The event brought together 15 community partners, University of Miami affiliates and research labs to support connections tied to field experience, capstone, thesis, internship and career opportunities for M.P.H. and M.S. students.
Organizations in attendance included the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, National Alliance on Mental Illness Miami-Dade County, United Way Miami and the Adapt Foundation, along with University of Miami programs such as the IDEA Exchange, mCARES Lab, Pediatric Mobile Clinic, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center initiatives and Toppel Career Services.
Held in alignment with National Public Health Week, the event also reflected a broader focus on strengthening connections between academic training and community-based public health practice.
The format of the event encouraged direct, small-group conversations, allowing students and partners to move beyond introductions and engage in more focused discussions about organizational priorities, ongoing projects and potential opportunities. The scale of the event created an environment where conversations could be more intentional, giving students the opportunity to ask questions, share interests and better understand how their training can translate into practice.
“Community partners consistently noted that students were engaged, professional and came prepared with thoughtful questions about organizational work and opportunities,” said Shameka Jenkins, M.S., senior program manager.
That engagement was echoed by partners in attendance.
“The students were very eager to learn more about our organization and clearly understood their interests, which made it easier to identify where they might be a strong fit,” said Monique Tessier, general manager of Adapt Foundation. “Even when a student felt a role might not align, many were able to point us to peers who could be a better fit, continuing the connection beyond the event.”
Students also noted the value of the setting, describing it as approachable and informative, and highlighting how direct interaction with organizations helped clarify potential pathways for their capstone, research and career interests.
“What stood out to me was the students’ passion for public health and the diversity of their research interests,” said Bria-Necole A. Diggs, M.S.P.H., assistant director of the GCAP Research Collaboratory and Ph.D. student in epidemiology. “They were highly engaging and clearly motivated to make a meaningful impact in the field.”
From Training To Practice
A slideshow highlighting alumni experiences illustrated how connections formed through field placements can shape long-term professional trajectories.
One example featured Alyssa Falise, Ph.D., M.S.P.H. ’17, who completed her field experience with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County’s Office of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Immunization Services.
“The skills I developed and the connections I built helped me land a job after graduation,” Falise said. “This foundational training continues to shape my career in substance use-related surveillance and research.”
The event reinforced a consistent theme across National Public Health Week programming: relationships built during training often extend into long-term professional opportunities.
“Opportunities like this build a trust-centered public health workforce by fostering bidirectional engagement,” said Denise Vidot, Ph.D. ’15, associate professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. “Seeing former students now leading in community organizations underscores how these moments become both a reunion and a recommitment to shared values that drive community-engaged science.”
Written by Deycha Torres Hernández, published April 14, 2026.
