave named John Jack was able to buy his freedom and pay taxes, but freedmen were not permitted to vote. Upon his death, John Jack’s epitaph was used to illustrate some of these hypocrisies.

“I took account of the different layers of the social order and brought them all together. Though Blacks were a small group in the population, two dozen or so men and women in bondage, they played a notable part in the narrative of events and in dramatizing the struggle for and limits of liberty in this era, in fact, playing a part in the largest narrative events.”

Sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis are all caused by trypanosomes and leishmanias, a group of single-celled microorganisms that are very distantly related to animals. They’re parasites that typically slip into human bodies via insect bites. Trypanosomes tend to use the same basic machinery to express their genes as our cells do, so finding medications that kill these parasites but don’t hurt us is difficult.

UConn School of Medicine molecular biologist Arthur Gunzl and his research group have found a small but important difference in trypanosomes’ cellular machinery. It happens when messenger RNA (mRNA) is stitched together. mRNA is used to carry messages from DNA to a cell’s protein making machinery. And like any important message, it needs to be spelled properly. Both trypanosomes and human cells have to splice together RNA pieces to make precise mRNA messages. What Gunzl’s team found was that trypanosomes use an enzyme for this process that is quite different than the one humans use. The trypanosome version of the enzyme, a cyclin-dependent kinase called CRK9, is insensitive to a compound that inhibits the human version. This suggests that the active sites of these enzymes are different, and an inhibitor could be found to work against the trypanosome kinase that doesn’t affect the human counterpart.

The discovery is particularly surprising because other single cell organisms, such as yeast, don’t use a cyclin-dependent kinase for mRNA splicing at all. It was thought to be unique to multicellular organisms. Gunzl’s group is the first to show this enzyme at work in trypanosomes. The fact that we share it with these very different organisms suggests it is evolutionarily ancient.

His presentation, entitled “Regenerative Engineering AI,” defined the new subfield of Regenerative Engineering, in which the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, including analysis of large data sets, prediction using computational algorithms, and rapid adaptation, can be applied.

During his talk, Laurencin also took the opportunity to describe his profound sense of pride in America on its 250th Anniversary.

Laurencin is an international leader in Biomaterials Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Orthopedic Surgery, and Regenerative Engineering, a field he founded and pioneered. In Asia, he is an Academician and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He received the Bioactive Materials Lifetime Achievement Award in Ceremonies in China. He is also a fellow of the Indian Academy of Engineering, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, India. He was honored with the highest honor of the Indian Society for Biomaterials and has been the Plenary speaker for the combined India-U.S. American Chemical Society meeting. He has presented at centers throughout Asia.

In the U.S., Laurencin is the first surgeon in history elected to all four major U.S. national academies. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine, and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. He is also an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

At the University of Connecticut, Laurencin serves as the University Professor and Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at UConn School of Medicine. He is professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and professor of Biomedical Engineering. He is the chief executive officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, an Institute created and named in his honor.

She is training in the New England Donor Services (NEDS), the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissues for transplant in the New England region.

She is part of a small cohort of medical students selected to participate in the second year of NEDS’ Galen V. Henderson, MD Program, an 8-week immersive experience developed for medical students of diverse backgrounds to learn about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Haynes of Salem, New Hampshire, is a graduate of UConn Storrs with a BSE in biomedical engineering with a concentration in biomaterials/tissue engineering.

Her life was first touched by the importance of organ donation after one of her neighbors needed a heart transplant. Later, Haynes found herself personally in need of a tissue donation after her own ACL injury.

“This internship is truly a unique opportunity and has been one of the most rewarding and educational parts of my academic career so far. This internship goes beyond a traditional summer experience and incorporates academic research, community engagement, narrative medicine, and clinical activities,” says Haynes of UConn School of Medicine’s Class of 2029. “Even in eight weeks, I have found myself deeply touched by the mission of NEDS and will incorporate many of these lessons I’ve learned this summer into my future clinical practice.”

The program is named in honor of Dr. Galen V. Henderson, who was an associate medical director of New England Donor Services and first Black neurointensivist in the United States. He became director of Neurocritical Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 2001 and was the recipient of three awards from the Department of Health and Human Services for his contributions to the field of organ donation. He served in several national leadership roles in organ donation and was instrumental in standardizing neurocritical pathways in the context of organ donation. Dr. Henderson passed away on December 28, 2023, at the age of 57.

The program is providing Haynes and her cohort of fellow medical students a hybrid learning model combining on-site seminars with experiential activities in clinical and community settings. Clinicians, scientists, and other notable experts expose students to different career paths and teach about the donation and transplant system, infectious disease and immunology, neurocritical care, ethics, organ allocation, disparities, and emerging technologies, among other topics. A hallmark feature of the program is the opportunity for students to talk to organ donor families, living donors, and transplant patients. Students also observe organ and tissue recovery, shadow transplant physicians and surgeons at regional transplant centers, and complete a scholarly project as part of the program. Students are provided with a stipend from New England Donor Services (NEDS) to cover living expenses during the program and are mentored by experienced researchers at NEDS with academic appointments at Harvard Medical School and research collaborations nationally.

“This program has taught me about the complexities and multifaceted world of tissue and organ donation. This type of work is truly saving lives and changing lives for the better. It truly speaks to why I originally wanted to pursue a career and medicine,” says Haynes.

