Study Shows U.S. Migrant Farmworkers are more Likely to Respond to Traditional Research Survey Collection Methods

A small randomized trial conducted by Jack Tsai, PhD, professor and regional dean, and Anabel Rodriguez, PhD, assistant professor, and faculty members at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in San Antonio, found that migrant farmworkers in the U.S. were more likely to respond to data collection efforts through traditional telephone interviews and online surveys. Victoria Solis, MPH, who recently graduated with an MPH from the school in San Antonio, helped with data collection for the study.

The study, published last month in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, found that participants were not as likely to utilize or respond to data collection through apps on their phones. Study participation via online survey was similar to rates of participation in telephone interviews, with just a 4% decline.

Rodriguez believes this study could help in understanding the data collection methods that work best for reaching U.S. migrant farmworkers and help in designing future studies.

To read more please visit the School of Public Health News Link. 

EHGES FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS

DuPont Leads Two New Publications Targeting Gut Microbiome Health

Two new studies featuring gut microbiome research were recently published by the Center for Infectious Diseases in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences.

"Intestinal IgA-Coated Bacteria in Healthy and Altered-Microbiomes (Dysbiosis) and Predictive Value in Successful FMT" highlights the importance of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in health and disease. The review, led by EHGES Professor Herbert DuPont, MD, was published recently by Microorganisms.

Co-authors on the paper from the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences included Associate Professor Zhi-Dong Jiang, MD, and Professor and Interim Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases, Eric Brown, PhD.

A clinical trial study analyzed the results of FMT usage in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study found that the intestinal microbiome contributes to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and can be normalized by FMT resulting in clinical improvement of the disease. The clinical trial was led by DuPont, and co-authored by Jiang, Brown, along with EHGES Assistant Professor Heather Essigmann, PhD, and doctoral student Tehseen Iqbal, MPH. Their findings were published in March in the Frontiers in Neurology

New Publication Examines Toxic Smoke Health Risks for Firefighters

A new study, "Face-to-face with scorching wildfire: potential toxicant exposure and the health risks of smoke for wildland firefighters at the wildland-urban interface" led by EHGES Associate Professor Jooyeon Hwang, PhD, examines the escalating health risks faced by wildland firefighters due to toxic smoke from wildfires, which are exacerbated by the increased risk of wildfires caused by climate change.

Hwang specifically discusses four areas of concern regarding their health at the wildland-urban interface: economic costs and health impact, respiratory protection, multipollutant mixtures, and proactive wildfire management.

You can find the published paper in the upcoming issue of The Lancet Regional Health - Americas.

Researchers at the School of Public Health in Brownsville Publish a New Study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

EHGES Professors Sue Fisher-Hoch, MD, and Joseph McCormick, MD, recently published a new study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. The new publication demonstrates a collaboration with McGovern SOM and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Brownsville and establishes the norms for a mental status test in the Hispanic population that is a standard screening test for dementia. 

This new publication also shows that The minimum MMSE cutoffs in most phase III prodromal-to-mild AD trials would exclude a significant proportion of trial-aged participants in this MA cohort, including over half of those with 0–4 Years of education.



Read more in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

2022 EHGES Faculty and Staff Star Awards

Each year, UTHealth Houston celebrates the leadership and longevity of our employees by recognizing milestone years of service at the university. Our employees are UTHealth Houston’s greatest asset, and your commitment and dedication to the university is remarkable. This year, the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences celebrates twenty faculty and staff members achieving career milestones.

Visit UTHealth Houston Star Awards for 2022 to see all of this year's awardees.

EHGES STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Field Day for students in the Epidemiology Methods 2 class under the instruction of EHGES Associate Professor Anna Wilkinson, PhD. Wilkinson conducted a field day class at our Austin campus and with the help of Assistant Professor Heather Essigmann, PhD, at our Houston campus. Epi students conducted a field audit of a nearby neighborhood to assess walk and bike-ability and compared measurement tools for data accuracy.

Photo: The School of Public Health RAS building features a green roof on the east tower

UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Showcases Sustainability Efforts as Green Roof Takes Root

The School of Public Health has implemented many sustainability efforts across the campus including LEED certification for new buildings, recycling, energy conservation, water filling stations, UTHealth Mobility Program, and many other long-term programs implemented within the campus. On the East Tower lives a green roof filled with native plants of the area to help reduce stormwater runoff and reduce energy costs. The West Tower still has the traditional roof so data can be gathered by comparing the roofs of the 2 towers in the research lab.

Read more about the School of Public Health sustainability projects here.

UPCOMING EHGES EVENTS

Join us for the 31st Annual James H. Steele, DVM Lecture on Friday, April 7 from Noon - 1:00 p.m. featuring Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD

Summer 2023 Schedule Available to View on March 29th 

EHGES NOTES

R. Palmer Beasley, M.D. and Lu-Yu Hwang, M.D. Travel Award for International Research

Due date extended to: April 15, 2023

This travel award application is for continuing students working on important public health issues in a developing country of Asia, Africa or Latin America. The awards will be for travel during summer 2023. Faculty can send recommendation letters by April 15 to Sharon Cummings or students can upload recommendation letters with their application. Students must adhere to the UTHealth Houston travel requirements for students traveling to international locations. See Student Travel and the Step by Step Guide for Students Traveling Internationally.

For more information, see mySPH.

The Texas Medical Center Library and the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health library offer many student and faculty services, including Canvas training, navigating the SPH library website, writing services, and much more. Contact Kelsey Koym for assistance and more information. Email Kelsey Koym here or visit the TMC Library website for more details. 

Texas Department of State Health Services Webinar Series - Please join to learn what a career in Public Health at DSHS looks like! Webinars will be held throughout the month of April. Click here for more information.

Calling all EHGES alums! EHGES in the News would like to include alum updates and news to feature in our monthly spotlight! Please email Jana Satterwhite, Communications Specialist, to be considered for our upcoming newsletters.

Reminder: For more information on how to handle media requests, see the UTHealth Houston HOOP policy here. If you are contacted by the media, please call the UTHealth Houston Media Relations team on the hotline, 713-500-3030 - someone is available 24/7. Deb Lake is the designated School of Public Health contact. Always choose to call the hotline for immediate assistance.

SUBMISSIONS AND NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

All campuses are encouraged to submit items for consideration for the monthly EHGES newsletter. Please feel free to submit your items to sphehges@uth.tmc.edu.