SAVIR Member Spotlight: Andrew Belfiglio, MPH

My interest in injury and violence prevention began during my MPH fieldwork at Temple University. I joined the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation department for that internship to play my part in advancing the many health benefits of urban tree canopy and greenspace. Much of the literature I cited at that time was coming from researchers at the Penn Injury Science Center, such as nature-based strategies to improve urban health and safety; landmark vacant lot greening trials that demonstrated reductions in distress and violence; and other place-based interventions like blight remediation that were having significant positive impacts on health and safety. I loved this idea that evidence-based investments in the built environments could make people healthier, happier, and less likely to be injured.

How long have you been a member of SAVIR? What has been your favorite part about being involved with SAVIR?

I have been a member of SAVIR since I joined the Penn Injury Science Center (PISC) in 2021. My favorite part is how many relationships I’ve made in such a short time. The annual conference was welcoming from the beginning, and it now feels like a homecoming only five years later. There are a lot of great people in SAVIR who are happy to help and collaborate.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?

Finding my niche in data science and communications has been very rewarding. I had certain skills that were recognized and encouraged by the people around me at Penn, which allowed me to keep branching out – honing skills and learning new ones. PISC supported my completion of a six-month data science bootcamp which catapulted me into new capabilities that I continue to practice and develop every day. In my work life, there is nothing better than using data to increase efficiency or turning data into a beautiful chart / visualization.

What do you like to do in your free time?