After the summer immersion experience, Haynes looks forward to continuously engaging with NEDS in their community activities and beyond.

“At UConn Health, I am part of the Urban Service Track/AHEC Scholars Program which aims to provide a community focused medical education that works with underserved populations. These two organizations share many of the same qualities and missions and I look forward to my continuous engagement even after the culmination of this program. I aspire to use the experience I’ve gained from the compassion from family service coordinators, the grit and clinical excellence from the transplant surgeons, the tireless dedication from all NEDS staff members, the bravery from the patients and their families, and the new friendships I’ve gained with my fellow cohort students in a future career in surgery.”

Each student conducted either innovative basic science or clinical health disparities research this summer at UConn Health and presented their research findings to their peers and the UConn community.

“It’s fantastic,” says the longtime leader and founder of HCOP, Dr. Marja Hurley, about the breadth of research presented by the state’s talented youth interested in health science careers and about the high turnout of attendees from the UConn Health community to applaud the students’ efforts.

College Researchers

Kayla Tomasik, 19, of Danbury is a rising junior attending Binghamton University in upstate New York. She had the exciting opportunity to conduct summer research at UConn School of Medicine to advance kidney health scientific knowledge with the Chief of Nephrology at UConn Health, Dr. Yanlin Wang, along with Melanie Tran, Ph.D.

“Kayla has indeed done a fantastic job,” applauds her summer research mentor Wang.

Tomasik’s novel research investigation this summer in Wang’s Lab focused on exploring how the enzyme USP22, that plays an important role in regulating gene expression and cell cycle progression, also plays a role in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. Cisplatin is a widely used and highly effective platinum-based chemotherapy drug but one-third of cancer patients taking it can experience acute kidney injury. Her research identified the enzyme USP22 as a potential therapeutic target for preventing cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

“Working in Dr. Yanlin Wang’s Lab was an incomparable experience,” says Tomasik. “The inspiring energy and cutting-edge environment allowed me to collaborate alongside some of the brightest scientific minds. I am especially grateful to my instructor, Dr. Melanie Tran, whose exceptional mentorship and guidance through real-world scientific inquiry completely transformed how I view medicine.  Having the opportunity to stand before the community and share everything I’ve learned and discovered felt like a massive milestone in my education!”

She adds, “Participating in the HCOP program this summer was an incredibly eye-opening and transformative experience! I chose to get involved because I was striving to gain hands-on experience with translational research and deepen my understanding of the medical world. The opportunities this program offers are truly unmatched; they don’t just teach you science, but actively show you exactly what it takes to succeed and make a lasting impact in healthcare.”

What’s next for Tomasik after her UConn summer research experience?

“This experience has completely solidified my passion for the health sciences! Moving forward, I am so excited to take the research skills I have developed this summer and apply them to my upcoming academic endeavors at Binghamton University.”

Local Legislator Shows Support of Students

“It’s great,” shared Connecticut State Representative from the 138^th district, Kenneth Gucker, who represents Danbury about the research symposium after engaging with the college students and learning about their summer research project posters. “This is valuable work, that all legislators should know about,” said Gucker with the wide range of research project topics spanning from diabetes to cancer prevention, “to be able to help with that through awareness and based on true, scientific evidence.”

“I am so glad I came up to see Kayla’s project and thought it to be amazing. But what I am most grateful for was that I was exposed to all the great projects presented. It fills me with hope and encouragement to see these bright young people doing such meaningful work and gives me great hope for the future,” concluded Gucker.

Another college student is UConn Storrs undergraduate in the Class of 2027, Yusur Al Lami, 21, of West Hartford. She had the exciting opportunity to conduct research in Hurley’s lab on skeletal muscle impairment in humanized sickle cell disease mouse models.

The research findings data showed that a blocking antibody to the hormone Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) rescues the abnormality in the skeletal muscle of these mice.

Al Lami excitedly and proudly presented her research poster outside the Academic Rotunda on July 16.

“I’m really excited to share the research I’ve been working on with the UConn Health community. A lot of time, effort, and learning went into this project, so being able to present it feels rewarding. It’s also a chance to share work that could eventually help improve the lives of people living with sickle cell disease, which makes it even more meaningful,” says Al Lami.

“My project focused on skeletal muscle in a mouse model of sickle cell disease. We studied what happens when FGF23, a protein involved in inflammation, is blocked. We found that blocking FGF23 improved muscle health by reducing fibrosis and increasing muscle fiber size,” Al Lami shared. “This is important because many people with sickle cell disease experience muscle weakness, chronic pain, and difficulty with everyday physical activities. While these complications are common, they haven’t been studied as much as other aspects of the disease. I hope our research helps bring more attention to this area and contributes to finding better treatments in the future.”

She chose to do HCOP’s summer research program to gain more hands-on research experience and learn more about what a career in medicine and research might look like.

“This HCOP experience was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve had in college. I learned so much in such a short amount of time, not just about research, but also about myself. I became more confident in the lab, learned new techniques, and had the chance to work alongside amazing mentors and students who genuinely wanted to see each other succeed. Dr. Hurley has created an environment where students are challenged, supported, and given opportunities that many undergraduates don’t get. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned this summer, and it made me feel even more certain that UConn is where I’m meant to be,” she says.

