Stephanie Colombini
ReporterI cover health care for WUSF and the statewide journalism collaborative Health News Florida. I’m passionate about highlighting community efforts to improve the quality of care in our state and make it more accessible to all Floridians. I’m also committed to holding those in power accountable when they fail to prioritize the health needs of the people they serve.
Since March 2020, I’ve covered all things COVID-19 and continue to work hard to ensure you have fact-based information to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. I’ve focused on amplifying the voices of people in our community affected by the pandemic, including doctors on the front lines, teachers juggling hybrid learning and residents who have survived the illness.
You can also hear me on WUSF as a fill-in news anchor and midday host on Sundays.
I joined the news team in 2016 and started out producing our weekly public affairs show Florida Matters. I went on to cover military and veterans affairs for the national reporting collaborative the American Homefront Project and continue to report on these topics through a health care lens.
I got my start in radio at WFUV while attending Fordham University in the Bronx. I also covered tri-state area news as a reporter for WCBS Newsradio 880. Some fun highlights include reporting from the field at Yankee Stadium and doing live coverage of the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
I’m forever a New Yorker, but have loved calling Tampa home these past five years. You might see me around town rocking out to live music, enjoying our delicious craft beer scene or paddling out on the water in my kayak. Shoutout to my two fur babies, Frank and Hazel.
Contact Stephanie at 813-974-8705, on Twitter @Steph_Colombini, or by email at scolombini@wusf.org.
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Some speakers proposed making logistical changes to securing Ybor City at peak times, while others focused on big picture issues like curbing gun violence. -
During a vigil for the victims, the mother of Harrison Boonstoppel says her son died "for absolutely no reason." She and other gun safety advocates say they'll fight to keep others from the same fate.
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Florida has been one of the most aggressive in this Medicaid redetermination process.
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As the state defends its process, the executive director of the Center for Children and Families, says in an interview, "We know children are losing Medicaid," but "where are they going?"
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Treatments that can slow the disease in some patients have recently become more widely available, but not everyone can benefit.
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The program aims to give law enforcement officers tools to support their colleagues with stressors they face on the job and in their personal lives.
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Advocates say helping people who've struggled with addiction find jobs and advance their education is critical to maintaining their recovery.
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Previously Citrus residents had to travel to other counties in the region to access drugs like methadone, which can reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms in patients.
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Advocates say they've spent the last year working to help residents get their health back on track after Ian caused disruptions in care. They say the stress of storm recovery continues to cause mental wounds for some.
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The Tampa Bay Thrives survey found mental health challenges are affecting residents' productivity and attendance at work. But stigma about mental health appears to be decreasing.
