UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

02/23/2026

HPDP researchers published a study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior evaluating the validity of 2 screener tools designed to assess overall diet quality, making it easier for counselors and clinicians to provide lifestyle support for patients.

Validation of a Brief and Very Brief Screener to Assess Overall Diet Quality in a Southeastern US Sample, has been published in the latest issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB). Led by HPDP researchers, this study … Read more

02/03/2026

The application for the UNC Chapel Hill Community Health & Wellness Resource (CHWR) Team’s 2026 Summer Research Internship is now open! 📣

CHWR is seeking undergraduate students interested in public health to participate in a 10-week research internship. Interns will gain hands-on research experience, work alongside experienced researchers, and build skills through mentorship and professional development opportunities.

Apply by February 27th at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/312111 to be considered!

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.The UNC Chapel Hill Co...

01/28/2026

Join nutrition leaders, professionals, and advocates from across NC at the NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference on March 3rd! the Carolina Hunger Initiative is hosting the 15th annual gathering that brings together people working to expand access to nutritious food for children. Register today!

The last day to book certain hotels with our special rate is Monday, Jan. 26. Make you sure you take a look at the options.

12/09/2025

Today we celebrate a Community Advisory Board member, Tish Singletary, MA. As the Branch Head for the Community & Clinical Connections at the NC Division of Public Health, she brings 20+ years of expertise at tackling healthy eating, active living, health equity, & chronic disease clinical care.

11/20/2025

Food insecurity is especially overlooked among college students, says Jessica Soldavini. The recent SNAP benefits delays and lack of awareness that students may be eligibility both become barriers for college students to access healthy, affordable foods.

Read the full story:

Another nearly 100,000 students are likely missing out, but lack of knowledge, difficulty, stigma keeps them from signing up.

10/30/2025

Dr. Falon Smith and the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team have been awarded funding from the Caplan Foundation for the project Preventing Exclusionary Practices in Early Care and Education: Promoting Social and Emotional Development.

Learn more: https://unc.live/3J8q3F3

The Caplan Foundation has awarded funding to principal investigator Dr. Falon Smith, Director of Go NAPACC and Research Scientist with the Community Health & Wellness Resource (CHWR) Team for the project Preventing Exclusionary Practices in Early Care and Education: Promoting … Read more

10/27/2025

Drs. Rachel Hirschey and Alison Brenner have been awarded a Special Interest Project grant from the CDC to scale cancer prevention and control interventions across the US.

Read the story:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a Special Interest Project (SIP) grant to scale cancer prevention and control interventions. The CDC funds SIPs that address a topic of interest or a gap in scientific evidence in … Read more

09/15/2025

Congratulations to the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team for receiving an NIH grant to launch HomeGrown! This family-centered program is designed to support healthy growth and development in young children with Down syndrome. Read the story here:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded funding to Dr. Erik A Willis and co-investigators at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dr. Heather Wasser, Dr. Seema Agrawal, and Emmy Clarke, MA, RD, LDN, as well as Dr. … Read more

07/21/2025

HPDP Research Fellow, Lindsey Smith Taillie was featured on UNC Research Stories. Learn about her journey from an environmental activist in her middle school cafeteria to becoming a food policy expert and co-founded the UNC Mini Mart at HPDP.

Read the story:

Lindsey Smith Taillie pushes for healthy food policies across the globe to improve eating habits for families and children.

06/30/2025

Congrats to Ugochi Alozie and David Arukwe for their incredible work with the Screen Time project!

06/19/2025

Juneteenth is a national holiday that honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederacy. The NC African American Heritage Commission has curated resources to encourage awareness for the holiday, educate ourselves on liberation in NC, and events to celebrate across our state:

Juneteenth 2025 Juneteenth Homepage North Carolina joins in the celebration of Juneteenth, a national holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederacy. We invite you to use the resources below that have been curated to encourage awareness and...

06/06/2025

New research shows the Med-South Lifestyle Program can be scaled across rural public health sites to reduce chronic disease risk in the South.

Participants experienced:
📉 Reduced weight, blood pressure, & sugar intake
🥬 consuming more healthy fats, fruits, & veggies
🪑 Less sitting and sedentary behavior

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Implementation partners reported that an afterschool sports-based program for middle school youth was greatly needed, but inconsistent training, staff turn