The (COPH) Chiles Center brought together students, faculty and community members for its 2026 Chiles Center Synergy event, showcasing research and reinforcing the role of collaboration in advancing public health.
Hosted by the , the event featured 24 poster presentations spanning maternal and child health, health policy, access to care and community engagement, followed by a keynote address focused on the importance of policy in public health.
COPH Lobby during opening remarks.
鈥淭he goal for the Chiles Center Synergy was to bring together students and faculty from across all degree levels and concentrations in the college who are interested in presenting their research and practice efforts to benefit the lives of children and families,鈥 said , director of the Chiles Center, COPH senior associate dean of research and practice and professor in the .
Organizers said this year鈥檚 event stood out for its strong attendance and the enthusiasm of its participants. Presenters and attendees engaged in discussions that extended beyond research findings, emphasizing connection-building and shared purpose.
Poster presenters Taylor Moore (left) and Madeleine Lawson (right) with faculty mentor Dr. Heewon Gray (middle)
鈥淚t wasn't just about presenting work; it was about building connections, finding common ground and reinforcing the collaborative spirit that is essential to improving outcomes for families and communities,鈥 said Moet Bailey, project coordinator and COPH alumna.
The poster session highlighted a range of public health priorities. Several projects focused on strengthening health policy education, including identifying knowledge gaps among students and exploring how emerging tools like artificial intelligence are shaping curriculum development. Other presentations addressed pressing maternal and child health concerns, such as prenatal opioid exposure, preterm birth and Black maternal mortality.
(left to right) Naomi Itacy, Dr. Xonjenese Jacobs, Taishayla Davis, Teionna Likely
鈥淎dditional research examined barriers to care, including how clinical environments and intersecting identities influence health outcomes, as well as community-driven solutions like youth advocacy and peer mentorship programs,鈥 Bailey said. 鈥淎ltogether, the presentations painted a picture of a community that is not just studying these issues but actively working to solve them.鈥
The event鈥檚 keynote speaker, , professor and former dean of the COPH, delivered a lecture titled, 鈥淎ligning the Stars: Policy Begins with You,鈥 encouraging attendees to see themselves as contributors to policy regardless of their role.
She described two types of contributors - those who focus on data and science and those who bring passion and lived experience - emphasizing that both are essential to meaningful change.
(left to right) Dr. Ellen Daley, Dr. Donna Petersen, Dr. Steve Freedman
鈥淭hat reframing was really empowering,鈥 Bailey said. 鈥淚t opened the door for everyone in the room to see themselves as a contributor regardless of their role or career stage.鈥
Petersen also highlighted ongoing efforts within the college to expand health policy education across undergraduate, master鈥檚 and doctoral programs, with a focus on student-driven curriculum development.
鈥淲e are crafting a state-of-the-art curriculum that will position our graduates for success in the policy arena,鈥 Petersen said. 鈥淥ur future depends on it.鈥
Students said the experience offered valuable opportunities to present their work and connect with peers and faculty.
鈥淭he Synergy was an amazing event full of interesting people and exciting research,鈥 said Olivia Villoria, a student. 鈥淒r. Petersen's lecture was so inspiring and reinvigorated my passion for public health and health policy.鈥
Annabelle Zielinski, a student, said the event helped strengthen her presentation skills and expand her professional network.
鈥淚 was able to practice my presentation skills and network with faculty who found value in my work,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 had a lot of fun and am looking forward to future Chiles Center events.鈥
The winner of the Charles Mahan Best Student Paper in Maternal and Child Health award was presented. Dr. Amandeep Ratta, a doctoral candidate in community and family health, on her paper titled "Referral Linkages to Support Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals with Opioid Use Disorders in Florida: A Social Network Analysis."
In addition to student presentations, the event recognized outstanding research. Amandeep Ratta, a , received the Charles Mahan Best Student Paper in Maternal and Child Health award for her work on referral linkages supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals with opioid use disorders in Florida.
Daley said the event plays a key role in preparing students for careers in public health by encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.
鈥淭he synergy helped support students鈥 academic, research and practice experience by providing real-world collaboration across different focal areas of the college,鈥 she said. 鈥淯pon graduation, we hope that all of our students have experience in working across areas of interest and expertise.鈥