Welcome New Epidemiology Students! | |
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UTHealth Houston School of Public Health kicked off the school year with a new student orientation, a student resource fair, a coffee social, and an alumni panel! We are excited to welcome our new and returning Epidemiology students back for the school year.
You can view more photos from Orientation and Welcome Week on our Flickr channel.
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EPIDEMIOLOGY FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS | |
New PRIME Award to Study Latino Youth Health Disparities
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Physical inactivity is a major global health issue, contributing to millions of deaths annually and leading to significant health problems, particularly among children. Despite the benefits of physical activity, only 23% of children in the United States meet recommended guidelines, with Latino children facing even greater disparities. Assistant Professor Andrea Ramirez Varela, PhD, has received a PRIME award for a pilot study that will evaluate a soccer-based intervention, "Futbolito for All," in low-income, predominantly Latino schools in Houston. The pilot study aims to improve physical activity and health outcomes for Latino youth.
Varela is the principal investigator, along with Baker Institute Fellow Christopher Kulesza, PhD, Baker Institute at Rice University, and Associate Professor Zoabe Hafeez, MD, at the McGovern Medical School.
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NODAL Gene Variants Identified as Key Drivers of Heterotaxy and Laterality Defects in Congenital Heart Disease | |
A new study investigates the role of NODAL genetic variants in causing laterality defects and congenital heart disease (CHD) by analyzing exomes from 333 individuals with these conditions. The researchers identified a variety of NODAL gene mutations, including missense, nonsense, and structural variants, which were associated with heterotaxy and other defects. A notable finding was the recurrent c.778G > A.G260R missense variant, which was reclassified from a variant of uncertain significance to likely pathogenic, particularly in individuals of Hispanic ancestry. The study highlights the importance of rare deleterious NODAL variants in sporadic laterality defects and supports a model where gene dosage affects the clinical phenotype.
Epidemiology Assistant Professor Zeynep Coban-Akdemir, PhD, co-led this team's efforts with James Lupski, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, and Shaine Morris, PhD, from Texas Children's Hospital. The study, published in Genome Medicine, can be read here.
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EPIDEMIOLOGY STUDENT NEWS | |
Public Health Through the Lens of a New Graduate | |
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The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted frontline healthcare workers, inspiring many to pursue careers in public health. Epidemiology Graduate Srusti Bhalerao, MPH, BDS, is one such individual whose experiences on the frontlines in India drove her to study epidemiology. As a dental professional, Bhalerao witnessed the challenges patients faced and the critical gaps in disease management and prevention. These experiences highlighted the need for a deeper understanding of disease transmission and the development of evidence-based interventions.
Bhalerao’s journey in public health began in Mumbai, India, where she was raised in a family of doctors and engineers. This background instilled in her a strong work ethic and a passion for healthcare and technology. Bhalerao earned her Bachelor’s in Dental Surgery from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences in 2021, where she held leadership roles and actively participated in community health programs. These experiences solidified her commitment to public health, combining clinical practice with epidemiological research.
Pursuing an MPH in Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health was a pivotal decision in Bhalerao’s career. The program’s rigorous curriculum and location in the Texas Medical Center provided an ideal environment for career growth. The School of Public Health is renowned for offering some of the best education in the U.S., supported by exceptional faculty who offer invaluable mentorship and expertise. These factors made the School of Public Health the ideal choice for advancing her education and career in epidemiology. Her time at the School was enriched by opportunities as a Graduate Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and through a prestigious internship at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shaping her research focus and professional development.
Bhalerao gives credit to her faculty advisor, Assistant Professor Heather Essigmann, PhD, for playing a pivotal role in guiding and supporting her academic journey. Essigmann’s mentorship helped refine her research focus and help her achieve her goals throughout her program. As a testament to the program’s impact, Bhalerao received two job offers before she graduated from the MPH program.
Looking forward, Bhalerao aims to lead research projects that advance public health and is considering pursuing a PhD or further clinical studies. Her primary goal is to conduct independent research, publish findings, and contribute to improving patient outcomes and health policies. Through ongoing professional development, mentorship, and collaboration, Bhalerao seeks to make a meaningful impact on public health by developing new treatments, enhancing disease prevention strategies, and influencing health policies.