Hurley couldn’t be prouder of her research mentee’s project and success.

“She’s done beautiful work, it’s just great!”

Al Lami is now studying for the MCAT exam as she is getting ready to apply to medical school.

“Becoming a physician has been my dream for a long time, and this experience has only strengthened that goal. I hope to continue doing research throughout my career while caring for patients, because I believe both go hand in hand. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me, and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and grow along the way.”

Aleck McNeil, 19, of South Windsor, enjoys attending UConn Storrs as an undergrad sophomore too.

“I started HCOP in high school and I was hooked,” he says. He’s been inspired to be a pre-med student at UConn and looks forward to becoming a doctor someday.

His health disparities clinical summer research fellowship program project focused on the importance of integrating community health workers into provider-based type 2 diabetes interventions over the long-term. His research mentor was Jaime S. Foster, Ph.D., RD.

“Short-term protocols don’t work,” he says as his research has found how it’s important to know your patient audience you are caring for and to plan for long-term interventional programming of 6 months or more leveraging electronic medical records tracking and access, group and online home-based classes, and regular patient contact and online interactions to help best keep patients engaged to help improve their type 2 diabetes more significantly.

Jose Luis Matute Galvez, 22, of Mansfield, who immigrated to the U.S. from Peru when he was just 8, is a double-Husky. He just graduated from UConn Storrs and is starting UConn School of Dental Medicine this August.

“I’m really excited!” says Galvez, “HCOP really makes UConn School of Dental Medicine feel like home already, and the opportunity to present my research like this that I want to do over the next 4 years of dental school, I am really appreciative for.”

His supportive research mentors for his basic science summer research project were Mejeong Lee, Ph.D. and Peter Maye, Ph.D. for his research focusing on building a MERFISH-based spatial atlas of the developing craniofacial skeleton.

“It’s all about building a map of how genes and cells communicate in maxillofacial bone,” Galvez said.

High School Researchers

On Friday, July 17 high school students who conducted summer research had their time to shine after participating in the High School Student Research Apprentice Program of HCOP.

Abraham Olasunkanmi, 17, is going to be a senior at Sports & Medical Sciences Academy in Hartford where he first learned about the HCOP program opportunities at UConn Health.

He had the opportunity last summer to shadow doctors and researchers at UConn Health. Now this summer, his hands-on research experience at UConn School of Medicine was with faculty mentor Michael Blinov, Ph.D. in the Center of Cell Analysis and Modeling for creating a database of mathematical models of biological systems.

“This summer experience has been the best, and really exciting!” he says. “My project was very different, and was for coding and designing websites for scientific models ranging from infections to small molecules.”

Olasunkanmi hopes to be accepted and attend UConn after graduating high school.

Carey-Lee Jibbson, 17, is a senior at Achievement First Hartford High School.

“Working in the lab gave me a glimpse of my future,” she says after her experience with researchers Michael Davis, Ph.D. and Jennifer Medina, MS to explore the beneficial use of bacteriophage to reduce Bacillus pseudomycoides from soil samples. “These experiments really do matter to me.”

She dreams of being accepted to attend Barnard College and becoming a pediatric nurse someday.

Jibbson concluded, “To everyone who made this possible, thank you! I learned courage and resilience.”

Congratulations to all the student summer researchers and presenters in both the Summer Research Fellowship Program and the Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program.

Our sense of taste changes over the course of our lives. It’s why kids tend to turn up their noses at vegetables, while adults can find appreciation for the bitter notes of leafy greens. Taste can also shift with age, during temporary illnesses such as a cold, or as a result of chronic neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. 

These changes matter because taste plays a central role in eating behavior. Whether someone is nine or 99 years old, they’ll be less likely to consume foods that don’t appeal to them, regardless of how nutritious those foods may be. Changes in taste can also affect appetite, nutrition, quality of life and, in some cases, a person’s overall health. 

Researchers in Sciolino’s lab have received nearly $565,000 for the first year of their NIH R01 grant award to better understand how complex processes in the brain shape taste perception. Their work could eventually help people experiencing taste loss, including those affected by long COVID or neurological disease. As the basic science advances, it could also help clinicians track changes in patients’ palates over time, providing a useful biomarker of health and aging. 

Sciolino’s lab focuses on norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline. This neurotransmitter is produced largely in a small region of the brainstem called the locus coeruleus, or LC. The lab studies how norepinephrine influences motivated behaviors, including eating and the fight-or-flight response. 

“Norepinephrine is a neuromodulator, which means it can change how neural circuits process information,” explains Will Fan, a Ph.D. candidate leading this research. “Rather than carrying one simple message from one neuron to another, neuromodulators can tune the activity of many neurons at once. In this project, we’re asking what happens when norepinephrine is released in the parts of the brain that process taste. Does it change neural activity? And if so, does that change how an animal perceives a taste and decides whether to consume it?” 

“We felt it was super important to investigate this gap,” adds Sciolino. “How is norepinephrine regulating taste information in the brain, and ultimately, taste-guided behaviors – that is, do we like or dislike the food, and do we ultimately consume or reject it?” 

