We'd like to thank the following people for their contributions to our lab:
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Lianne NovakGraduate Research assistant
Lianne is a first year MPH student (2020-21) in the Individualized Concentration. She graduated Cum Laude from Michigan Technological University in Houghton Michigan with a B.S in Mathematics and minors in Statistics and Leadership, though is originally from the Cincinnati Ohio area. Her research interests lie in health disparities, access to healthcare and telemedicine, rural health, and improving opportunities to live a healthy lifestyle. Outside of school, she enjoys crocheting, quilting and sewing, photography, watching volleyball and ice hockey, and playing music. |
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Andy CanizaresGraduate Research assistant
Born in Havana and raised in Buffalo, Andy is a graduate student at the University at Buffalo pursuing his dual-degree in a Master of Public Health (with a concentration in Community Health and Health Behavior) and a Master of Social Work. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University at Buffalo. His experiences prior to joining the lab include research and evaluation support for community health interventions for Black and LGBTQ+ populations. During his time in graduate school, Andy developed interests in the sociopolitical aspects of public health and social work, addressing fatphobia in public health, gender-based violence prevention, program evaluation, and organizing mutual aid for gender-marginalized people of color. In his personal life, Andy enjoys reading, creative writing, playing video games, and spending time with friends. |
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Hannah PremoAlumni Graduate Research Assistant
Hannah is a second year MPH student, focusing in Community Health and Health Behavior and Public Health Policy. Originally from Central New York, they graduated from Binghamton University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience and a minor in Spanish. Prior to joining the lab, they did bench science in a molecular biophysical lab at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The goals of the lab align with their vision to increase primary disease prevention and awareness, provide health education to the community, and champion social justice and equity in the Buffalo community. They enjoy playing video games, hiking, spending time with their Guinea pigs, and reading murder mystery and dystopian novels in their free time. |
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Jessica Burke, MPHAlumni Graduate Research assistant
Jessica is a first year MPH graduate student in the department of Community Health and Health Behavior at the University at Buffalo. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Health and Health and Human services with a concentration in Community Mental Health and a minor in Sociology. Jessica is from Putnam County, New York and is interested in studying nutritional health disparities and reproductive health. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, spending time outdoors and attending concerts. |
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Camrin BrownAlumni Undergraduate research assistant
Camrin is an undergraduate student at the University at Buffalo and graduating in May. She is one of the undergraduate research assistants in the CHILab working on the Veggie Van study. Her interest in public health stems from her passion for social justice, community engagement, and improving health in vulnerable populations. She is also a pre-med student pursuing a career as an orthopedic physician and currently loves working as an EMT. She also enjoy working with the CSTEP program at UB as a Campus Health Educator to inform the public on service learning and organ donation. She has always had an interest in mentoring and learning about how she can make a difference in my community. |
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Dhathri SrungaramAlumni Undergraduate research assistant
Dhathri is an undergraduate student currently pursuing a bachelors degree in biotechnology and in public health. She is interested in gaining knowledge about community health interventions focused on nutrition to inform her premedical perspective. She is currently a research assistant in the Veggie Van Study and hopes that this will help her learn more about health disparities in the community. |
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Michael Austin, MBAAlumni Business Sustainability Consultant
Michael is a native of Rochester, NY, but has made a home in Buffalo since moving here to attend school at the University at Buffalo. Michael is a dual PharmD/MBA student at UB, completed the MBA as of May 2020 and is set to complete the PharmD program in May 2021. Coming from a background in healthcare, Michael is extremely motivated and inspired by the Veggie Van project and the positive impact that nutrition can have on community health and chronic health conditions. He also has a passion for data modeling and data analytics and will be helping to improve sustainability for the Veggie Van program and the communities it serves. In his free time, Michael enjoys outdoor activities, music, and woodworking. |
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Jenna MattsonAlumni Graduate Research assistant
Jenna, a native from Albany, is a first year MPH student at the University of Buffalo in the department of Community Health and Health Behavior. Jenna graduated from the University at Buffalo in the Fall of 2020 with a Bachelors of Science in Public Health, and a minor in Counseling. Jenna is interested in working in underserved communities, and improving health conditions in low-income countries. Jenna hopes to study environmental health and epidemiology, and enter the Peace Corps upon graduating from the MPH program. She enjoys volunteering and getting involved within her community at home, and in Buffalo. In her free time, Jenna enjoys skiing with her friends and family, swimming, and music. |
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Rosaura RomeroAlumni Research Data Coordinator/ Communication Manager
Rosaura is a Research Data Coordinator in Community Health Interventions Lab within the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior at the University at Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions. She will also be pursuing an MSW in Fall 2021. Rosaura holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology and Health and Human Services with a concentration in Community Mental Health from the University at Buffalo. Rosaura works with our community partners in facilitating and implementing study protocols to understand if mobile produce markets can impact fruit and vegetable intake and other related health outcomes in lower-income and underserved communities. Rosaura was raised in Harlem, NYC and has a passion for social justice and community organizing. |
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Kate Warner, MPHAlumni Research Assistant
Kate is studying for her Master's in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health and Health Behavior. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Psychology with minors in Art and Spanish. Her public health interests include addressing health disparities in refugee and immigrant communities. She is involved with data collection and management in the Veggie Van Study. Kate loves to run, travel, and paint landscapes of places she's visited. |
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Sibaridibo BanunaAlumni intern
Sibaridibo, a native of Buffalo, is an undergraduate student at University at Buffalo, majoring in Public Health. After graduating from the University at Buffalo, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in Public Health. She is interested in research related to reducing health disparities and improving food security in low-income communities. During her spare time, Sibaridibo enjoys planting vegetables in her garden, and volunteering at non-profit organizations. |
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Aaron FantiAlumni Research Assistant
Aaron is from Buffalo, New York and is entering into graduate school to attain is MPH with an epidemiology specialization. During his undergraduate collegiate career Aaron sported a 3.7 GPA, majoring in public health and minoring in nutrition. He is currently working on the Veggie Van study which aims to learn how mobile markets affect what people eat, as well as providing access to fruits and vegetables in low income neighborhoods. He plans to one day become a Research Scientist in which he can conduct his own epidemiological studies! |