May 13, 2026
This spring, Healthi Kids had the pleasure of welcoming Ella Isaac, a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at Nazareth University, as an intern with our team. Since joining Healthi Kids in January, Ella has brought curiosity, warmth, and a deep commitment to kids’ well-being—helping move forward the kind of practical, community-driven work that’s at the heart of our mission.
Ella’s time with us may have been one semester, but her impact will last far beyond it.
Putting Healthi Kids values into action
At Healthi Kids, we believe that every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy—supported by communities that make the healthy choice the easy choice. Ella leaned into this vision in a big way, contributing to projects that connected families’ real experiences with community-wide change.
One of Ella’s major contributions was her work on Love from the Start parent focus groups. She helped develop focus group questions, created a presentation, and drafted a summary of key takeaways—work that helps ensure parent voices guide how we strengthen early childhood supports and build healthier environments for young children and caregivers.
Ella also jumped into community engagement, assisting the team with tabling at community events and supporting Infant Toddler Play Days, helping us connect with families, share resources, and build relationships across the region.
Spotlight on policy: reducing unhealthy food advertising
Ella also took on a research project focused on how communities can limit unhealthy food advertising aimed at kids in Rochester’s public spaces. She synthesized what she learned and presented her findings to the Food Policy Council, supporting ongoing efforts to create healthier, more supportive public environments for children and families.
This kind of work reflects Healthi Kids’ commitment to changing systems—because kids’ health is shaped not just by individual choices, but by the environments we all share.
“Ella’s work this semester was exceptional,” said Stephanie David, director of early childhood policy at Common Ground Health. “She combined strong public health skills with deep respect for families and community partners—whether she was shaping focus group tools, supporting outreach, or bringing forward thoughtful research. Ella helped strengthen Healthi Kids’ efforts to make healthy choices easier for families, and I’m excited to see the impact she’ll continue to make in our region.”
Bringing her academic work to community spaces
In addition to her internship contributions, Ella’s master’s thesis—“Play as a Protective Factor: Implications for Childhood Poverty in Rochester, New York”—highlights the role of play as something more than just fun, but vital, especially for children facing adversity. Ella shared her findings at Perinton Recreation’s SWIRL Conference (Safety, Wellness, Inclusion, Recreation, and Leadership) on May 1st, building on her long-standing connection to the community, having spent many years working with Perinton Rec’s after-school program. That dedication—showing up where kids are and supporting the spaces that shape their lives—reflects the heart of her approach to public health.
What’s next for Ella
Ella recently began an exciting new role as a full-time Recreation Assistant with the Greece Department of Parks and Recreation. She’s looking forward to bringing what she learned with Healthi Kids into her new position—and we’re looking forward to continued collaboration, too.
Because here’s the best part: we’re not saying goodbye. Ella will be joining the Healthi Kids Coalition! We’ll share more once it’s determined whether she’ll join as a representative of the Greece Department of Parks and Recreation or in her individual capacity—but either way, we’re thrilled to stay connected.
Ella, congratulations on your graduation and all you’ve accomplished. Thank you for your thoughtful work, your energy, and your belief in what’s possible when communities invest in children’s health, joy, and opportunity. We’re so grateful you were part of the Healthi Kids team—and we can’t wait to see what you do next.