Prior research in the field has shown that taste is linked to a mammal’s internal state, or level of behavioral arousal. For example, when an animal or human is in a low-arousal state (like boredom), it may be more likely to perceive taste along a broad dichotomy of “good” or “bad” rather than identifying individual tastes. Similar effects occur during sickness. 

But, says Sciolino, “No one knows how those brain states switch. We think that norepinephrine can be that potential mediator.”

Sciolino believes findings from this research are “going to be very important for advancing the field of not only taste, but also the broader field of chemosensation,” which includes both taste and smell. 

Scientists have previously studied how individual neurons in the LC respond to sensory stimuli. What makes this work different is its focus on how systems of neurons behave. With a more holistic view of how the brain is processing taste, the researchers hope to unlock a better understanding of how it computes and responds to different types of sensory input. 

To test their hypotheses, the researchers stimulate the release of norepinephrine in the LC in mice as they are exposed to different tastes, using a method called optogenetics. Using miniature microscopes, they closely monitor its effects on the activity of the brain’s gustatory cortex to see how the mice perceive the tastes, a process known as palatability encoding. Mice provide a powerful model for this work because researchers can precisely study the brain circuits involved in taste perception while observing how changes in neural activity affect taste-guided behavior. 

Research reported in this story was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the NIH under Award Number R01DC023564. Related research in Sciolino’s lab has also received support from the Brain Research Foundation (BRF) Seed Grant under Award Number BRFSG2023-09. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or BRF. 

Our bodies naturally produce collagen using the foods we eat. But, in recent years, collagen peptides have gained popularity as a supplement to support joint, hair, skin, and gut health.

A new study led by Jennifer Fields, assistant professor of nutritional sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), provides evidence in favor of yet another application for collagen peptides – protecting female runners’ bones.

The study was published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Bone health is a significant concern for endurance runners because, by the nature of their sport, they are consistently putting significant strain on their bones.

By putting stress on the bones, running activates osteoclasts to break down damaged bone. If a runner is, intentionally or not, not consuming enough calories, the osteoblasts that create new bone don’t have the fuel they need to rebuild the bone properly. This can lead to injury and long-term conditions like osteoporosis.

“Oftentimes, we associate running with being bad for us, bad for our bones, because runners are at a higher risk of stress-related injuries,” Fields says. “But oftentimes, it’s due to just simply under fueling and not giving your body enough calories to support training and recovery and adaptation.”

This is particularly relevant for female runners due to how the bone remodeling cycle interacts with hormones. Insufficient caloric intake lowers estrogen and progesterone levels, which in turn leads to increased bone breakdown and reduced bone formation.

Fields decided to study if collagen peptides could help intervene in this process, given that 90-95% of the organic bone matrix is comprised of collagen.

Collagen peptides are “incomplete amino acids.” Unlike complete amino acids, they do not trigger a response in our muscles. Instead, because of their unique structure (a repetitive pattern of three amino acids), they can trigger osteoclast and osteoblast activity.

“Unlike most dietary proteins, some of the dipeptides and tripeptides that make up collagen peptides can be absorbed intact by our intestine,” Fields says. “Those di- and tripeptides are what can potentially act on these osteoblast and osteoclast pathways to trigger a better bone turnover response where we’re favoring more bone formation.”

In this pilot study, Fields and her collaborators found that collagen peptides did indeed improve bone turnover. Looking at biomarkers in participants’ blood, the researchers saw that markers associated with bone formation increased and inflammation decreased in the group that took the collagen peptide supplements.

“We’re seeing some good preliminary data to show that four weeks is sufficient to move some of those acute biomarkers,” Fields says.

Other studies had looked at collagen peptides for bone health in postmenopausal women. Research on premenopausal women, on the other hand, has been extremely limited, and no one had looked at female runners specifically, despite their elevated risk of impaired bone remodeling and heightened risk of bone stress injuries.

Women’s bone density is generally not checked until after they enter menopause. But about 90% of bone mass develops by 18 and the remaining 10% by age 30. This means supporting bone health in young women is critical to ensuring their lifelong health and wellness.

“If we can target the premenopausal population and identify individuals who might be at risk of maladaptive bone responses, then hopefully we can reverse it and prevent early-onset osteopenia and osteoporosis,” Fields says.

Collagen peptides also have known benefits for hair, skin, joints, and gastrointestinal health, meaning incorporating them into the diet can have a host of benefits beyond bone health.

“What’s great about collagen peptides is that they’re universal,” Fields says. “It’s not a supplement where we’re only expecting one outcome. It can be incorporated into the diet as a supplement to help with some of these other health benefits.”

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

As you may have seen, our 2026 employee engagement survey is underway, and the theme this time is “Progress Happens Together.” It’s fitting because candid feedback from you goes a long way toward helping my leadership team and me understand what our institution is doing well and what areas have opportunities for improvement.

Like all our employee engagement surveys, a third party is administering it, thus keeping your responses confidential. I invite you to please take a few minutes to thoughtfully respond to the survey questions. You’ll find a unique survey link in your email (July 13 from “Press Ganey on behalf of UConn Health”), a QR code on our Take the Survey page on The Hub, and even an Employee Engagement Survey shortcut on your computer’s desktop.

