Congratulations, Dr. Michelle Silverio!

On May 14, Michelle Silverio, a DPH student in the Health Policy and Management track, successfully defended her dissertation, “The Reproductive Health and Academic Impact of the New York City School-Based Health Center Reproductive Health Project for Adolescents.” Her dissertation committee was chaired by Professor Stacey Plichta, with Assistant Professors Alexis Pozen and Meredith Manze serving as committee members.

“CUNY SPH’s course schedule and supportive professors permitted me to balance motherhood and a full-time career with Montefiore Health System while completing my doctoral degree,” Dr. Silverio says. Her dissertation evaluated the effect of a reproductive health policy, which provided adolescents counseling, empowerment, and contraceptive services in the context of the New York City school system.

“As our communities reset in light of COVID-19, the creation, implementation, and evaluation of our economic, health, and social policies to address the inequities faced by communities of color is essential,” she says. “I am thankful my CUNY SPH experience prepared me for this local and global reset.”