New School of Public Health Building to Welcome Students This Fall | | |
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health is preparing to open its new 10-story, 350,000-square-foot building at 1930 Spanish Trail at Helix Park in Houston, Texas, for the start of the Fall 2026 semester.
Faculty, staff, and students have already begun moving into the state-of-the-art facility, which features modern classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, advanced technology, and specialized research laboratories. The new building includes expanded office and lab space for the Department of Epidemiology and its research centers, supporting the department’s continued growth in research, education, and community engagement. The facility is designed to foster innovation and collaboration while advancing public health across Texas.
You can read more details about our new building here.
| | EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS | | Texas Sleep Ambassador Program Celebrates First Graduating Cohort | | |
The Texas Sleep Ambassador Program is celebrating the graduation of its inaugural cohort of Community Health Workers (CHWs), marking an important step toward improving sleep health across Texas.
Led by Principal Investigator Qian Xiao, PhD, associate professor with the Department of Epidemiology, and Co-investigators Rosalia Guerrero, PhD, program manager with the Community Health Worker Training Program, Professor Sudha Tallavajhula, MD, McGovern Medical School, and post-doctoral researchers Meina Zhang, PhD, and Erika Figueroa-Solis, PhD, the program provides specialized training in sleep health through virtual and in-person learning, expert-led seminars, and community-focused projects.
Participant Cathie Chlison Partridge, MA, Community Health Liaison with GRASSROOTS HEALTH Project, said, “The program equipped me with some concrete tools to help others with sleep challenges” and helped her become a stronger advocate and role model for improving sleep health in her community.
Designed to equip trusted community health leaders with the knowledge and tools to address sleep deficiency and related health disparities, the program aims to expand access to sleep health education and create a sustainable model that can reach underserved communities statewide.
| | Epidemiology Researchers Present at SER | |
Assistant Professors Ami Sedani, PhD, and Jenil Patel, PhD, represented the Department of Epidemiology at the annual Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Conference in Phoenix, where they presented their research and engaged with collaborators and colleagues from across the field. Sedani also served on the SER Communications Committee, contributing to the organization’s efforts to engage and inform members across the epidemiology community.
The conference, one of the premier gatherings in epidemiology, provided opportunities to share research findings, discuss emerging methods, and foster new collaborations.
| | Balasubramanian Presents Implementation Science Research in India | |
Epidemiology Professor Bijal Balasubramanian, PhD, was invited by the Division of Implementation Science and Behavioural Research at the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology (ACTREC) to present at the workshop “Bridging Evidence and Practice: A Hands-on Workshop on Implementation Research in Public Health,” held June 15–17, 2026, in Mumbai, India.
During the workshop, Bala engaged with participants working on projects addressing critical public health challenges across India. The event provided an opportunity to share expertise in implementation research, foster collaboration, and discuss strategies for translating evidence into effective public health practice.
| | Center for Healthy Communities Showcases Food Is Medicine Research at FIMCON 2026 | | The Center for Healthy Communities team, including Center Director Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, FAHA; Senior Project Manager Naomi Tice, MPH; and Research Scientist Maha Almohamad, PhD, presented three Food Is Medicine (FIM) projects at FIMCON 2026 in Washington, DC. Presentations included the Texas FIM Landscape Scan, a statewide review examining Food Is Medicine programs, partnerships, funding, and implementation approaches across Texas; The About Fresh study, which evaluates technology-enhanced communication strategies to improve participation and produce purchasing among pregnant Medicaid recipients enrolled in a Produce Prescription program; and the RENEW Pilot, a community-driven project that engaged stroke survivors, caregivers, and clinicians in designing a more accessible Food Is Medicine intervention. The conference provided an opportunity to share findings, strengthen collaborations, and advance efforts to improve access to nutrition and health outcomes. | | EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS | |
From Inspiration to Impact:
Harsha Gottimukkala’s Path in Epidemiology
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Harsha Gottimukkala, MD, MPH, a recent graduate of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Epidemiology MPH program, has built a path shaped by personal inspiration, meaningful mentorship, and a commitment to improving population health.
His interest in medicine began with his grandfather, a physician who served a rural community in India with limited resources. Later, witnessing his grandfather’s battle with a brain tumor deepened his understanding of the challenges patients and families face and highlighted the importance of addressing healthcare disparities through both medicine and public health.
Originally from Vijayawada, India, Gottimukkala earned his medical degree in 2023 and subsequently pursued an MPH in Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston.
During the program, he expanded his research skills through a community-based practicum with Brighter Bites, a systematic review on cervical cancer brachytherapy, and his work as a Graduate Research Assistant at the UTHealth Houston Stroke Institute under the mentorship of Deniz Dishman, PhD. There, he gained hands-on experience with clinical research and patient engagement, sparking a strong interest in clinical trials and translational research.
Mentorship played a defining role in his academic journey. Gottimukkala credits Epidemiology Assistant Professor Heather Essigmann, PhD, with strengthening his foundation in epidemiologic methods and critical thinking through her courses. He also completed his culminating project under the guidance of Sunil Krishnan, MD, whose mentorship further fueled his passion for cancer research and translating scientific discoveries into improved patient outcomes.
Following graduation, Gottimukkala matched into Radiation Oncology at UTMB Galveston. His long-term goal is to become a physician-scientist focused on advancing cancer research while improving access to care and health equity for patients.
Read more about Harsha Gottimukkala’s journey here.
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Emergency Preparedness Research Featured in El Fronterizo Newsletter
Epidemiology doctoral student Linjie Li, MPH, was featured in the July 1 issue of El Fronterizo, the newsletter of the Office of Border Public Health. Her article, “Emergency Preparedness in South Texas Border Communities,” highlights research examining disaster readiness among adults living in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
The study found significant gaps in emergency preparedness, including low rates of family emergency plans and challenges related to evacuation assistance.
You can read the entire newsletter here.
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APHA 2026
Annual Meeting & Expo
November 1 - 4
San Antonio, Texas
Registration is now open for APHA 2026: Together We Thrive—Health Across the Lifespan, November 1–4 in San Antonio. Join thousands of public health professionals for networking, learning, and collaboration.
Registration information
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Brain Health
Journal Club
Tuesday, July 9
4:00 pm - 5:00 CDT
Virtual Event
Brain Health Journal Club invites everyone to join us for an engaging discussion on brain health, physical exercise, and related research.
Registration information
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2026 Summit
Texas Food Is Medicine Movement:
From Plate to Policy
Monday, November 30
Save the date for the upcoming Texas Food Is Medicine Movement: From Plate to Policy to be held at the new location for the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Houston, TX.
Please email Naomi Tice to be notified of the upcoming summit.
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Important Deadlines
July 1
First day of classes for the 6-week-2 session
July 3
Independence Day Holiday; the university is closed
July 8
Fall class course registration opens at 8:00 am via myUTH
Visit My SPH SharePoint for more information
| | 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. | | | | |