You also can take the survey during one of our pop-up events, which feature things like food trucks and music, every Wednesday through the end of the survey period, Aug. 7. Find more information on the pop-ups.

I’d like to thank Alexis Crean and her team in the Office of Professional Well-Being and Engagement for all their work organizing and executing the survey.

As many of you know, I love to visit our employees who are serving the needs of the people of Connecticut every day in such an excellent manner. This week, Caryl Ryan, our CNO and UConn John Dempsey Hospital COO, Carlos Iitsuka, our VP for business development and analytics, and I had the opportunity to round in our emergency department. We had the pleasure of meeting with charge nurse Angelina Cabral, nurse Alexa Zborowski, health unit coordinators Ewa Truszkowski and Christopher Brijmohan, lead transportation aide Francesco Nigro, and educator Shannon Curtis. They are all amazing and gave us their thoughts on what is working well and ways we can further support them. For example, for the emergency department, which is extremely busy, consistent levels of staffing of the triage (intake) area to decrease patient wait times was a theme.

As you likely are aware, parts of the U.S. are seeing an outbreak of a GI infection known as cyclosporiasis, which is caused by a microscopic parasite spread by way of contaminated food or water. The Department of Public Health recently reported 40 confirmed cases in Connecticut, which, while not an alarming number like in Michigan (more than 4,300 cases reported, by far the most in the country), is more than we usually see here in a typical year.

I bring this up because I want to provide some assurance by mentioning a few points from our infectious diseases experts:

1. We have not seen a significant number of patients presenting in our ED or urgent care centers with symptoms of cyclosporiasis.
2. Even if we did, this illness typically is not transmitted person-to-person.
3. Most importantly, we have taken a number of steps to ensure we are prepared to handle an influx of such patients: Our infection prevention team just held an education session for the infection prevention liaisons this week. The liaisons are a dynamic team representing each inpatient and outpatient unit and clinic who are dedicated to promote the charge of the infection prevention program. They are bringing that information back to their units to disseminate the information to their fellow staff members. Our food and nutrition vendor, Morrison Healthcare, is taking precautions with its food suppliers, such as buying only full heads of lettuce as opposed to bagged lettuce. Our clinical microbiology laboratory has testing available to support clinicians in diagnosing this infection.

I’d like to thank our infection prevention experts, particularly Erica Gomez, emerging infectious diseases coordinator, Kate Falotico and Rachel Crosby, infection prevention specialists, Nancy Dupont, nursing director of epidemiology, and Dr. David Banach, hospital epidemiologist, for their leadership in this area.

By the way, for those who don’t know about our Infection Prevention Liaison Committee, it consists of frontline staff, both inpatient and outpatient. This group has the important role of helping us identify and develop improvement opportunities in support of our Infection Control Committee, which enhances our quality and patient safety. The Infection Prevention Liaison Committee meets the third Wednesday of the month and always welcomes new members. Please email our infection prevention team if you’re interested in getting involved as a liaison or to learn more.

Here is a letter I’d like to share from the spouse of a patient who came to our emergency department and was admitted (edited for privacy):

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the excellent care and support my husband received from:

– Emergency Department: Entire Emergency Department and manager of this unit, Chad [Eichman], thank you for your incredible care and guidance.

– UT2 Floor Unit: An incredible group of talented people who work together to attain amazing results.

– Special big thanks to the team who took care of my husband: Nurses: Sara [Kolodziejczyk], Liz [Clark], Jeremiah [Jaques], Hooman [Musavi] and CNA: Tessa [Kelly], Mila [Kadzielnik], Donville [Bell].

Thank you for showing up with a big heart every day. Your kindness, patience, and gentle approach brought so much comfort when my husband needed it most.

Thank you, Doctor Andy – Your team is the best!

Lastly, I’d like to call attention to an announcement we made this week: The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognizes us as an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equity High Performer. This is based on a national benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare organizations on policies and practices that support equitable, inclusive care for patients, visitors, and employees.

It also is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming environment where every patient feels respected, valued, and heard while receiving compassionate, high-quality care.

This is just the latest of the many awards, accolades, and recognitions we’ve been able to celebrate. None of them would be possible without you, our outstanding workforce.

Thank you for all you do.

Andrew C. Agwunobi, MD, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
EVP for Health Affairs
UConn Health

Dear Dr. Andy

I have noticed that the height of some of the bushes and trees creates a significant visibility issue when crossing Academic Way. Because I cannot see oncoming vehicles clearly through the landscaping, I often have to pull forward and stop immediately adjacent to the median in order to check for traffic coming from Munson Road. Unfortunately, this position can create visibility concerns for drivers entering from Munson Road as well, since my vehicle may be partially in view before I can safely determine whether the intersection is clear. In many cases, smaller vehicles are completely obscured by the shrubs until they are very close, making it difficult to safely assess approaching traffic. The current landscaping limits sightlines in both directions and creates an unnecessary safety concern for drivers navigating the intersection. Would it be possible to trim the existing bushes and trees or consider replacing them with lower-growing plantings to improve visibility?

Thank you for the question, which I have shared with J.J. Odom, our buildings and grounds director. It is about that time of year where our grounds crew would start the seasonal trimming of the bushes and trees throughout our campus. Thanks to you raising this, we got started with the area you asked about, and I can report we have improved the visibility around that island at the Munson Road entrance.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention and for your concern about traffic safety on our campus, and thank you to our grounds crew for the timely response.

