On Location: SER Conference June 18-21, Austin, Texas | |
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In June, the Department of Epidemiology faculty, staff, and students attended the Society of Epidemiologic Research Conference in Austin, Texas.
Assistant Professors Andrea Ramirez Varela, PhD, and Jenil Patel, PhD presented their research during the poster session, and Assistant Professor Augusto De Moraes, PhD, presented a cross-sectional study at the event.
Varela won first place in the second poster session for her research titled "Assessment of four South American countries' COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, responses, and lessons learned." The results of the study demonstrated that structural and contextual barriers limited prevention, preparedness, and response activities at political, social, and economic levels in each country, as well as through the structure of the health care system. There was insufficient political will to prioritize pandemic post-COVID-19 recovery programs in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and other South American countries’ national public health agendas.
Epidemiology PhD Student Akpevwe Amanda Ojaruega, MPH, and Biostatistics PhD Student Jeremiah Akpabio, MS, presented two posters at the conference. They won second place in the third poster session for their research titled "The relationship between housing types and the risk of COVID-19 infection in a university student population: a pilot convenience sample study."
This pilot study investigated the relationship between housing types and the risk of COVID-19 infection among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that specific living environments, like fraternity and sorority houses, significantly influenced the spread of COVID-19, offering insights for targeted public health strategies in student populations and academic communities.
Epidemiology Academic and Admissions advisor, JR F. Bright, assisted at the School of Public Health information booth during the student recruitment fair. Alumni, students, and guests were also invited to the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Health Living offices to view the new offices in Austin.
You can view more photos from the conference here.
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EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS | |
Department of Epidemiology Faculty Retreat - May 30 - 31 | |
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The Department of Epidemiology faculty from all six campuses recently convened for a successful two-day event aimed at fostering connection and collaboration. The event began with a student mixer at the School of Public Health, followed by an informal faculty dinner. The second day featured an all-day retreat at the Hotel Intercontinental, where discussions focused on enhancing the student experience, strengthening the academic curriculum, and promoting research collaboration. Faculty feedback was unanimous on the success of the retreat, and we look forward to coming back together again in the near future.
You can see more photos on our Flickr stream.
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Professor DuPont Reviews New Biotherapeutic Treatments
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Department of Epidemiology Professor Herbert DuPont, MD, recently published a review of two new live biotherapeutic products to treat recurrent C difficile infections (rCDI).
The review compares new live biotherapeutic products for safety, effectiveness, and cost to help clinicians make decisions. Both new treatments are shown to cure rCDI in patients.
Read more about the advanced therapies in the Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology.
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Researchers Link Cardiovascular Health to Higher Cognitive Functions in Adolescents | |
Cardiovascular health behaviors and overall cardiovascular health were directly associated with adolescent brain development and cognitive function, according to UTHealth Houston research published this month.
Led by first author Augusto César F. De Moraes, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, researchers found that adolescents with healthier cardiovascular behaviors showed higher cognitive and executive function.
Additional UTHealth Houston authors included Ethan H. Hunt, PhD, and Harold W. Kohl, PhD (in memoriam). You can read more from the study in the journal Mental Health and Physical Activity.
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Volunteer Faculty and Students Help Hit Hefty Milestone
June 21 was a special day for one of our community partners as Jardin de Milagros delivered their millionth pound of donated produce to the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief!
Over the 14 years, it has taken to reach this milestone, students and faculty at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health and the UTHealth Houston Center for Community Health Impact have collaborated and volunteered with these local organizations to address the nutritional needs of the El Paso community.
You can learn more here.
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10th Year of Annual UT PRIDE Survey Open to LGBTQ+ Groups
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This year marks the 10th anniversary of the annual UT PRIDE Survey, which was initially designed by Assistant Professor Irene Tami-Maury, DrPH, to assess tobacco use and nicotine addiction among LGBTQ+ identified individuals.
The data gathered by the survey has been essential to the development and evaluation of tobacco prevention and control interventions intended for sexual and gender minority groups.
After analyzing responses to the 2022 survey, which was distributed to 183 LGBTQ+ individuals, the research team found that gay/bisexual men had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, and HIV diagnosis compared to lesbian/bisexual women. They also found that gay/bisexual men were 2.79 times more likely to have a higher risk for stroke compared to lesbian/bisexual women.
