Cassandra Crifasi
“If we stop fighting, then we absolutely have lost. If we give up, then we’re never going to make progress, and we need to have hope and we need to have optimism. But hope is not a strategy.”
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Health Policy and Management, PhD 2014
Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Cassandra‘s Podcast Episode
In this episode, we discuss how Cassandra’s childhood interest in orthopedic surgery evolved into her passion for public health and injury and violence prevention, the different ways her doctoral experience at Johns Hopkins prepared her for her current work on gun violence prevention, and her take on the importance of stopping to evaluate the “so what” behind our work.
Learn More About Cassandra‘s Story
One of my greatest joys is baking. I love baking bread, cakes, cheesecake… but my most favorite thing to bake is cupcakes. It is so much fun to experiment with different cake and frosting combinations. Some of my best creations have been banana split cupcakes (vanilla, banana, and pineapple cupcakes with a strawberry buttercream and chocolate drizzle) and mojito cupcakes (lime and mint cupcakes with a rum buttercream). Baking is such a great way to step away from all the stresses in life, bring people together, and try something new. It might not always turn out just right, but each time is a chance to come up with something unique. And the best way to eat a cupcake is to make a sandwich! You have to pull the bottom off and stick it on top of the frosting, so you don’t get frosting up your nose.
One of my favorite places to rest and recharge is Assateague State Park on Maryland’s eastern shore. We pack up the truck the night before and get up early so we can claim our spot on the beach. We get to watch the sunrise over the ocean in the morning. We have a cookout on the beach and will often stay all day. That way, we get to watch the sunset over the island in the evening. There’s virtually no cell service. It’s such a great way to disconnect and just be present with family and friends. And our dog loves to stare at the birds and horses.