Have something you want to ask Dr. Andy? Submit your question on The Hub.

Hub Highlights

Dr. Bina Katechia has some wellness tips for new dental residents.

Read about the national recognition we’ve earned for our inclusive care.

Plus, get all you need to know about this year’s employee engagement survey, including your options to take it — Go to The Hub now for these and other announcements and features and stay up to date with the latest UConn Health news!

Now located within the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), the DPT Program was first established as the New Haven School of Physical Therapy in 1919, making it one of the oldest physical therapy programs in the country. In 1951, the program moved to Storrs, where it has been ever since.

At the time, physical therapy was a new field, having risen to professional prominence in response to the needs of World War I veterans recovering from injuries, and the 1916 polio outbreak.

Initially, physical therapy training was folded into existing physical education programs. In 1939, the New Haven School of Physical Therapy began conferring separate associate’s degrees in physical therapy. When the program came to UConn, it offered bachelor’s degrees.

Under the leadership of its inaugural director, the late Frances Tappan, UConn’s physical therapy program became the first physical therapy education program housed in a public land-grant university.

The first class had only six students. Today, UConn’s program still boasts small class sizes even as it has grown substantially, averaging 30 students per class compared to the national average of 46.

“Thet really makes us pretty unique,” says associate professor-in-residence and director of physical therapy Maryclaire Capetta. “Our students know each other and our faculty really, really well. Even beyond their time as students they continue to stay connected to the program and the faculty who are here.”

Certificate of Accreditation from 1952

Physical Therapy Class of 1995

Class of 2010

UConn Physical Therapy Class of 1988

UConn Physical Therapy Class of 1994

Class of 1995 in front of the Spirit Rock

Inaugural director of UConn's Physical Therapy Program, Frances Tappan

Pamela Roberts ’70 ’77 (CAHNR) is an emeritus associate professor and graduate from UConn’s physical therapy bachelor’s and master’s programs. From that time, the program has moved to several buildings on campus including Koons Hall, before finding its current home in the Kinesiology building.

“At that time, we were in a little white cottage,” Roberts says. “It made me feel like I was part of the old timers because we knew it was slated to come down, and we knew that we would be moving soon.”

During her years as a student, Roberts worked closely with the late Patricia Gillespie.

“There was only one faculty member who was married, and a woman, and she became my mentor and the reason why I decided to teach at UConn,” Roberts says.

Roberts spent decades teaching in the program. She also served as the program director from 1990 to 1996. This was a transitional period as UConn stopped offering the bachelor’s degree in physical therapy to focus on the master’s program. In 1979, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) determined a master’s would be the degree required for the profession.

Since 2020, all physical therapy programs in the U.S. have had to offer doctoral degrees in order to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). UConn has offered a doctorate in physical therapy since 2007.

“I am still so proud of everybody that leaves the University of Connecticut with that advanced degree in physical therapy,” Roberts, who helped write UConn’s doctorate program, says.

The work of those who learn and teach in UConn’s physical therapy program extends far beyond the College. Even in retirement from the University, Roberts continued working, revising guidelines for providing physical therapy to children with individualized education plans (IEPs) in collaboration with Mansfield Public Schools.

“[I was determining] whether the guidelines that we wrote in 1976 and rewrote in 1990 were still feasible,” Roberts says. “[Saying] let’s figure out the role of PT and collaborating in schools, which was also the subject of my dissertation.”

This isn’t the only connection between UConn and the community when it comes to physical therapy. The UConn DPT Program runs a free community physical therapy clinic. At the UConn PT C.A.R.E.S. (Community Access to Rehabilitation and Education Services) Clinic, students provide care for members of the community who have limited access to physical therapy services, and provide wellness and prevention services such as fall-risk assessments at community and senior centers.

“Under the supervision of faculty, students are able to learn how to evaluate and manage members of our community with various health conditions,” Capetta says.

Colin Sauter ’20 (CAHNR), an alum of the DPT Program and current Ph.D. student, was involved in founding the PT C.A.R.E.S. clinic during his time in the DPT Program.

“We created that clinic through our management and PT class and created a policies and procedures manual and a business plan for the clinic, which is now up and running and sees a bunch of patients, which is so lovely,” Sauter says.

Sauter has returned to UConn to earn his PhD, focusing on neurologic physical therapy for conditions like Parkinson’s disease.

“What’s really nice about the UConn PT program is that it feels very intimate and homey, especially given where our building is in Horsebarn Hill,” Sauter says. “You develop this cohort that you become really close with, all learn and experience the program together, and you’re in the same building with your professors all day, every day. It’s this little family that hopes to teach the future PTs and set them on their path.”

Faculty expertise in the physical therapy program spans diverse areas including Parkinson’s disease, children with disabilities, people who are hospitalized for extended periods of time, neurophysiological mechanisms of motor control, and sports medicine.

“The future of the program is really bright,” Capetta says. “Being a state institution, we are an affordable option for students to get their doctoral degree. We have tremendous young faculty who are really on the cutting edge of physical therapy research. I think the program is poised to make a bigger name for itself in physical therapy research and in the physical therapy community.”

