The efforts of three industrious teams from USF鈥檚 (COPH) may follow different paths, but they speak as one voice in their message for social change.
The dangers of nicotine, mental health issues involving pregnancy and hurricane recovery were topics at the Florida Public Health Association鈥檚 2025 Student Conference in Orlando, Fla., where COPH students argued their cases for improving lives in Florida. The association exists to benefit the state鈥檚 public health professionals, students and infrastructure through education and collaboration.
Specifically, the student groups presented research and recommendations on vaping and addiction, the impact of overturning Roe vs Wade on mental health and hurricane recovery in Hillsborough County.
Fiona Giardino is a graduate student focusing on reproducing health and policy. (Photo courtesy of Giardino)
Kayleigh Murray, Allha Akrami and Anamaria Penagos discussed 鈥淰apes on Campus: Using Social Marketing to Address Student Vaping,鈥� an effort to inform more people about the dangers of smoking e-cigarettes. Murray is an MPH student studying and plans to graduate in August. Akram recently graduated with her and Penagos is expecting to graduate in December with an MPH in .
Known as vapes, these devices are the most common form of nicotine use among young adults. Although often advertised as a 鈥渟afer鈥欌�� alternative to cigarettes, vapes contain toxins and can lead to nicotine addiction and poor mental health outcomes, said Murray.
鈥淒espite the high rates of use of these harmful products, there have been few efforts to tailor prevention,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淰OC [Vapes on Campus] aims to develop a social marketing campaign to reduce vaping and nicotine use among college students in Florida.鈥欌��
With funding from the Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida, VOC plans to channel its messaging on social media, the most common information platform among college campuses. Part of the VOC鈥檚 mission is to combat the more than $8 billion in annual advertising by the tobacco industry, much of it targeted at young people on social platforms.
The VOC conducts surveys, collects technical data and supports student research. For its presentation, the team used information from the Truth Initiative, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. Efforts to combat vaping is critical to the health of future generations, Murray said.
鈥淭here is evidence that nicotine delivery devices, especially those marketed towards youth, could lead to increased addiction, harm developing brains and potentially increase the risk of future tobacco use and addiction,鈥欌�� she said.
鈥淭hese devices are often marketed with flavors and designs that appeal to young people, increasing the risk of initiation and addiction 鈥� While some argue that they can help smokers quit, there's no conclusive evidence that they are safe or effective for smoking cessation and they pose a significant risk to youth.鈥欌��
Bich Huynh presented on the topic 鈥淪ocial Vulnerability Assessments for Hurricane Recovery in Hillsborough County,鈥� along with Carla Handal. (Photo courtesy of Huynh)
Another presentation at the Orlando, Fla., conference was about how the overturn of Roe vs. Wade affectsmental health, given by Fiona Giardino, a graduate student focusing on reproducing health and policy.
Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision in 1973 that granted the right to abortion services across the country. The Supreme Court鈥檚 2022 decision overturned this precedent, leaving millions of needy people in areas where abortion is severely restricted or banned. The overturn of Roe v. Wade has undeniable and profound effects on mental health, Giardino said, leading to increased stress and anxiety to long-term emotional and psychological consequences.
鈥淚t denies people the right to make choices about their own bodies and this does not promote well-being,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crucial that we continue to support policies that prioritize both physical and mental health and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health care.鈥欌��
The team鈥檚 presentation included student testimonials, including 22-year-old Jenna: 鈥淚 had a pregnancy scare in April and felt a little under the weather, but so scared out of my mind. The mental stress I would have to live with for the rest of my life 鈥樷�� was overwhelming.
The overturn of Roe v. Wade has undeniable effects on the mental health of thousands of people will continually need to be addressed, Giardino said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crucial to (to support) for policies that prioritize both tphysical and mental health and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health care,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淢oving forward, I hope my research will educate others who are also interested in learning more about the overturn of Roe v. Wade and its profound effects on reproductive health.鈥欌��
In their topic, 鈥淪ocial Vulnerability Assessments for Hurricane Recovery in Hillsborough County,鈥� Carla Handal and Bich Huynh focused their research on people who might receive limited or no access to essential care following a severe storm.
The research collected information on areas that suffered significant storm damage last year. According to Huynh, her team developed geographic information system (GIS) vulnerability maps to visualize high-impact areas, with risks of disaster, flooding and food insecurity. The data can be used to strengthen disaster recovery by helping to 鈥渂uild resilience in the face of future storms.鈥欌��
鈥淭his project is relevant because it identifies the most vulnerable areas and populations in Hillsborough County to ensure that resources and aid are allocated effectively,鈥欌�� Huynh said. 鈥淭his study will allow local leaders and residents to make informed decisions that protect lives and livelihoods.鈥欌��