Epidemiology Summer Classes Open Soon | | The Department of Epidemiology will offer a wide range of online Summer 2026 courses, designed to build foundational skills and explore specialized and emerging areas of public health. Course formats include synchronous, asynchronous, and six‑week intensive options. Registration opens April 8. | | |
Offered: First 6 Weeks
PH 2780L: Genetic Epidemiology
PH 2793: Current Topics in Infectious Disease Epidemiology
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Offered: Second 6 Weeks
PH 2793: Overview of Tropical Medicine
PH 2998: Special Topics: Non-Medical Drivers of Health Disparities
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PH 2989 Communicating Scientific Data to Professionals and the Public
PH 2998: Special Topics: Applied Nutrition Science
PH 2835: Injury Epidemiology
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PH 2998 Special Topics: Epidemiology in Neurological & Mental Health
PH 2781L: Practical Python Programming & Algorithms for Data Analysis
PH 2745: Cancer Epidemiology
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS | | Environmental Clues to Congenital Heart Defects | |
Jenil Patel, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, is shedding new light on how environmental exposures may influence the risk of congenital heart defects.
In a recent review published in Clinical Chemistry, Patel examined existing research on “forever chemicals,” including per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other environmental contaminants, and their potential to disrupt fetal heart development during early pregnancy.
The review emphasizes that the developing heart is particularly sensitive to environmental conditions and highlights growing evidence that chemical exposures during critical developmental windows may play a role in shaping congenital heart defect risk.
| | New Research Focused on Genetic Insights in Laterality | |
Investigators from the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Human Genetics Center are featured in a recent publication in The American Journal of Human Genetics examining the genetic architecture of congenital cardiac laterality defects.
The research was led by Archana Rai, PhD, postdoctoral fellow and first author, with contributions from Epidemiology doctoral students Iman Egab, MPH, and Jiaoyang Xu, MPH.
Faculty contributors from the Department of Epidemiology include Eric Boerwinkle, PhD, Dean of the School of Public Health; A. J. Agopian, PhD, Associate Professor; and Zeynep Coban‑Akdemir, PhD, Assistant Professor.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine faculty James R. Lupski, MD, and Shaine A. Morris, MD, highlights the role of epistatic interactions among rare genetic variants in laterality‑related congenital heart disease.
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HEFP Faculty Share Innovations in Health Science Education
Our four current Health Educators Fellowship Program (HEFP) faculty members, including Assistant Professors Audrey Choh, PhD, Heather T. Essigmann, PhD, Jenil Patel, PhD, and Elena Feofanova, PhD, attended the 2026 Innovations in Health Science Education Annual Conference, held February 26–27 at the JJ Pickle Research Campus in Austin, Texas.
Sponsored by the six health science campuses within The University of Texas System, the conference brought together educators and nationally recognized speakers to discuss innovative approaches in health science education under this year’s theme, Flourishing on the Shifting Sands of Changing Educational Landscapes.
Choh, Essigmann, and Feofanova also presented a poster, contributing to ongoing conversations about advancing teaching and learning in the health sciences.
| | | | Applying Behavioral Science to Food Is Medicine Programs | |
A recent article published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior by the Center for Healthy Communities examines the application of behavioral science to Food Is Medicine (FIM) programs. The study was led by the Center’s director, Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, Professor of Epidemiology, and reflects the Center’s ongoing work at the intersection of nutrition, community health, and prevention.
The publication presents a case study of a Food Is Medicine intervention for high‑risk pregnant individuals, guided by Social Cognitive Theory. The program integrates home‑delivered produce, nutrition education, and community health worker support to improve food security, dietary behaviors, and pregnancy‑related outcomes.
| | Nature Portfolio Showcases Global Physical Activity Research | |
Andrea Ramírez Varela, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, is featured in a Nature Portfolio collection on Global Physical Activity for Health, which brings together leading research examining physical activity through the lenses of public health, equity, policy, and climate action.
The collection highlights Ramírez Varela’s contributions to global analyses showing that, despite decades of policy development, physical activity remains under‑prioritized worldwide, and population‑level activity has not meaningfully improved.
You can read more about her work here.
| | New Study on Tobacco Prevention in Italian Dental Education | |
In Italy, where approximately 24% of adults smoke and nearly 30% use vaping products, every effort counts in strengthening tobacco‑use prevention and cessation. Irene Tami‑Maury, DMD, DrPH, MSc, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, is leading a multi‑institutional study across eight Italian dental schools to understand how dental faculty influence tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation within academic settings.
Recently published in the Journal of Public Health, the study highlights notable gaps in faculty training, awareness of tobacco‑free policies, and integration of cessation content, especially around emerging nicotine products.
Tami‑Maury’s work underscores a critical global health message: dental faculty play a pivotal role in shaping future clinicians and advancing tobacco prevention and control worldwide. Strengthening faculty competencies and integrating structured cessation training into dental curricula are essential steps toward reducing the global burden of tobacco‑related disease.
| | Epidemiology Highlights from AHA Epi|Lifestyle2026 | |
The Department of Epidemiology was well represented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Epidemiology and Lifestyle Scientific Sessions, recently held in Boston, Massachusetts.
Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Epidemiology, served as a featured presenter in the "AHA Healthcare x Food Field-based Infrastructure for Food Is Medicine Research" session.