Over the years, Tami-Maury's team has expanded the bilingual survey to include online access and updated this year to include oral health and dental care.
This year’s PRIDE Survey is available now in English and in Spanish to collect responses for the 2024 year.
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Varela Calls for a New Perspective on Global Physical Activity Research | |
Assistant Professor Andrea Ramirez Varela, PhD, and Pedro Hallal from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity(GoPA!) have published new commentary advocating for new approaches to global physical activity surveillance, research, and policy
In 2012, the first global estimate of physical inactivity among adults showed a prevalence of 31.1%, and a decade later, it was found to be 31.3%, highlighting a lack of progress. Varela and Hallal have emphasized the need to consider the context and purpose of physical activity, as work and household activities are the main contributors to physical activity in many low-income countries, while leisure time contributes more in high-income countries. They have urged the field that physical activity recommendations should be tailored to address the needs of individuals in strenuous occupations to achieve global health-enhancing physical activity goals.
Varela also serves as managing director of GoPa!
You can read more in The Lancet Global Health journal.
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EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS | | |
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MPH Graduate Heads to Medical School
A native of Houston, Emily Ostermaier, a second-year MPH student in epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Dallas, credits the city’s diversity with igniting her interest in pursuing research related to chronic conditions in immigrant and refugee communities.
Ostermaier was drawn to the School of Public Health because of its wide variety of concentrations in various areas of public health.
During her two-year program, her research spaned across institutions in Texas, including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Parkland Health and Hospital Systems in Dallas.
You can read more about Ostermaier's professional journey here.
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Fall 2024 Schedule Available to View; Registration Opens July 10 | |
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The fall 2024 schedule is now available to view on the Interactive Class Schedule webpage. Registration opens for the fall semester on Wednesday, July 10, at 8:00 am, so start planning your courses now!
Permission Codes: Students can begin requesting permission codes directly through our permission code portal on Thursday, June 27. Watch our ‘How to request a permission code’ tutorial for a demo!
For additional important registration information and dates, see the Course Schedule & Syllabi webpage and the list of Fall 2024 Enrollment Dates.
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Sign up today to connect and engage with your fellow students and alumni!
uthealthhoustonalumni.org
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Join the UTHealth Houston Alumni Community Platform!
Are you a student looking to expand your network and access valuable resources? Consider joining the UTHealth Houston Alumni Community platform!
Here's what you can expect:
· Community Connections: Connect with alumni with valuable experience and insights to share.
· Event Postings: Stay updated on events happening within the UTHealth community, including networking events, workshops, and seminars.
· Mentorship Opportunities: Explore mentorship opportunities with alumni who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your academic and professional endeavors.
Joining the platform is a great way to stay connected with the UTHealth Houston community and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge and resources available to you.
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APHA 2024
Annual Meeting & Expo
October 27 - 30
Registration Now Open
Mark your calendars for the registration opening for the upcoming APHA Annual meeting and expo in Minneapolis, MN, on Oct 27 - 30.
Registration Link
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TEPHI Grand Rounds
July 10, 2024
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
We will discuss new vaccines that have been licensed in the US or available globally in the past few years, as well as promising vaccines in phase 3 trials.
For More Information &
Registration: Link
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The Cupboard
Monday, July 8
Wednesday, July 11
Monday, July 15
Thursday, July 29
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
The Cupboard is a no-cost food resource
for students and staff who may
need assistance.
Location: SPH Building, B-04
Email: TheCupboard@uth.tmc.edu
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Houston Global Health Collaborative
Executive Board Applications
Now Open
Deadline to Apply:
July 29
The Houston Global Health Collaborative seeks students/trainees with diverse backgrounds and experiences who are passionate about our mission to unite the member institutions of the Texas Medical Center to further global health education, research, and service.
Information and Registration Link
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The UTHealth Houston Institute on Aging is pleased to announce a request for applications for the 2024 Translational Aging Research pilot grants. Applications are open until July 18th. For more information, please click here. | |
Stay in the Loop with Epidemiology! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to catch up with EPI news, events, and more! | |
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 sphehges@uth.tmc.edu. | | | | |
