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School of Public Health
Welcome Week
January 12 - 16
Join the School of Public Health for Welcome Week! Open to all new and returning students, this event features a variety of activities, including an alum panel and a Handshake overview, among others.
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS | |
Preventing Firearm Violence Through
Community Collaboration
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Firearm violence remains a critical public health issue in the United States, disproportionately impacting youth and communities of color while imposing high emotional and economic costs. Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) have emerged as effective strategies to break cycles of violence by providing trauma-informed care and community services during hospitalization. To ensure these programs are culturally relevant and sustainable, collaboration with local stakeholders is essential.
An NIH-funded study led by investigators at UTHealth Houston (Drs. Alexander Testa and Sandy McKay) describes a novel approach to building a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to guide HVIP development in Houston. Using a modified Intervention Mapping framework and the Community Engagement Studio model, the CAB brought together diverse voices, including community leaders, youth advocates, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and individuals with lived experience of firearm violence. Through structured meetings, the CAB identified community priorities, defined modifiable risk factors, and informed HVIP programming. This collaborative process emphasized transparency and mutual respect, fostering trust and increasing program acceptance.
This published paper highlights the partnership between the Center for Health Equity, including Director Shreela V. Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, and Sr. Project Manager Heidi Hagen McPherson, MPH, and Program Manager Anne Marie Thompson, MPH, at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Other UTHealth Houston collaborators include Associate Professor Alexander Testa, PhD, from the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at the School of Public Health, as well as faculty from the Department of Pediatrics at McGovern Medical School, including Professor and Chair Mary Aitken, MD, and Associate Professor Sandy McKay, PhD. Additional partners include Sarah Abbott, BS, EMP-LP from Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, experts from the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, and Karlton Harris and Asa Singleton from The Forgotten Third non-profit organization. The paper was published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science.
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New Research Explores How Moving Impacts the Environment and Community
Epidemiology Assistant Professor Chelsea Liu, PhD, Principal Investigator, led a study examining how moving to a new neighborhood affects both socioeconomic status and exposure to air pollution. Nearly ten percent of Americans move each year, but little is known about how these moves change environmental and social conditions. Using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, researchers compared neighborhood socioeconomic status and levels of fine particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide before and after participants moved. Moves were classified as short distance, less than 4.3 miles, or long distance, more than 4.3 miles.
The study found that short-distance movers typically relocated to neighborhoods with better socioeconomic conditions and similar air pollution levels. In contrast, long-distance movers tended to move to neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status but experienced lower exposure to air pollution.
These findings suggest that while relocation can alter both social and environmental factors, it may not have a significant impact on research on air pollution and health. The study was published in Science of the Total Environment.
| | Varela Receives Nearly $1 Million CPRIT Award for Cancer Prevention | |
Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the department of epidemiology, and Timothy Walker, PhD, assistant professor of health promotion and behavioral sciences, have been awarded nearly $1 million from CPRIT to strengthen breast and colorectal cancer prevention in rural South Texas.
The nearly $1 million award aims to increase physical activity and improve prescriptions and referrals in rural clinics across South Texas. Ramirez Varela and Walker will work with and train health care staff in rural communities to improve electronic health records, establish strong partnerships with community organizations, and develop a sustainable system that encourages patients to become more physically active. This initiative will primarily focus on reducing the risk of breast and colorectal cancer, while also strengthening the overall quality of preventive care.
Among the seven awardees, five are from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, with three led by the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research in partnership with the Institute for Implementation Science. McGovern Medical School received two grants focused on therapies for brain metastases and cancer-induced muscle wasting. Other funded projects include rural breast cancer screening, firefighter decontamination, and expanding cervical cancer prevention via community health worker programs—ensuring a broad impact across public health and medical disciplines in Texas.
You can read more about all of the awardees here.
| | Four Epidemiology Faculty Selected for Health Educators Fellowship Program | |
The Health Educators Fellowship Program (HEFP) is an 18-month certificate program that strengthens teaching skills and supports UTHealth Houston’s educational mission. Offered every other year, HEFP brings together faculty from six UTHealth Houston schools and MD Anderson Cancer Center to foster collaboration and innovation in health professions education. Fellows participate in interactive workshops, scholarly projects, and peer learning to develop into leaders in health education.
Congratulations to the following Department of Epidemiology faculty selected for the 2026–2027 HEFP cohort:
Audrey Choh, PhD, Assistant Professor, Brownsville Campus
Heather T. Essigmann, PhD, Assistant Professor, Houston Campus
Elena Feofanova, PhD, Assistant Professor, Houston Campus
Jenil Patel, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dallas Campus
Their participation reflects a commitment to advancing educational excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through this program, these faculty members will develop strategies to enhance student learning and contribute to the broader mission of preparing future public health professionals.
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS | | | |
Ayele Awarded AHA Predoctoral Fellowship
Congratulations to Hossaena Ayele, MSc, an Epidemiology doctoral student with the Center for Infectious Diseases, on receiving a prestigious American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship. This competitive award supports promising researchers as they pursue innovative projects that advance cardiovascular and brain health.
Ayele’s research focuses on understanding how polymicrobial interactions influence antimicrobial-resistant Enterococcus faecium within the gut microbiome.
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Epidemiology Career Seminar Series
Are you a PhD or DrPH graduate from the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Epidemiology program? We’d love for you to be a part of a new Quarterly Career Seminar Series for doctoral students starting Fall 2025!
We are seeking alumni from all sectors—academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and beyond—to:
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Share candid insights into life after graduation
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Share career journeys
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Discuss challenges and lessons learned
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Offer practical advice on navigating transitions and exploring opportunities in the field
Your experiences can provide invaluable guidance and inspiration as students shape their professional paths, while you continue building your network and gaining visibility as a leader in your field.
Interested in participating or learning more?
Please fill out the form at go.uth.edu/AlumniSpeakerForm or email Elena.V.Feofanova@uth.tmc.edu for more information.
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Evidence in Alzheimer's Disease
Thursday, January 15
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
via Zoom
The Stroke Institute Brain Health Research Group is an exciting new initiative dedicated to advancing brain health research.
This month's presentation, "Developing a performance-based test for monitoring dementia risk: Evidence in Alzheimer's Disease," by Dr. Sydney Schaefer, Arizona State University.
Registration Information:
go.uth.edu/brain-health-monthly-meeting
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8th Annual Symposium on Aging
Monday, February 9
Brown Foundation
Institute of Molecular Medicine
The symposium features a full day of in-person presentations on various aging-related topics by UTHealth Houston faculty and invited scholars. A highlight of the event is the project pitch competition, where junior researchers, supported by the Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation, will compete for a total of $35,000 in seed funding to be awarded to three nominees.
More information available here.
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The Cupboard Student Food Bank
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
RAS Building, B-04
Wednesday, January 14
Thursday, January 15
Wednesday, January 21
Thursday, January 22
Wednesday, January 28
Wednesday, January 29
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. | | | | |