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in partnership with institutions abroad. They engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for future partnerships between institutions.

Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

The Fulbright Specialist program, distinct from the scholar program, utilizes a project-based model in which highly qualified American academics and professionals share their expertise with institutions overseas while addressing shared challenges that benefit American communities and the world.

Specialists, who represent a wide range of professional and academic disciplines, share their knowledge, skills, expertise, and innovative ideas through two-to-six-week projects requested by foreign receiving institutions in over 150 countries and other areas.

The following are the UConn faculty members who earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award for 2026-27:

Richard Christenson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering, who received a Fulbright Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) Scholar Award. This prestigious fellowship funds mid-career to senior academics, professionals, and researchers pursuing collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that further the interests of the trilateral AUKUS security partnership. His research will span both the United Kingdom and Australia over a six-month period.

Christenson is also the co-director of the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology.

David Lund, a professor of marine sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will perform his Fulbright research in Norway. He will work with colleagues at the University of Bergen to develop a new technique to reconstruct sea ice extent in the geologic past, leading to a better understanding of its impact on ocean circulation, nutrient cycling, and marine ecosystems.

“Bergen is a leading international center of marine science research, focused on the Arctic and North Atlantic,” says Lund. “Collaborating with scientists with Bergen will lead to new insights about the role of sea ice in ocean-atmospheric dynamics and provide an unprecedented opportunity for my lab group to explore new research avenues.”

Luyi Sun, a Board of Trustees distinguished professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering in the College of Engineering, will be doing his Fulbright research in South Korea. His research will be focused on functional hybrid materials, and he will also teach a course on advanced polymer processing.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected as a Fulbright Scholar, and I am truly excited to begin this meaningful opportunity,” says Sun. “I look forward to engaging with new colleagues, exchanging ideas across cultures, and contributing to the Fulbright mission.”

The following are the UConn faculty members who have recently been named Fulbright Specialists:

Thomas Cooke, an emeritus professor in geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, returns to the Fulbright program after being a Fulbright Scholar in 2014-15, where he visited the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

Moshe Gai, a professor of physics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will pursue a specialist project in Romania with fellow colleagues. This project will be built upon the relationships formed through his 2025 Fulbright U.S. Scholar award, which enabled him to spend five months at the University Polytechnica of Bucharest, where he taught both on the graduate and undergraduate level.

“The Fulbright Specialist program presents me with an opportunity to extend my international collaboration,” says Gai. “It is a source of sorely needed international travel funds that are now becoming more and more scarce.”

In Bucharest, Gai also developed his research program on the world’s highest intensity laser of the Extreme Light Infrastructure Nuclear Physics. The graduate class he developed during his time in Bucharest has now been approved for a new special topic course, Quantum Physics of Stars, that will be taught at UConn.

Elizabeth Hintz, an associate professor of communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will pursue a specialist project in Finland in 2027. She was a Fulbright Scholar in 2025-26 at Tampere University in Finland.

Natalia Smirnova, an assistant professor-in-residence of economics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, will pursue a project helping students from international partner institutions develop financial, economic, and career literacy. Her career has spanned government, academia, and nonprofit sectors. She became interested in serving as a Fulbright Specialist because she would like to share her expertise in economic and financial literacy education, as well as career readiness skills development, with an institution of higher learning abroad.

“A significant portion of young people around the world lack basic financial knowledge,” says Smirnova. “This precludes them from meeting real-life challenges when they reach adulthood. Since economic and financial literacy education is proven to enhance life skills, it is imperative to find creative ways to infuse this material into curricula of all levels of educational attainment.”

Smirnova plans to offer a variety of training activities, such as a series of seminars, master classes, and professional development workshops focusing on economic education, financial literacy, and career readiness. She is currently seeking an international institution to deliver her proposed projects.

On Wednesday, state officials and partners of the QuantumCT Engine gathered at UConn Hartford to celebrate the award of a National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engine. Earlier this week, the NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut was one of 12 teams nationwide to receive an NSF Engines award, which could total $160 million over a 10-year period.

“I am really proud of the team here. There were [more than] 250 applications for this and here is Connecticut standing,” said Government Ned Lamont, continuing, “This is how Connecticut stays ahead of the curve. We have always been one of the most innovative economies, and to keep our industries ahead of the curve, this is what have we to do.”

UConn, the awardee, partnered with Yale, Southern Connecticut State University, Connecticut State Community College, ConnCORP, CT Innovations, industry leaders, nonprofit and educational institutions, and the state on the proposal. The Engines award positions Connecticut as a leader in American quantum innovation, securing the domestic quantum supply chain by accelerating the commercialization of quantum technologies for national defense, biotechnology, and financial services. Through innovation, applied research leading to new technologies, support for inventors and entrepreneurs, and workforce development, the NSF Quantum Technologies Engine is advancing quantum sensing, secured communications, computing, and advanced materials through applied research, shared testbed, deep-tech incubator, and translation pathways.

This is how Connecticut stays ahead of the curve. We have always been one of the most innovative economies, and to keep our industries ahead of the curve, this is what have we to do. — Government Ned Lamont

The QuantumCT Engine was the only quantum-related proposal to receive an NSF Engines award. Connecticut is on a transformative path as the state economy embraces the potential of quantum technology.

