The University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions’ PHHP Days is an annual celebration of research from the undergraduate to postdoctoral level, featuring oral and poster presentations from more than 200 students. Within the two-day event, the Pillar Talks series serves as a platform for faculty to share their research, insights, discoveries and innovations across the college’s mission areas of education, research, service and clinical work. These brief, TED Talk-style talks are an opportunity for every member of the college to come together, learn from each other and showcase the remarkable scholarship advancing public health and health science.
Ahead of PHHP Days 2026, taking place April 15 and 16, speakers will share sneak peeks of their talks and what they hope listeners will learn.
Linda Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and director of community engagement for the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute
What is your primary focus in PHHP and why does it interest you?
I will be introducing my two career interests — community engagement and addiction surveillance — and focusing the whole talk on surveillance of emerging drugs in the U.S., including my National Drug Early Warning System project, which is one of the most fascinating initiatives I have ever directed.
What is the theme of your pillar talk?
The National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) and why it matters to public health.
Why do you want to share this topic?
People in the college and elsewhere should know that UF is the only NDEWS project and we are discovering emerging drug use trends in the community. They will want to know what is happening in the U.S. today regarding the opioid and fentanyl crisis as well as novel psychoactive substances.
What do you hope the audience takes away from your talk?
Knowledge about emerging drugs, how to discuss this topic, free Narcan, how to subscribe to our free weekly briefing and how students might get involved in doing primary data collection, analyzing data, etc.