Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)

Chris DeFrancesco has been writing for UConn Health since 2007. He is a proud graduate of UConn’s journalism program. As an undergraduate in Storrs he was one of the play-by-play voices of UConn men’s and women’s basketball on WHUS-FM, a writer for the Daily Campus, and a campus shuttle bus driver. He’s been a freelance writer, editor of two weekly newspapers (Bloomfield Journal and Windsor Locks Journal), and most notably a reporter and anchor on WTIC NewsTalk 1080. He is a four-time winner of the Connecticut Associated Press Broadcasters Association Walt Dibble Award for Personal Excellence in Radio. Chris also is an elected officer in his union (UHP Local 3837) and serves on the board of the Newington Children’s Theatre Company, Connecticut’s longest-running youth theatre program. He lives in Newington with his wife, Caroline, daughter, Audrey, and their dogs, Spot and Alex.


Author Archive

Dr. Erica Chen presents a poster

Uncovering Brain Cancer’s Molecular Signature

UConn Health, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine among few in the world able to analyze tumors with elite precision

Jordan Dean in uniform in front of Air Force plane

Profile of a Veteran: Jordan Dean, UConn Medical Student

Jordan Dean is a second-year UConn medical student who served in the U.S. Air Force for eight years, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. He shares his perspective as a veteran and physician in training.

Nurse at bedside with patient using tablet

Bringing the Patient Portal to the Bedside

UConn Health is rolling out an interactive patient tool by rolling it in to hospital rooms, offering patients a new level of access to information specific to their stay.

Jennifer Sposito portrait

Consortium Scholarship for Stroke Clinical Program Coordinator

Recognized for her leadership building UConn Health’s stroke program, Jennifer Sposito will apply the Capital Area Health Consortium’s T. Stewart Hamilton Scholarship to her pursuit of a doctorate in nursing leadership.

The UConn Health Pulse Podcast logo.

Podcast: TARGETing PTSD

As Veteran's Day approaches, and with the 10-year anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School not far behind, UConn Health clinical psychologists Julian Ford and Rocio Chang discuss post-traumatic stress disorder on the November 2022 episode of the UConn Health Pulse podcast.

close up photo of a vile of covid-19 vaccine

COVID Shots as Part of Recommended Routine

Measles, Mumps, Rubella… and now, COVID-19. A UConn Health pediatrics expert helps explain the addition of the COVID-19 vaccines to the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule for children and adults.

clinicians looking at orthopedic images

Fighting Fragility Fractures

Fractures in older adults often are related to osteoporosis, and can increase the chances of additional fractures and other health problems that can be debilitating. UConn Health’s fracture liaison service takes a multispecialty approach to treating and preventing these injuries.

Employee fills syringe

Spotlight on Services: UConn Health Pharmacy

Meet some of the pharmacy employees who are part of a dedicated staff that includes more than 85 employees in nearly 20 roles, many in areas that never close.

The UConn Health Pulse Podcast logo.

Podcast: Serving the Underserved; Primary Care Outlook

Dr. Bruce Gould, UConn School of Medicine professor emeritus, explains how delivering care to underserved populations serves needs of today while preparing the next generation of health care providers to serve the needs of tomorrow.

Surgeon in surgical setting

Nuances of Prostate Cancer Detection

Multiparametric MRI may not definitively identify or rule out prostate cancer, but it often tells us enough to inform a treatment course and can help reduce the need for biopsy in some men, as UConn Health’s Dr. Benjamin Ristau explains.