UMass Amherst student combines psychology and public health to reduce opioid overdoses
Samantha Hano ’22, public health sciences and psychology, Commonwealth Honors College
“I’ve always had a desire to help people who have challenges and are struggling with life. I believe an individual can make changes that can create a domino effect to improve the lives of the vulnerable and overlooked.”
A courthouse is a nexus of troubled people many with opioid use disorder. At the Holyoke, Massachusetts, District Court, a new program brings same-day access to medications and other treatment right to the courthouse. When UMass Amherst junior Samantha Hano heard about this program, called HEART, she saw a way to put her two majors psychology and public health to work to reduce opioid overdoses.
Genius Meets Grit The pandemic didn’t slow the pace of significant achievements by UMass Amherst undergraduates in research, scholarship, and creative activity.
This year, persistent UMass Amherst undergraduates adapted to COVID-19 restrictions as they engaged in substantial research, exercised their creativity, and elevated campus and the community. They found ways to thrive they worked on campus when permitted and capitalized on remote research, learning, and volunteer opportunities. Read about the remarkable accomplishments of the nine spring 2021 UMass Amherst Rising Researchers here.
Ali Abdel-Maksoud ’21, electrical engineering
“In college, things clicked for me. I took the time to find what I like and I learned not to quit when things got hard. When I found my passion, I knew I had to focus.”