The American Public Health Association (APHA) 2025 Annual Meeting held Nov 2-5 in Washington, DC brought together public health professionals from across the country to share new research, innovative practices, and policy insights focused on advancing equity and improving population health. UNE participated through a variety of efforts including the following poster presentations:
Pamela Bruno, M.P.H., Senior Research Associate in the Center for Public Health Practice at the School of Public and Planetary Health, joined colleagues from Missouri and South Carolina to present the poster “Advancing SNAP-Ed Evaluation: Developing Practical E-Metrics for Community Impact Reporting.”
The national study examined how the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) electronic reporting system aligns with both the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework and the needs of program practitioners. Working with researchers from Colorado, Tennessee, and California, the team analyzed national survey data and metric ratings to evaluate how effectively electronic systems capture complex community outcomes. The analysis offered practical recommendations for strengthening e-metrics through an implementation science lens to better document real-world impact and support data-driven decision-making across community-based public health programs.
Keller K, Puma J, Bruno P, Franck K, Quinlan J, Draper C, Foerster S. Advancing SNAP-Ed Evaluation: Developing Practical E-Metrics for Community Impact Reporting. University of Missouri; University of Colorado Denver–Anschutz Medical Campus; University of New England; University of Tennessee Extension; University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health; Carmichael, CA.
Dr. Michele Polacsek, Ph.D, M.H.S. Professor, Public Health, School of Public and Planetary Health with a range of collaborators presented the poster “A Mixed Methods Analysis of Universal Free School Meals Policies’ Impacts on School Food Labor.” UFSM policies, provide free school meals to all students regardless of household income, are associated with increased school meal participation. Increased participation under UFSM was associated with greater staffing needs, workload demands, and recruitment challenges. Staffing shortages were more common among UFSM administrators, while administrative burdens—particularly related to debt collection—were higher in non-UFSM districts. UFSM policies may therefore reduce some administrative burdens but may not fully offset increased labor demands from higher meal participation, potentially leaving many school food programs understaffed. Addressing workforce challenges through better compensation and staffing support is critical for sustaining UFSM policies and high-quality school meal programs.
Chapman L, Gosliner W, Zuercher M, Olarte D, Ritchie L, Schwartz MB, Polacsek M, Patel A, Read M, Hecht C, Hecht K, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Orta-Aleman D, Cohen J. Merrimack College, North Andover, MA; Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA; Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY; University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA; University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT; University of New England, Portland, ME; Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Partnership for a Healthier America, Washington, DC; Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ; Union City, CA; Merrimack College Center for Health Innovation, Research, and Policy, North Andover, MA.
Dr. Carol Ewan Whyte, MSc, MPhil, PhD, Associate Teaching Professor and Program Director, Graduate Programs in Public Health, GPPH, and Sri Banerjee, MD, PhD, MPH, FACE, Adjunct Faculty, GPPH, within the College of Professional Studies, CPS, with colleagues presented the poster “The Synergistic Effect of Diabetes and Anxiety on Overall Mortality” which analyzed U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) linked mortality data to evaluate how anxiety influences mortality risk among adults with diabetes. Both conditions independently increased mortality, but the highest adjusted risk occurred among individuals with co-occurring diabetes and anxiety (1.81). The study underscores the importance of routine anxiety screening and management in diabetes care, including the use of technologies such as continuous glucose monitors and real-time insulin adjustments can improve diabetes management, reduce anxiety, and should be considered.
Banerjee S, Ewan Whyte C, Dunn P, Khubchandani J. The Synergistic Effect of Diabetes and Anxiety on Overall Mortality. Poster presented by: Banerjee S, Walden University; Ewan Whyte C, University of New England; Dunn P, New Mexico University; Khubchandani J, American Heart Association.
Kristina Stewart, MPH, DrPH (c), Assistant Clinical Professor and Assistant Director for Public Health Practice, GPPH, served as session moderator for “Innovations in Tobacco, Nicotine, and Cannabis Use Research (Outstanding Student Work).” The session featured emerging scholarship on tobacco control, nicotine product trends, vaping impacts, cannabis use patterns, and youth policy enforcement. Stewart facilitated high-quality discussion, supported presenter engagement, and contributed to one of the most dynamic student research sessions at the meeting, reinforcing UNE’s national visibility and commitment to student advancement.
Micaela Maynard, M.Ed received the Rising Rural Star Award at this year’s New England Rural Health Association (NERHA) Conference in Groton, CT earlier this month. This award recognizes the dedication and profound impact of emerging leaders who are making significant strides in improving the health and well-being of rural communities across New England. Micaela serves on the NERHA Board of Directors and was accepted into the 2025 Cohort of Rural Health Leadership Institute earlier this year. She is the Program Manager for the Maine AHEC Scholars program in the Center for Public Health Practice, part of the School of Public and Planetary Health.
