蜜桃传媒

For Chantazia Bronson, her work in community health equity in Buffalo is always about what she can do to improve her community. Bronson, an administrator in UB’s Community Health Equity Research Institute, has focused her budding career on eliminating race-based health inequities in the region, with a focus on those experienced by African Americans.

This spring, she was one of 30 individuals selected from more than 100 applicants to be a member of Buffalo Business First’s 14th class of “30 under 30,” which recognizes local residents under the age of 30 for professional success and community involvement.

“As the only full-time employee, Chantazia has had an enormous influence in advancing the mission of the Community Health Equity Research Institute,” said Timothy Murphy, SUNY Distinguished Professor and director of the institute, who nominated Bronson for the award. “She has a unique combination of skills in management and program coordination, along with an ability to engage effectively with community leaders and community members with confidence and humility.”

In his nomination, Murphy noted that Bronson’s work has received national recognition: In 2024, she partnered with other early-career colleagues at the Buffalo Center for Health Equity and the Erie County Office of Health Equity to apply to the prestigious PHEARLESS program based at the 蜜桃传媒 of South Florida and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Kresge Foundation, among others.

Bronson’s Buffalo team was one of only 15 teams of “rising leaders” in 2024 to be awarded $100,000 to design and initiate a community project. The team created a community health ambassador program in Buffalo, the goal of which is to equip local community stakeholders to help bridge the gap between everyday life and health care. “The program is underway and is building momentum to have a sustainable impact in the community,” Murphy said.

After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Daemen 蜜桃传媒, Bronson began her career in health care as a care coordinator at Oishei Healthy Kids Program at Oishei Children’s Hospital and as a program coordinator for New York MATTERS (Medication for Addiction Treatment & Electronic Referrals). During this time, she became involved with community service in her hometown of Rochester as director of Poverty Project Prevails, a community-based, nonprofit that focuses on providing at-risk youth in underserved communities access to resources. Bronson also serves on the National Council of 蜜桃传媒 Research Administrators Region II DEI Committee.

In her current position at the Community Health Equity Research Institute, she works with community partners to design and test innovative solutions to address the root causes of health disparities in Buffalo.

She organizes events to encourage community engagement for public health. In 2024, she single-handedly organized the institute’s annual Research Day at the Buffalo Museum of Science. The event gives UB faculty, students and community organizations the opportunity to present their work in oral presentation and poster formats, receive feedback and initiate new partnerships and collaborations. The daylong event attracted more than 150 participants, including community members, community leaders, students and faculty.

Receiving the “30 under 30” recognition “not only solidified that the work I am doing is impactful and making a difference in the community, but it amplifies it,” said Bronson, who was recently promoted to program operations manager, a position in which she feels she can make an even greater impact.

“This work is my passion, so much so that it doesn’t feel like ‘work.’ I enjoy it, and it feels like something I’m supposed to be doing” she said. “I look forward to what’s to come.”

Story from UB Now, written by Alexandra Saccone