Ava Dzurenda, EP-C

Ava Dzurenda is a 2025 graduate of Saint Francis University, where she earned a B.A. in Science Writing and a B.S. in Exercise Physiology, along with a minor in Communications. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Science Writing through the online AAP program at Johns Hopkins University.

Beginning in March 2025, Ava worked as a freelance, self-employed science journalist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the University of Pittsburgh, reporting on public health, medicine, and research. In March 2026, she began working in science communication at Pitt Public Health, where she translates complex research into clear, accessible stories for broad audiences.

Ava has experience in both public relations and newsroom reporting. At UPMC Media Relations, she wrote press releases and blog posts for the UPMC and Pitt Health Sciences Newsroom and pitched research stories that gained national coverage. At the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, she authored 22 bylines translating complex medical research into stories that resonate with the public.

From newsroom to lab bench, Ava is passionate about making science understandable, engaging, and relevant.

Freelance inquiries: ava.dzurenda@gmail.com