Star Awards Recognize Dedicated Employees | | |
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 their commitment and dedication to the university is remarkable. This year, the Department of Epidemiology celebrates fifteen faculty and staff members achieving career milestones.
Visit UTHealth Houston Star Awards for 2024 for more information.
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5 Year Anniversary
Taryn Alkis
Maha Almohamad
Kayla Ruch
Micaela Sandoval
Mengxi Wang
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10 Year Anniversary
Benjamin Renata
Michael Brown
Eric Jones
Goo Jun
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15 Year Anniversary
Farrah Adegbite
A.J. Agopian
Cindy Johns
My Nguyen
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20 Year Anniversary
Xianglin Du
Do-Kyun Kim
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS | | Investigation of Timing of Exercise Linked to Diabetes Risk | |
Diabetologia has published a study from Associate Professor Qian Xiao, PhD, which uses a nationally representative sample of American adults to examine the associations between hourly physical activity levels and diabetes and glycaemic biomarkers.
Researchers observed that higher levels of physical activity in the late morning and mid-to-late afternoon were associated with lower odds of diabetes, with similar results being observed for the measures of glycaemic control.
In contrast, a higher level of activity at night was associated with higher odds of diabetes. These results suggest that the timing of physical activity may have an important role in metabolic health.
The authors suggest that these results may also help with the development of digital biomarkers using data from wearable devices for use in diabetes risk prediction and disease management in the clinical setting.
| | Study Reveals Genetic Inversion Detection Breakthrough | |
The European Journal of Human Genetics published a study highlighting the challenges of detecting genetic inversions, where a segment of DNA is flipped in the opposite direction. These inversions are hard to spot, especially in repetitive DNA regions, leading to errors and incomplete information. However, advanced technologies like long-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) have greatly improved detection.
The study examines a rare case of a patient with serious genetic disorders linked to an inversion affecting the UNC13D gene. Diagnosed with VACTERL association (multiple congenital anomalies) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) (a severe immune disorder), the patient initially had standard genetic tests that missed the inversion. Advanced sequencing later revealed a 253-kilobase inversion affecting UNC13D, along with a single-nucleotide variant (SNV), contributing to the patient's condition.
By comparing this finding to data from large genetic databases and previous studies, the research provides new insights into the role of inversions in human disease. It underscores the importance of advanced sequencing technologies in diagnosing complex genetic conditions. Graduate student Tuğçe Bozkurt-Yozgatli, MSc, is the first author of the published study, working as a visiting scholar from Acibadem University in Istanbul, Turkey. Epidemiology Assistant Professor Zeynep Coban-Akdemir, PhD, with the Human Genetics Center, is a co-author of the study.
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Study on Parental Confidence and Child Dental Health
CATCH Healthy Smiles is a NIDCR-funded cluster randomized-controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a multi-component, school-based behavioral intervention on reducing dental caries risk among elementary school-age children across 34 schools in Texas. A new publication by lead author, Professor Shreela Sharma, PhD, Principal Investigator of the CATCH Healthy Smiles study, highlights the inverse association between parental confidence in oral health with child caries prevalence and oral health-related quality of life using baseline data from the study. These findings can inform future research, understanding how parental psychosocial factors influence child dental caries risk, a persistent childhood epidemic.
Other co-authors from the School of Public Health include Professor Steven Kelder, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Assistant Professor Ru-Jye Chuang, DrPH, Department of Health Promotion & Behavior Sciences, and Professor Jose-Miguel Yamal, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, along with Center for Health Equity Research Coordinator Alejandra Garcia Quintana, MPH, Biostatician Mengxi Wang, PhD, and Graduate Research Assistant Jeanette Deason, MPH. Co-authors from Harris County Public Health, Dental Health and Prevention include Shalisa Garner, DDS, and Kila Johnson, DDS.
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS | | Join the School of Public Health in celebrating National Public Health Week from April 7 - 11 | |
Student Society for Global Health Launches with Inaugural Event
The Student Society for Global Health launched its first event with a Meet & Greet, bringing together School of Public Health students to discuss global health challenges. The event featured Global Health Trivia and bingo, and attendees enjoyed snacks and conversations about the society's future initiatives and events.
Interested in learning more about the SSGH? Please email ssgh@uth.tmc.edu for more information. You can read more about this month's meetup and future events in the SSCH March Newsletter.
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TEPHI INFECTION PREVENTION
& CONTROL SEMINAR SERIES
Module 303: Infection Prevention and Control Training
April 3
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, virtual
In this module, Infection Prevention Practitioner Kayla Ruch, PhD, MPH, will provide a brief overview of infection prevention and control training for infection preventionists, nurses, providers, and ancillary healthcare workers.
Register to attend here: Link
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Save the Date!
UTHealth Houston
Giving Day
Tuesday, April 8
Each year on UTHealth Houston Giving Day, the UTHealth Houston community—alumni, students, families, faculty, staff, and friends—comes together to demonstrate the power of collective giving, supporting programs and initiatives across the university.
For more information on how to give, please visit: UTHealth Houston Giving Day
| | 2025 School of Public Health Commencement Ceremony | |
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The 2025 School of Public Health Commencement ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 2:00 pm CDT at NRG Arena, 1 NRG Pkwy., Houston, TX 77054.
Note: All summer 2024, fall 2024, and spring 2025 graduates from all locations are eligible to participate.
For more information, please visit the Commencement website.
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Student Intercouncil
Crawfish Boil
April 4
Cooley Center Courtyard
4:30 pm- 7:30 pm
Join the SIC for the 14th annual crawfish boil and enjoy free crawfish, shrimp, hot dogs, vegetarian options, and beverages.
For more information: Link
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The Cupboard
Student Food Bank
Noon - 3:00 pm
RAS Building, B-04
Thursday, April 3 & Monday, April 7
Thursday, April 10 & Monday, April 14
Thursday, April 17 & Monday, April 21
Thursday, April 24 & Monday, April 28
The Cupboard is a no-cost food resource for students who may need assistance.
Location: SPH Building, Basement
Email: TheCupboard@uth.tmc.edu
| | Volunteer at the Houston Food Bank with the ACTion Lab. Join the ACTion Lab at the Houston Food Bank to give back to the community. We will be sorting, packing, and organizing donations to ensure those in need receive support. Monday, April, 7. RSVP information available here. | | |
Save the Date for the upcoming 33rd Annual Steele Lecture with Robert Steffen, MD.
Join us Thursday, May 8, for the 33rd James H. Steele, DVM fall lecture with Robert Steffen, MD, who will present his lecture, "International Travel Vaccination Priorities Differ on Two Sides of the Atlantic - Why?" in the SPH Auditorium and virtually—free lunch for the first 40 attendees. Visit go.uth.edu/Steele for registration information.
| | Calling all Epidemiology alums! Epi 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 Epi newsletter. Please feel free to submit your items to sphepi@uth.tmc.edu. | | | | |
