A case study on a rural NC academic health department partnership model has been published in Frontiers in Public Health. Led by Dr. Carmen Samuel-Hodge, this article shares how sustained investments, learning, and trust-building are key to advancing public health goals. https://bit.ly/4xPiPti

Frontiers | A community-focused rural academic health department model in North Carolina: elevating community engagement, rural public health practice and research

IntroductionIn decentralized public health systems, rural public health departments have fewer economic resources and higher needs for public health programs...

doi.org

Walk Fairview Day is a youth-led neighborhood walk and celebration to activate the Fairview community in Hillsborough. The Fairview Youth in Action and Food Fitness and Opportunity Research Collaborative supported high school students in researching healthy community advocacy: https://bit.ly/4h17h05

This Summer, HPDP project teams welcomed student interns, Sarah Merrill, Agatha Hunt, and Simone Khandpekar, to explore public health research. Read about their reflections their work this summer and what experiences they will bring with them into their future careers: https://unc.live/3SmU0pp

Beyond the Classroom: Reflections from Three Student Public Health Research Summer Interns - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

This Summer, HPDP project teams welcomed student interns to explore public health research firsthand. The Community Health and Wellness Resource Team (CHWR) worked with Sarah Merrill (Fall ’26), an un...

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HPDP research fellows, Dr. Thomas Keyserling and Dr. Carmen Samuel-Hodge have published an article in JAMA Network Open. The study explored the effectiveness of a Mediterranean-style diet for Southeastern populations to promote weight loss. Read the story: https://unc.live/4c2NYAV

HPDP Researchers Reveal How a Mediterranean-style Diet Pattern Helps Weight Loss and Improve Diet Quality - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

In the DELISH (Delicious Eating for Life in Southern Homes) study, researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill along with collaborators from East Carolina, Duke, Harvard, and Simmons Universities explored the ef...

hpdp.unc.edu

Congratulations to Dr. Jessica Soldavini for receiving the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) Early Career Professional Achievement Award! This award recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of nutrition education and behavior during the early stages of her career.

Today we celebrate a member of our Community Advisory Board, Brian Ellerby, MSPH (UNC, ’88). As the Public Health Director of Anson County and Healthcare Consultant at AIMS Healthcare Consulting, Brian brings knowledge and experience with integrating medical services with community-based settings.

We have exciting news to share! On May 4th, Caroline Dilworth joined HPDP as the new Deputy Director. Caroline Dilworth, PhD, MSPH, brings two decades of experience in public health and research development and administration. Caroline looks forward to supporting the Center and its vital mission.

HPDP's Director, Alice Ammerman, will be speaking on the panel at the ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit in May. Hear from food system leaders, learn how to drive impact, and connect with an extensive network of food waste advocates. Learn more & register: https://summit.refed.org/registration/

Registration - 2026 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit

The 2026 ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit is the premier food waste event of the year. Join us in Charlotte, NC, this May 19-21 for three days of insights, inspiration, and action.

summit.refed.org

Today we celebrate Community Advisory Board member, Lisa Macon Harrison. As the Health Director of Granville Vance Public Health, she has been a leader in public health research and practice. With HPDP, the Rural Roots Hub incorporates food as medicine principles into its work across North Carolina.

HPDP research fellow, Dr. Caroline Thompson, and UNC Gillings PhD candidate, Sarah Soppe, MPH, have published an article in JAMA Network Open about the impact of diagnostic wait time on ovarian cancer survival. Read the story here: https://unc.live/40YyR5v

UNC researchers publish findings in JAMA Network Open about the impact of diagnostic wait time on ovarian cancer survival - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The study, Diagnostic Timing and Ovarian Cancer Survival in North Carolina, has been published in the latest issue of JAMA Network Open. Led by a team of UNC researchers, this study explored the relat...

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Today is Diabetes Alert Day. Diabetes affects our patients, family members, friends, and colleagues. The NC Diabetes Advisory Council (NC DAC) has created the NC Diabetes Guide as a powerful tool to help prevent and manage diabetes. Download it here: https://www.diabetesnc.com/guide/

HPDP researchers published a study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior evaluating the validity of 2 screener tools designed to assess overall diet quality, making it easier for counselors and clinicians to provide lifestyle support for patients. https://unc.live/4c9xS9o

HPDP researchers publish findings validating 2 brief screeners to assess diet quality in Southeastern US individuals - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Validation of a Brief and Very Brief Screener to Assess Overall Diet Quality in a Southeastern US Sample, has been published in the latest issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNE...

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Apply for the Community Health & Wellness Resource (CHWR) Team’s 2026 Summer Research Internship! Undergraduate interns will gain hands-on research experience, work with researchers, and build skills through mentorship and professional development. Apply by February 27th: https://bit.ly/4bxLISP

Join nutrition leaders, professionals, and advocates from across NC at the NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference on March 3rd! This 15th annual gathering brings together people working to expand access to nutritious food for children. Register today! https://bit.ly/3ZDC6P2

Today we celebrate a Community Advisory Board member, Tish Singletary, MA. As the Branch Head for the Community & Clinical Connections at the NC Division of Public Health, she brings 20+ years of expertise at tackling healthy eating, active living, health equity, & chronic disease clinical care.