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SIFE Graduate Students: (above) Ruchi Pavaskar, MPH and Odinakachukwu Dimgba, MBBS (below) | |
Center for Health Equity Summer Intensive Fellowship Experience
The Center for Health Equity launched a paid summer intensive fellowship experience (SIFE) in health equity as an opportunity for graduate students at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. The framework for SIFE was informed and designed by students, along with guidance and support from Jemima John, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology and CHE researcher. Along with generous support from the Shine Academy for Health Sciences Education, Odinakachukwu Dimgba, MBBS, and Ruchi Pavaskar, MPH, were selected as the inaugural fellows.
To learn more about the summer intensive fellowship or how to engage with the CHE, visit our website here.
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Nembhard Selected as President-Elect for the Society for Epidemiologic Research
Alumna Wendy Nembhard, PhD, MPH, FACE, has been voted in as the new incoming president-elect of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER.) As president-elect, Nembhard serves on the Executive Committee for SER, which hosts the nation's oldest epidemiology society.
"It is truly an honor to be elected as the president-elect of the Society for Epidemiology Research," said Nembhard, a 1997/2000 MPH and PhD graduate from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. "It has been my intellectual home, where I meet current and past colleagues, friends, and past trainees and introduce them to this exciting society of epidemiology professionals."
Read more in the School of Public Health News.
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Welcome Back Social for Epidemiology Students
Wednesday, September 18
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
RAS Building, 6th Floor Lobby
Welcome new and returning Epidemiology students.
Join us for the Welcome Back Social for snacks, shirts, and swag. Stop by anytime between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
All new and returning Epidemiology students, faculty, and staff are invited.
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Annual Student
InterCouncil Salutation
Thursday, September 5
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
All UTHealth Houston students are invited to attend the 26th Annual Student InterCouncil Salutation on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The event, co-sponsored by UTHealth Houston’s President’s Office, will feature free food and drinks, giveaways, and prizes such as monthly parking passes, gift cards, and studio buds, to name a few.
More Information Here
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TEPHI
MODULE 208: Contact Trace
September 5, 2024
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Virtual - Webex
This is a brief overview of conducting a contact trace during an outbreak or exposure event in a healthcare facility, with a focus on strategies to reduce transmission and ensure the safety of both patients and staff. The learning objectives are to describe and provide an example of contact tracing, recognize when a contact trace needs to be conducted, and discuss a case example.
For More Information &
Registration: Link
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The Cupboard
Every Wednesday and Thursday
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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Partnerships between Health Care and Community Based Organizations for
Food is Medicine
Wednesday, September 11
Noon to 1:00 PM
Virtual Webinar
Join the Center for Health Equity for a virtual webinar led by the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School to provide training and analysis on best practices for partnering between community-based organizations (CBOs) and healthcare entities, including example state policies that can support successful partnerships.
Information and Registration Link
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Implementation Science Networking Event
Thursday, September 5, 2024
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
UTHealth Houston faculty and IIS members are invited to join us for a special networking event featuring presentations and interactive discussions with leading experts in implementation science.
Registration Information
go.uth.edu/IIS-HTX-2024
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September 2
Labor Day - SPH Closed
September 11
Census Date - Drop Date
Register to Vote!
Cooley Center: Sept. 5, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
TMC Commons: Sept. 11, Sept. 25 and Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m
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Stay in the Loop with Epidemiology! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to catch up with EPI news, events, and more! | |
Free Mini Courses - Writing Services
Starting Oct 2
Fundamentals of English Grammar (Oct. 3–24, 2024; Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.)
This course is designed for graduate students who want to improve their academic writing by "brushing up" on the fundamentals of English grammar. It focuses on grammatical issues commonly found in graduate student writing, such as the appropriate use of verb tenses. Students also have individual weekly meetings with the instructor and receive feedback on their own writing. To register for this course, please e-mail Dr. Patricia McEvoy-Jamil at Patricia.A.McEvoyJamil@uth.tmc.edu.
English Pronunciation and Communication for Non-Native English Speakers (Oct. 2–23, 2024; Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.)
This four-week non-credit mini-course offers a structured exploration of English pronunciation and communication for students who speak English as a second or foreign language. Through a series of four comprehensive lessons, students will delve into fundamental concepts such as phonetics, stress patterns, and intonation, with a focus on developing clear and articulate speech in American English. Emphasizing both rules and practical application, this course will help equip learners with the necessary skills to communicate more effectively and confidently in English in academic and professional contexts. To register for this course, please e-mail Dr. Zhiling "Willa" Wu at Zhiling.Wu@uth.tmc.edu.
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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. | | | | |