The department also had two platform presenters delivering featured oral talks: Peidi Zhou, MSc, and EunHye Moon, MSc, both Epidemiology doctoral students supervised by Bing Yu, PhD, Professor of Epidemiology. In addition, Peidi Zhou, MSc, and Shinhye Chung, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow, were recognized as recipients of travel awards. The department was also represented through moderated poster presentations by Yura Lee, MS, Epidemiology doctoral student, and Guning Liu, MS, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences doctoral student, along with Shinhye Chung, PhD. Together, these presentations and honors highlight the department’s leadership and national presence in population and cardiovascular health research.
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS | | Epidemiology Welcomes Visiting Scholar from Portugal | | |
The Department of Epidemiology is welcoming Rafael Cristão, a visiting doctoral student from Portugal, this spring as part of an international research collaboration. Cristão is enrolled at the Faculty of Human Kinetics at the University of Lisbon, where he is pursuing a PhD in Education focused on physical activity and education‑related research.
Cristão will be based at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health through December, working closely with Epidemiology Assistant Professor Andrea Ramírez Varela, MD, at the Global Observatory for Physical Activity while advancing his doctoral thesis.
Outside of his academic work, Cristão has already begun exploring Houston and has especially enjoyed attending the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He looks forward to experiencing more of the city in the coming months, particularly local sporting events. Welcome, Rafael!
| | | | Center for Infectious Diseases Lecture featuring Runze (Kevin) Li, MPH | The Center for Infectious Diseases recently hosted an engaging lecture featuring Runze (Kevin) Li, MPH, a biostatistics doctoral student and member of the Wu Lab. Li highlighted emerging approaches in wastewater surveillance and discussed how these methods are advancing infectious disease detection and public health monitoring. The session brought together in‑person and virtual attendees for a timely discussion on innovative surveillance strategies and student‑led research. | | National Public Health Week April 6 - 10 | |
Monday, April 6, 8 a.m.: Ella Coffee at the RAS Lobby
Monday, April 6, 12 p.m.: Dean's Chat
Monday, April 6, 1:30 p.m.: Ready, Set, Yoga!
Tuesday, April 7, 12 p.m.: Virtual Practice Day
Wednesday, April 8, 11 a.m.: 30th Anniversary McGovern Lecture and Celebration with keynote speaker Guy S. Parcel, PhD
Wednesday, April 8, 1 p.m.: Community Networking Hour
Thursday, April 9: Research Day
Thursday, April 9: Blood Drive with the Red Cross
Thursday, April 9, 12 p.m.: 34th Annual Steele Lecture featuring William E. Secor, PhD
Friday, April 10, 1 p.m. SPH Day of Service
Friday, April 10, 4:30 - 7 pm SIC Crawfish Boil
Visit go.uth.edu/SPHEvents for information and virtual options.
| | | Epidemiology in Action Career Series on April 1 | | |
Interested in learning how epidemiology translates into real‑world impact? Students are invited to attend Epidemiology in Action, part of the Epidemiology Career Seminar Series, on Wednesday, April 1, at 4:00 pm (in person at RAS E101 and via Teams).
This session will feature Ami E. Sedani, MPH, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Dallas, and Morgan Jibowu, MPH, PhD, an Epidemiology alumna (Spring 2024) and epidemiologist and spatial scientist working in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Speakers will share insights on applying evidence in real‑world public health settings and building careers in epidemiology.
Register and learn more at go.uth.edu/EpiCareers.
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James H. Steele, DVM
Annual Lecture
featuring William E. Secor, PhD
Thursday, April 9
Noon to 1:00 PM
RAS Building, 1st Floor Auditorium
and Virtually via TEAMS
The 34th Annual Steele Lecture with featured speaker William E. Secor, PhD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The presentation will be "What's the Use Case? Defining and Developing Diagnostic Tests for Schistosomiasis."
This event is free and open to the public and will provide free lunch to the first 60 attendees.
For more information and the TEAMS link, please visit go.uth.edu/Steele.
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Building Sustainable Nutrition Partnerships: Implementing Texas HB 26 & SB 25
Wednesday, May 6
Noon - 1:00 PM
Virtual Event
Texas’ new laws, HB 26 and SB 25, create powerful opportunities to integrate nutrition interventions into health care, positioning “Food is Medicine” as a core strategy to improve health outcomes and reduce costs. This one-hour webinar will share practical strategies for successfully scaling nutrition services, such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and other nutrition support programs, particularly for Medicaid members at risk for, or living with, diet-related chronic disease.
Registration information
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The 2026 School of Public Health Commencement ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2025, at 2:00 pm CDT at NRG Arena, 1 NRG Parkway, Houston, TX 77054.
Note: All summer 2025, fall 2025, and spring 2026 graduates from all locations are eligible to participate.
For more information, please visit the Commencement website.
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Reuel A. Stallones Memorial Endowed Lecture & Building Commemoration
April 23
Noon to 1:00 PM CT
RAS Building
1st floor auditorium
& Virtual Link
Join us on April 23 at noon in the RAS Auditorium for a panel featuring the children of Dr. Stallones, who will share personal stories and reflections on their father’s life, legacy, and contributions to public health. This meaningful event will be one of the final lectures held in the RAS Auditorium and offers a unique opportunity to honor a public health pioneer.
More information here.
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The Cupboard
Student Food Bank
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
RAS Building, B-04
Wednesday, April 1 & Thursday, April 2
Wednesday, April 8 & Thursday, April 9
Wednesday, April 15 & Thursday, April 16
Wednesday, April 22 & Thursday, April 23
Wednesday, April 29 & Thursday, April 30
The Cupboard is a no-cost food resource for students who may need assistance.
Location: SPH Building, Basement
Email: TheCupboard@uth.tmc.edu
| | 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. | | | | |
