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
Commencement Speaker Ready to Be ‘The Dentist’
Joe Blondin says he’s just looking forward to being “the dentist.” The 2011 School of Dental Medicine commencement speaker’s days as a student are not over, but the next phase of his training—he’s staying at UConn as a Master of Dental Science candidate and endodontics resident—will be different. “I’ll be the dentist,” Blondin says. “I […]
April 29, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Canalis Delivers First Posthumous Raisz Lectureship
The second talk in the visiting lectureship named after Dr. Lawrence G. Raisz was the first since his death last August. An audience of more than 60 heard Dr. Ernesto Canalis, professor of medicine and orthopaedic surgery, discuss the highly conserved cell signaling system known as the notch signaling pathway. “I owe a lot of […]
April 28, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
2011 High School Mini Medical/Dental School Graduates
[flickr-gallery id=”72157627184306473″] Nearly 80 students from 20 Connecticut high schools took part in the 2011 High School Mini Medical/Dental School. The eight-week series of Thursday afternoon lectures by Health Center faculty concluded with the awarding of diplomas in the Low Learning Center April 21. The lectures covered medicine, dental medicine and research. Fifteen Health […]
April 27, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Library Books Can’t Escape Father Time
An exhibit at the Lyman Maynard Stowe Library shows the impact the years can have on the condition of books. Jenny Miglus, the librarian at the Hartford Medical Society’s Historical Library, created the exhibit to coincide with Preservation Week, April 24 to 30 as designated by the American Library Association. “Books age, just the way […]
April 26, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Two New Husky Heroes Honored
Correctional Managed Health Care nursing supervisor Cindy Letavec and Internal Medicine Associates clinical office assistant Marisol Koniar are the newest Husky Heroes. A UConn Health Center employee or volunteer becomes a Husky Hero upon receipt of his or her fourth PAWS award. PAWS is an acronym for “Part of a team, Awesome attitude, Wonderful work […]
April 21, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Second White Coat Gala ‘A Tremendous Success’
[flickr-gallery id=”72157627332991886″] Calling it “a winning night” and “a tremendous success,” Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, vice president for health affairs and medical school dean, says this year’s White Coat Gala was one of the top UConn Health Center fundraising events on record. More than 800 people attended this year’s Gala, held at the Connecticut […]
April 19, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Aging Research Day Returns for Second Year
A nationally renowned researcher who’s been the brains behind three decades of research known as “The Baltimore Hip Studies” headlined UConn’s Aging Research Day April 18. Jay Magaziner, professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and director of its Division of Gerontology, detailed how hip […]
April 18, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
‘Dream Wedding’ Caps Whirlwind Journey for Health Center Nurse
Rebecca Green was going to get married this fall, exactly three years after her gastric bypass surgery. Instead, she was married by a TV news anchor last Friday on live television. Green, an assistant nursing manager for Surgery 7, and Jason Whiting, chief marketing officer at Aeon, Inc. in Wallingford, were the winning couple in […]
April 18, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center Aces Latest Accreditation Site Survey
The Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center once again has received a three-year accreditation with commendation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. It’s the highest possible overall rating from the surveyor conducting an on-site review. “This is the second such award in the past two surveys,” says Dr. John Taylor, who […]
April 15, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)
Auxiliary Working to Help Survivors Cast Away Their Cancer
Marcia Reid Marsted believes a positive attitude and a calming environment can do wonders for a healing body. The former UConn Health Center employee and volunteer would know. She’s beaten two cancers. Two hobbies helped her through those battles. One was photography. “I found that using my photography to document what was going on with […]
April 13, 2011 | Christopher DeFrancesco '95 (CLAS)