Rate My Professor Anthony Santella

Anthony Santella, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, CPH, serves as Professor of Public Health and Director of the Doctor of Public Health Program at Fairfield University’s Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Connecticut, a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Emory University, and a Doctor of Public Health in Health Systems Management from Tulane University. Early in his career, Santella worked in pharmaceutical marketing and advertising in New York City, recruited participants for HIV vaccine clinical trials, and held positions at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as Director of HIV Policy, Planning, and Implementation and Senior Program Planning Consultant. Prior to joining Fairfield University in 2022, he taught public health and health sciences for nearly 15 years at Long Island University, the University of Sydney in Australia, Hofstra University, and the University of New Haven.

Santella’s two decades of research focus on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections, and emerging viruses including COVID-19 and monkeypox, with emphasis on vulnerable populations such as LGBTQ+ communities, people experiencing homelessness, incarcerated persons, and youth. He has advanced chairside HIV testing and screening in dental settings internationally and promotes pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake. Notable publications include “Exploring the Acceptability of HIV Testing in the UK Dental Setting: A Qualitative Study” (2024, Dentistry Journal), “Hepatitis B virus infection and vaccination among people who use drugs in Xi'an, China” (2024, Vaccine), “Point of care HIV testing in dental settings in high-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review” (2024, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology), and “Re-envisioning the role of student health centers in offering LGBTQIA+ friendly and sex-positive services” (2023, Journal of American College Health). His achievements include the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences Distinguished Service Award (2022), School of Health Sciences Distinguished Service Award (2022), and Distinguished Provider of the Year from the Long Island Ryan White HIV Health Services Planning Council (2020). Santella leads as Co-Chair of the Quality Improvement Strategic Planning and Assessment Committee of the New Haven-Fairfield Counties HIV Ryan White Planning Council, Director for the Division Board of Certification of Health Education Specialists, member of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commission on Racial Equity in Public Health, and member of the City of Norwalk’s Board of Health. He contributes media commentary to outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, and The Washington Post.