People Group Archives: Public Health

Dr. Piotr Lagod is a postdoctoral scholar in the Human Health Outcomes of Exposure to Environmental Toxins Lab (HHOT). His current research focuses on the negative health outcomes associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs), specifically blue-green algae and red tide (Karenia brevis). Over the past decade, the increasing frequency, severity, and duration of HABs have […]

Kaitlyn Rechenberg is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing. She is a board-certified pediatric nurse practitioner and pediatric mental health specialist with 10 years of clinical experience working with adolescents and young adults. She is an expert in conducting interventional research with adolescents and young adults living with chronic […]

Marissa “Mari” Mackiewicz is an assistant professor at UCF’s College of Nursing and a nurse scientist whose work focuses on ensuring all older adults have access to healthcare. Her research interests include substance use disorders and unmet oral health needs in older adult populations. Prior to joining UCF, Mackiewicz held post-doctoral positions at the University […]

Jethro Raphael Suarez is a biomedical engineering researcher in the Healthy Aging Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing. His research focuses on the static balance performance and physical activity levels of older adults. Additionally, he applies his engineering expertise to develop cost-effective rehabilitative assistive devices designed to enhance mobility and improve quality of life for […]

A broadly experienced clinician, researcher, educator and leader, Kristine Gauthier serves as a clinical professor and assistant dean for clinical affairs at UCF’s College of Nursing. She has previously served in similar roles at universities in Florida and Colorado. Prior to her academic career, Gauthier practiced for more than a decade as a pediatric nurse […]

Lecturer Caroline M. Griffin’s nursing career began in 1998 in the rural Andes of Ecuador, where she volunteered for two years with the Peace Corps just after earning her BSN. Back in the U.S., Griffin worked as a bedside nurse in a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient settings before earning her MSN and Family […]

Kimberly Navarro is a Certified Nurse Midwife and Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about providing high quality care, ameliorating maternal health racial inequities, combating maternal mortality and promoting the normalcy of pregnancy. She has over 15 years of experience in women’s health and has been involved in serving her community and […]

Darcy Vetro Ravndal is a public health nurse practitioner with an extensive background in program development and education. She is deeply committed to advocating for quality, accessible healthcare for all children and adolescents. Ravndal served as the primary clinician at the Edgewater High School Student Health Center for 10 years and has been instrumental in […]

Associate Professor Rebecca Koszalinski investigates the relationships between air, water, the environment, and health outcomes and leads the interdisciplinary Human Health Outcomes of Exposure to Environmental Toxins Lab at UCF’s College of Nursing. Her harmful algal bloom research seeks to evaluate significant health care implications of potential toxin exposures. She is currently the primary investigator […]

As a critical care- and case management-trained registered nurse, a military veteran and dependent, and a food pantry volunteer, Jennifer M. Crook had the opportunity to work in multiple states in the U.S. where she identified not only the existence of widespread food and nutritional insecurity but a connection between nutrition, chronic inflammation and chronic […]