Center for Community Health & Prevention, URMC

11/20/2025

We were honored to host Leseliey Welch, MPH, MBA, a founder of Birth Detroit and Birth Center Equity, last week as the keynote speaker of our Dr. Bernard Guyer Lecture Series and Special Public Health Grand Rounds. Welch shared "Beloved Birth 50 by 50 – An Invitation to Courageous Collective Action."

The event focused on maternal health and also included presentations from local experts about important work moving the needle in our region. Special thanks to Dina Faticone, chief program officer at Common Ground Health, Twylla Dillion, MBA, PhD, executive director of HealthConnect One, and Theresa Green, PhD, MBA, director of Community Health Education and Policy at our Center.

11/18/2025

It is encouraging to see the drop in hospitalizations in infants after the rollout of the maternal RSV vaccination and the use of nirsevimab.

The Rochester/NYS Emerging Infections Program has played a key role in tracking RSV hospitalizations in Monroe and surrounding counties as part of the CDC’s RESP-NET. Brenda Tesini, MD, leads this surveillance as co-principal investigator, which is coordinated by our Center.

Tesini recently wrote a powerful essay illustrating what she would see as a physician treating a baby with RSV, how it changed since introducing the vaccine, and her wish for it to be a thing of the past. >> https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/review-fall-2025-rsv-newborn-symptoms-infants-vaccines-677722/

11/18/2025

Congratulations to the latest graduating class of our Rochester Diabetes Prevention Program! 👏🏼🎉

The year-long, lifestyle change program is designed to help people who have been diagnosed with prediabetes prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Every week, participants gathered together at our Center and learned from each other and Registered Dietitian Elizabeth Eisnor. Elizabeth shared strategies for improving nutrition and incorporating physical activity. Small changes can make a big difference!

To learn more about the Diabetes Prevention Program, call our clinical team at (585) 602-0720.

11/14/2025

The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester is hosting Haudenosaunee Heritage Celebration Day, in collaboration with Friends of Ganondagan State Historic Site Program Director Jeanette Jemison (Mohawk, Snipe Clan) -- this Sunday, November 16, from noon to 4 p.m.

Enjoy free museum admission, live dances and demonstrations with the Allegany River Indian Dancers led by Bill Crouse (Seneca, Hawk Clan), storytelling with Ronnie Reitter (Seneca, Wolf Clan), and more.

Join us for Haudenosaunee Heritage Celebration Day, in collaboration with Friends of Ganondagan Program Director Jeanette Jemison (Mohawk, Snipe Clan)! Enjoy free museum admission, live dances and demonstrations with the […]

11/14/2025

Join us next Wednesday, November 19 for lunch at the Foodlink Community Café! The first 100 Mission Meals served, from 11 am – 1pm. (while supplies last), are on us! The café's Mission Meal includes an entree, side and bottled water and is offered to any customer who is seeking food assistance — no questions asked.

Visit the downtown Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County NY at 115 South Ave. (Bausch & Lomb building) for casual conversation and a delicious meal, made by culinary apprentices from the Foodlink Career Fellowship. All are welcome to attend. Substitutions, or anything not included in a Mission Meal, are available at cost.

All proceeds support Foodlink’s mission of ending hunger and building healthier communities.

Darrell Vickers, peer educator for the NYSDOH Prostate Cancer Education grant, will also be at the library providing education on prostate cancer and screening options.

11/12/2025

Join us for our next Got Health? talk at 12 p.m. Friday, November 14 at the Lewis Street YMCA Neighborhood Center (53 Lewis St.).

Emily Clark, DO, medical director of UR Medicine Department of Psychiatry's Finger Lakes Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease, will share what Alzheimer’s disease is and how it can affect our loved ones. This session will provide plenty of time for questions and discussion about our experiences.

11/11/2025

UR Medicine's Cold, Flu, and RSV Guide helps you stay updated on seasonal illnesses: symptoms, prevention tips, and when to seek care >> https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/get-care-now/cold-flu-and-rsv-guide-2025

Check out the Local Flu Tracker at the top that links to RocHealthData and surveillance performed by our Emerging Infections Program team!

11/10/2025

Thanks to the team at 1039 WDKX for having us on the latest episode of the Check Your Health podcast, provided in partnership with University of Rochester!

Our own Dr. Susan Gasparino and Wilmot Cancer Institute's Dr. Francisco Cartujano-Barrera joined host Dr. Shaun Nelms to talk about smoking and va**ng risks, the many benefits of cutting back and quitting, and the resources available through the UR Medicine To***co Treatment Program.

Listen >> https://wdkx.com/podcast/check-your-health-podcast-with-university-of-rochester-ep-44/

Are you ready to start? Call us at (585) 602-0720 to determine which of our services will best meet your needs.

11/08/2025

Earlier this week, Theresa Green, PhD, MBA, presented at the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting and Expo in Washington, DC. Dr. Green is an associate professor of Public Health Sciences at University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry and director of Community Health Education and Policy at our Center.

Dr. Green presented "Use of PhotoVoice to Add Authentic Community Member Input to Community Health Planning: Monroe County, NY, AmeriCorps and the Community Health Needs Assessment" with Walida Monroe-Sims of City of Rochester, NY.

📸 PhotoVoice is a participatory research method where community members use photography and storytelling to document and reflect on their experiences, empowering them to share their perspectives and advocate for change.

Several other Public Health Sciences faculty members attended the annual event and represented URochester with a table in the expo hall. The meeting and expo was attended by more than 11,000 public health advocates.

11/07/2025

Our own Laura Sugarwala, MBA, RD, is participating in next weekend's TEDxRochester event, happening November 15 at the Rochester Museum & Science Center! She'll be speaking to the intersection of individual identity and community-engaged work.

Congratulations, Laura! 👏

Learn about the other speakers and find tickets >> https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/63522

11/07/2025

DYK: You can see the latest flu, COVID-19 and RSV data for Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Orleans, Wayne and Yates Counties on the RocHealthData dashboard.

Get an in-depth and interactive look at the details, including number of cases, rates by age group, and more ⤵
https://rochealthdata.org/influenza-surveillance-dashboard/?l=36055

11/06/2025

SNAP households should continue to complete all SNAP requirements including recertifications, periodic reports, and reporting changes. Applications for SNAP will continue to be accepted. Households approved for SNAP after November 1 will not receive benefits until the federal shutdown ends.

Recent Federal SNAP Work Rule changes mean that some adults aged 18 through 64 without dependents must meet able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) work rules to keep SNAP.

Find out if the SNAP work rules for ABAWD apply to you. >> https://monroecounty.prod.simpligov.com/prod/portal/ShowWorkFlow/AnonymousEmbed/ad1b454c-34c4-4e6f-ac89-f9f946b50661

Find more information and resources, provided by Monroe County, NY >> https://www.monroecounty.gov/snap-abawd-changes