Francesca Testa
ASMP Advocate

At 17 years old, I was a healthy, active athlete with exciting plans for college. Those plans changed when I contracted bacterial meningitis and was hospitalized in a coma. While I survived and continue to share my story, I live with many long-term side effects of the disease including vision and hearing loss as well as cognitive issues.

I hold a Master of Public Health, a JD with a concentration in Health Law. I currently serve as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Connecticut in the Health and Education section, focusing on representing health agencies in Connecticut. As a meningitis survivor, my advocacy journey has led me to work with organizations such as the National Meningitis Association, the Vaccination Alliance of Connecticut, Immunize.org, Vaccinate Your Family, and the American Society for Meningitis Prevention. As an advocate, I focus on community awareness activities, provide educational presentations for a variety of audiences, and support legislative opportunities for pro-vaccine public health bills and regulations in the State of Connecticut. I am particularly passionate about overcoming the unique challenges associated with adolescent vaccination.