Food insecurity is especially overlooked among college students, says Jessica Soldavini. The recent SNAP benefits delays and lack of awareness that students may be eligibility both become barriers for college students to access healthy, affordable foods. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/484LvmC

Federal SNAP snafu affects nearly 85,000 NC college students who receive federal food assistance

Another nearly 100,000 students are likely missing out, but lack of knowledge, difficulty, stigma keeps them from signing up.

bit.ly

Dr. Falon Smith and the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team have been awarded funding from the Caplan Foundation for the project Preventing Exclusionary Practices in Early Care and Education: Promoting Social and Emotional Development. Learn more: https://unc.live/3J8q3F3

CHWR Team Receives Caplan Foundation Award to Develop & Test a Go NAPSACC Social Emotional Module - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The Caplan Foundation has awarded funding to principal investigator Dr. Falon Smith, Director of Go NAPACC and Research Scientist with the Community Health & Wellness Resource (CHWR) Team for the proj...

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Drs. Rachel Hirschey and Alison Brenner have been awarded a Special Interest Project grant from the CDC to scale cancer prevention and control interventions across the US. Read the story: https://unc.live/4nrFHJw

Building cancer prevention capacity: HPDP researchers receive CDC Special Interest Project grant to scale cancer prevention and control interventions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a Special Interest Project (SIP) grant to scale cancer prevention and control interventions. The CDC funds SIPs that address a topic of...

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Congratulations to the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team for receiving an NIH grant to launch HomeGrown! This family-centered program is designed to support healthy growth and development in young children with Down syndrome. Read more here: unc.live/464gy2b

CHWR Team Researchers Awarded NIH Grant to Support Healthy Growth of Young Children with Down Syndrome - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded funding to Dr. Erik A Willis and co-investigators at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dr. Heather Wasser, Dr. Seema Agrawal,  and Emmy ...

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HPDP Research Fellow, Lindsey Smith Taillie was featured on UNC Research Stories. Learn about her journey from an environmental activist in her middle school cafeteria to becoming a food policy expert and co-founded the UNC Mini Mart at HPDP. Read the story: endeavors.unc.edu/a-spoonful-o...

A Spoonful of Policy - UNC Research Stories

Lindsey Smith Taillie pushes for healthy food policies across the globe to improve eating habits for families and children.

endeavors.unc.edu

Juneteenth honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans throughout the former Confederacy. The NC African American Heritage Commission curated resources to build awareness for the holiday, educate ourselves on liberation in NC, and share events to celebrate across NC: aahc.nc.gov/juneteenth

New research shows the Med-South Lifestyle Program can be scaled across rural public health sites to reduce chronic disease risk in the South. Participants experienced: 📉 Reduced weight & blood pressure 🥬 consuming more fruits & veggies 🪑 Less sedentary behavior Read: doi.org/10.3389/fpub...

Frontiers | Scaling up the Med-South Lifestyle Program in public health settings to reduce chronic disease risk: a hybrid implementation-effectiveness study

IntroductionMajor disparities persist in heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, with rates highest among those living in the southeastern and central parts of...

doi.org

UNC Research is bringing healthy childcare across NC & beyond. Go NAPSACC works with childcare providers to improve the health of young children across NC and the country. This is research with purpose. Learn more about our research here: go.unc.edu/GNS #UNCResearchisNC

UNC Research is making Southern food healthier. The Med-South Lifestyle Program helped 500+ NC residents: ✅ lose weight ✅ eat more fruits & veggies ✅ lower their blood pressure Learn more: go.unc.edu/q6PSw #UNCResearchIsNC

UNC Research highlights how campus centers are tackling society’s biggest challenges together. We’re proud to see HPDP being recognized for the work we do in prevention of chronic disease and promoting child health across 80 NC counties! Read the full story here: research.unc.edu/2025/05/07/c...

Carolina’s Catalyst: Pan-Campus Research Centers & Institutes - UNC Research

Our university’s collaborative spirit is embodied by a network of interdisciplinary units that fuel discovery, attract top talent, empower students, and generate real-world impact.

research.unc.edu

Childhood Obesity has released a special issue honoring the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team’s late founder and director, Dianne S. Ward. The issue celebrates her legacy of improving child health and wellness in early care and education settings. Read the story here: tinyurl.com/385v2my7

Childhood Obesity Special Issue Released Honoring Community Health & Wellness Resource Team’s Late Founder & Director, Dr. Dianne S. Ward - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Childhood Obesity has released a special issue honoring the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team’s late founder and director, Dianne S. Ward, EdD, FTOS, FACSM. Dr. Ward was a beloved friend, educ...

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The FFORC team has developed resources for you to learn about SNAP-Ed, how it supports children, families, veterans, healthcare, and local economies in NC, and how we can advocate for it's continued funding. Find the full reports: tinyurl.com/fforcsnaped @unc-fforc.bsky.social

HPDP researchers, Drs. Jimikaye Courtney and McKenna Roudebush, just published two studies on the impact of increased alcohol home delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Get the story here: hpdp.unc.edu/2025/03/hpdp...

HPDP research team publishes two studies about the impact of alcohol home delivery on alcohol consumption trends and related consequences - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

HPDP researchers have completed two studies into the impact of increased alcohol home delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The studies found that increased access to alcohol home delivery was associ...

hpdp.unc.edu

March is #WomensHistoryMonth! 🎉 Let us honor the contributions of the women in our lives who keep pushing for a healthier, more equitable future for all!