News & Events

Bennett recognized with Dr. Albert David Kaiser Medal

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Center for Community Health & Prevention Director and Founder Nancy "Nana" M. Bennett, M.D., M.S., was recognized by the Rochester Academy of Medicine (RAoM) with the prestigious Dr. Albert David Kaiser Medal: Physician Lifetime Achievement Award as part of its annual meeting and award program Tuesday evening. 

The Dr. Albert David Kaiser Medal is awarded to one physician who exemplifies outstanding professional and personal qualities and lifetime service in areas of medicine, public health and/or community welfare. The award represents recognition of lifetime achievement of local, regional, national, and even international contributions to medicine.

Bennett, Pioneer in Community Health, Plans to Step Down

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Nancy “Nana” M. Bennett, M.D., M.S., founder and director of the University of Rochester Medical Center’s (URMC) Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP) plans to step down from her role with CCHP after nearly two decades. Bennett plans to stay on as director until her successor is named.

“The time has come for someone with fresh perspectives, ideas and experience to take over as the Center’s director,” shared Bennett. “I am extremely proud of all that we’ve accomplished at the Center, which would not have been possible without the hard work and support of our staff, faculty, University leadership and our dedicated community partners. We’ve made great strides locally and regionally, and I look forward to watching the Center grow and develop in the future.”

Using Improv to Address COVID Vaccine Hesitancy

Friday, September 2, 2022

As the COVID pandemic drags on and we are faced with outbreaks of infectious diseases both new (monkeypox) and old (polio), health care workers are turning to improv theater for help navigating sensitive conversations with vaccine-hesitant patients. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have developed a program that combines improv theater techniques with coaching on how to tap into patients’ inner motivations to help health care workers guide their patients toward vaccination.  

The program, described in a JAMA Arts and Medicine article published today, left nearly 80 percent of its health care worker participants feeling more confident and able to improve their conversations with patients. And nearly 30 percent believed their patients got the COVID vaccine as a result of the change in their conversational approach.

Edith Williams Named Founding Director of the New Office of Health Equity Research

Monday, June 27, 2022

Edith M. Williams, Ph.D., associate professor of Public Health Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, has been named the founding director of the Office of Health Equity Research, which is housed in the UR CTSI and is a crucial part of the medical center’s Equity and Anti-Racism Action Plan. Williams, a Rochester native with decades of experience in health equity research, leadership and mentorship, will take up the role on September 1.

Center Recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion

Thursday, May 5, 2022

The Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP) at the University of Rochester Medical Center is pleased to be recognized by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a Healthy People 2030 Champion.

As a Healthy People 2030 Champion, CCHP has demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the Healthy People 2030 vision of a society in which all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being across the lifespan. ODPHP recognizes CCHP, along with other Healthy People 2030 Champions, as part of a growing network of organizations partnering with ODPHP to improve health and well-being at the local, state, and tribal level.

Teen Health & Success Partnership Receives $300k Award

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

​The Center for Community Health & Prevention's Teen Health and Success Partnership (THSP) was awarded $300,000 in support of its Healthcare Career Pathway Program (HCPP). The award is part of the omnibus appropriation bill recently released by Congress.

The THSP helps high school students in the City of Rochester, by focusing on mentorship and professional development to increase graduation rates and post-high school training and education completion, so that participants can achieve their dream job in health care.

The funding will expand the THSP’s efforts through its HCPP (particularly with East High School's Career and Technical Education program), which contributes to meeting local health care workforce demand. The HCPP helps students gain relevant work experience, complete training/education programs and attain a promotion into a higher-wage job along their desired health care career path. The four new pathways include: nursing, pharmacy, patient services and clinical laboratory technicians.

This request was one of only 10 community project requests that Congressman Joe Morelle submitted for funding for his entire district (out of hundreds of funding requests) and is for the total amount requested. The University of Rochester is deeply grateful to Rep. Joe Morelle for his efforts and support, as well as Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for their support for this important project.

Satcher Awards Recognize Contributions to Community Health

Monday, April 4, 2022

The 13th annual Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards, presented by the Center for Community Health & Prevention of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), honored three URMC faculty and staff for their contributions to advancing community health and health equity in our region. Sidney Hankerson, M.D., M.B.A., associate professor and vice chair for Community Engagement in the Department of Psychiatry and director of Mental Health Equity Research in the Institute for Health Equity Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, presented the keynote address for the event.

Community Health Policy & Education Director Launches Innovative Course

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Exciting news! A new free, online course “Community Engagement in Research and Population Health,” developed by our own Theresa Green, PhD, MBA, director of Community Health Policy and Education and assistant professor of Public Health Sciences at URMC, just launched!

The course is housed on a platform called Coursera, which provides access to many Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and can be viewed all over the world. 

Explore the importance of engaging our community as researchers, educators and managers to improve the health of our population. Learn how health systems are changing to better measure and address community needs, both inside and outside of health care delivery. In this course, participants will gain an understanding of the changing landscape of the health system, learn how delivery systems work together to plan health improvement and how effective community-based participation in research and intervention is crucial to developing effective solutions.

Users can learn at their own pace, with their own deadlines. The course is made up of informative videos and readings – with a few quizzes throughout. CCHP faculty and staff also contributed their expertise in some of the videos. A certificate of completion is available at the end of the course, for a fee.