Dr. Laura Lessard, assistant professor of community and global public health,  delivered the alumni address at the Tufts University School of Medicine, Public Health and Professional Degree (PHPD) Programs commencement ceremony on May 18, 2014, in Boston. Dr. Lessard serves as the elected Vice President of the alumni association for PHPD and her address focused on the importance of being an active and engaged alumnus of the university.

Additionally, Dr. Lessard received a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation titled “CarePayment Initial Outcome Study.” The 12-month project includes a nationwide telephone survey and case study of the effect of an innovative medical debt financing model on participants and their families.

She also published “Lessons learned from a healthful vending pilot program in Delaware state agency buildings, 2011-2012” in Preventing Chronic Disease. The paper focused on the results of an evaluation to determine whether state employees would purchase healthier options offered in vending machines.

Most recently, Dr. Lessard served as a panel member for “Beyond the Hype: Understanding the Ebola Outbreak” at Arcadia University.