Dr. Szegda Presents at APHA's 2022 Annual Meeting

November 15, 2022

Kathleen Szegda and Erin Hennessy from Tufts University presented at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting and Expo. Their presentation was called At the Intersection of Community Engagement and ROADS: Lessons learned from the Research on Active Design in Springfield Research Study. It explored the strengths and challenges of participatory community-research partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration.


The R.O.A.D.S. Study was initiated in 2018 at the request of Live Well Springfield and was funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The research aims to evaluate Complete Streets changes and their impact on health. The term “Complete Streets” refers to streets that are designed with all users in mind, including cyclists and walkers. The City of Springfield adopted a Complete Streets Policy in 2016, which has led to changes throughout the city. Data collection for the study is complete, and analysis is currently underway.


Kathleen Szegda also participated in a poster session at APHA’s Annual Meeting, sharing findings from our health impact assessment about the use of CORIs in housing decisions, particularly among older adults in Hampden County. 

share this

Related Articles

Upcoming Webinar Sept 26 About Vaping & Nicotine Pouches

September 12, 2025
Vaping & Nicotine Pouches: Understanding the New Landscape Date: Friday, September 26, 2026 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm Join us for an informative webinar as we explore the evolving landscape of tobacco and nicotine use, with a special focus on vaping and nicotine pouches like Zyns. This session will offer a high-level overview of emerging products, usage trends, and potential mitigation strategies—especially relevant for youth, families, community-based organizations (CBOs), and municipalities. Featured Speakers: Dr. Nicole Porther, Chair of the Department of Health Professions, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Heather Warner, MPH, Hampshire Franklin Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Coordinator, Collaborative for Educational Services Moderator: Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western MA

New Report! Rural Realities: Financial insecurity and health inequities in our rural communities

September 10, 2025
Check out our new report, Rural Realities: Financial insecurity and health inequities in our rural communities—insights from the 2023 Community Health Equity Survey - Western MA and Statewide . We created this report as part of our work as a Regional Data to Action Provider for the Community Health Equity Initiative . Rural communities have unique needs. It is important to understand how inequities and challenges manifest in rural areas in our Western MA region to support action based on assets and unique needs.

The Many Steps to Getting a Question on MA’s Statewide Ballot

August 19, 2025
2025-26 Ballot Question Timeline Initiative Petition for a Law