“The competition among states for quantum leadership is fierce. And now Connecticut has entered the competition. And as all of you know, Huskies play to win,” said UConn President Radenka Maric.

By conservative estimates, quantum is expected to generate between $450 and $800 billion over the next 15 years. Applications are numerous across industries including advanced manufacturing, national security, finance, medicine and healthcare, and pharmaceuticals – all of which are critical to Connecticut’s economy. Leaders from several of the state’s top companies, including Travelers, General Dynamic-Electric Boat, RTX, Biohaven, and Boehringer-Ingelheim, were on hand on Wednesday to celebrate the award.

“With this grant, Connecticut has an opportunity to establish itself as a leader in quantum technologies and their real-world applications,” said Carine Boustany, senior vice president at Boehringer-Ingelheim. “It is an exciting example of how our state is investing in the future and creating an environment where breakthrough innovation can thrive.”

Connecticut Commissioner of Department of Economic and Community Development Dan O’Keefe has championed the QuantumCT Engine from the start.

“We have a right to win here. I am just so incredibly proud of how we all came out. We showed one Connecticut. QuantumCT is more than just a public-private pipeline. QuantumCT is representative of how it works when we all come together and compete to win,” O’Keefe said.

Building an Ecosystem

UConn faculty are highly active in quantum research, as exemplified by the Quantum Alliance of interdisciplinary experts. Among them is Provost Pamir Alpay, principal investigator (PI) on the Engines award, who along with Yale Vice Provost for Research and Engines co-PI Michael Crair, saw the potential for quantum as Connecticut’s pathway to economic impact through technology innovation.

That collaboration began with an NSF call for proposals in 2022, which attracted partners statewide and resulted in a $1 million engine development award. The development award laid the foundation for the larger innovation engine effort and established QuantumCT, a nonprofit, public-private partnership established to build the quantum ecosystem in Connecticut. UConn, Yale, Southern Connecticut State University, industry leaders, and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development shape the QuantumCT nonprofit by serving on its governing board.

The proposal for the NSF Quantum Technology Engine in Connecticut was submitted in early 2025 following a highly competitive process. Nearly 300 ideas were initially submitted to NSF, kicking off a high-stakes competition for billions of dollars in federal funding that supported regional innovation.

The state demonstrated its commitment with an investment of $61 million to support building a quantum corridor, headquartered in New Haven. Governor Lamont promised another $60 million to QuantumCT if the NSF proposal was successful.

By the fall of 2025, only 15 proposals remained as finalists for the Engines awards. NSF conducted site visits across the country to meet with proposing teams, with Connecticut hosting NSF reviewers in December 2025. While waiting for a decision, the state continued building the quantum ecosystem and preparing for the award’s impact. Meanwhile, UConn and its public and private partners engaged in levels of collaboration unprecedented in the state’s history.

On Tuesday, July 14, all that work was recognized. Alpay and Crair traveled to Washington for an NSF Engines orientation event and Capitol Hill press conference announcing the program’s awardees, including the QuantumCT Engine. As a result, neither was able to attend Wednesday’s event in Hartford, though their collaboration was heralded as a major achievement.

“With this transformative award, NSF has recognized the scale of QuantumCT’s ambition and its potential to accelerate the quantum revolution for our state, region, and the United States as a whole,” said Yale President Maurie McInnis. “I am so proud of this effort to develop real-world solutions that enrich our communities and of the spirit of collaboration that it represents. Together with our partners at UConn and across the state, we have been able to drive innovation and unleash economic growth, while fulfilling Yale’s vital mission of research and education.”

Quantum Education and Workforce Development

One of the most important goals of the QuantumCT Engine is to educate Connecticut students and workers on quantum to prepare them for jobs in the quantum economy. While the science is advanced, quantum has already impacted many technologies that touch people’s daily lives, such as their phones and televisions. On a grander scale, scientists and engineers are improving manufacturing, enhancing national security, and improving deliverables of lifesaving medicine and diagnoses.

Leading world economies including the U.S. are prioritizing quantum research and development. As technology continues to improve and quantum takes on a larger role in industry, it will become increasingly important for Connecticut students and workers to have the skills needed to employ the concepts in their professions.

“The breakthroughs that will come from quantum technologies over the coming decades will not be achieved by technology alone,” said Christine Broadbridge, executive director of research and innovation for Southern Connecticut State University and a co-PI on the proposal. “They will be driven by talented people who are prepared to ask questions, solve problems, and work across disciplines. Many of those future innovators are sitting in classrooms and laboratories across Connecticut right now.”

State Representative Toni Walker, the co-chair of the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee, said research is key and quantum education must begin early.

“I want quantum technology to be vocabulary words for every 5th grader in Connecticut,” said Walker. “That is where we are going to start.”

Meeting Benchmarks

The NSF’s initial Engine award to UConn is for $15 million for two years. The QuantumCT Engine must meet benchmarks to qualify for additional funds totaling up to $160 million. Engine leaders will work closely with NSF program managers who regularly review progress, including formal program reviews at year 2 and year 5. Maric said that if there are no other milestones to reach after five years, it means that QuantumCT has done its job.

“We are going to be the capital of quantum, not just the capital of basketball,” Maric said.