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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Florida and the nation broke records for signups. Expanded financial assistance and the ongoing Medicaid unwinding contributed to the spike.
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The bill would allow parents to sue for damages in the death of a fetus. Though bill sponsors say it's not abortion-related, attempts to make that clear in the text have so far failed.
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Strict abortion bans in nearby states are contributing to a significant increase in the number of out-of-state residents coming to Florida for the procedure in recent years.
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BayCare is getting close to half of Pasco's initial share of opioid settlement dollars. Eight other groups will also receive money to combat drug addiction in the county.
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Scientists hope to improve guidance for how humans interact with wildlife to prevent future disease outbreaks.
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Mental health experts say it's OK to not be merry this holiday season if you're struggling with loss. They encourage people to look for small moments of joy.
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Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in the United States. And even when kids survive, there can be life-altering consequences. There’s been an increase in youth gun injuries in Florida in recent years.
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These parents are still struggling with grief years after their kids died in shootings. They say families affected by community violence need more support.
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Community leaders say the recent shooting in Tampa's Ybor City highlights the need to curb gun violence among young people. Advocates are calling for more resources to combat the problem.
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In the first part of our series Growing Up With Guns, we look at Hillsborough’s Youth Gun Offender program. It's tackling crime by offering teens mentorship, education and mental health services.