River Oaks Country Club
Jan. 27
Commencement
May 14, 2016
2016 APHA Conference
Oct. 29-Nov. 2
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President's Welcome 
Dear Colleagues,
Happy New Year!
Welcome to our alumni community!
My goal is to preserve a mutually beneficial relationship amongst UTHealth School of Public Health alumni and the
u
niversity. As your president, I am constantly seeking meaningful ways to embrace your needs and unite our efforts in the name of Public Health.
I am excited about the direction and future of the Alumni Association and look forward to serving and sharing information with you. I urge you to become an active alum and share in the exciting activities and opportunities this organization has to offer. There are a variety of ways you can show appreciation and play a significant part in the continued success of UTHealth SPH. You can enhance the reputation of UTHealth SPH and nourish its growth by attending events such as the Alumni Panel and
Networking Social
; become a mentor; donate time and money to help UTHealth SPH students; and foster loyalty and promote fellowship amongst alumni, faculty and staff.
Lastly, I encourage you to participate in the upcoming Alumni Association Executive Board elections.
The Executive Board plays an important role in communicating alumni views and opinions to the
university administration and setting strategic direction for the Alumni Association. Your participation in this election is important as it helps guide the future of our alma mater. Please be on the lookout for the official election ballot email in the next few days and cast your vote for the best candidate.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to enhancing and advancing the reputation of UTHealth School of Public Health. I look forward to working with each of you over the next few months!
Sincerely,
Polly Sparks Turner, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., R.Ph.
President, Alumni Association
UTHealth SPH Advisory Council
UTHealth Development Board
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Alumni
Association Executive Board
nominations and ballot
Thank you to all alumni who expressed an interest in serving on the executive board of the UTHealth School of Public Health Alumni Association! We received many inquiries regarding the vacant positions and we're delighted by the overwhelming response.
The 2016 elections will take place online from January 26-February 9 and the results will be announced February 16, 2016. Ballots and voting instructions will be emailed on Tuesday, January 26 to all alumni members for whom the Alumni Association has an email address.
As a refresher, the
following board positions are available:
- president-elect
- The president-elect will succeed to the office of the President and shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence. He/she shall also assist the President in any way the President deems necessary in administering the activities of the Alumni Association.
- treasurer
- The treasurer shall prepare the budget for the Alumni Association based on the planned activities for the coming year. He/she shall also present a financial report at each meeting and oversee the expenditure and disbursement of Alumni Association funds.
- secretary
- The secretary shall prepare and distribute the minutes from all Alumni Association or Board meetings and is responsible for maintaining the records.
- at-large directors (3)
- The three at-large-directors shall serve the Alumni Association in general matters and perform other related duties as requested by the president in administering activities of the Alumni Association.
For more information, please contact Kori Gould.
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Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D., named dean of
UTHealth School of Public Health
Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D., a world-renowned genetics researcher and educator, has been appointed dean of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, effective January 1.
"Dr. Boerwinkle is an outstanding scientist, known around the world for his research involving the genetic causes of our most common and debilitating diseases. Working with leaders and faculty members from across the school's six campuses, Dr. Boerwinkle will leve
...
rage our state-wide reach to address critical public health issues, including population health, comparative effectiveness research and precision medicine. He will implement a new strategic direction founded on collaboration and team-building both within the school and with other programs throughout our university. I am confident that under his leadership our School of Public will be recognized as one of the best in the country," said Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, M.D., UTHealth president and Alkek-Williams Distinguished Chair. Read the story here.
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James H. "Red" Duke, Jr., M.D.
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| James H. "Red" Duke, Jr., M.D. |
1928 - 2015
UTHealth mourned the passing of beloved surgeon, teacher and patient advocate James H. "Red" Duke, Jr., M.D., who singl
e-handedly changed the face of trauma medicine and made UTHealth and Memorial Hermann famous around the world. Stories have appeared in more than 650 media across the globe, a tribute to Duke's impact on the field of medicine.
There is also a special webpage here.
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Have you seen us around Houston?
Get to know the many faces of UTHealth
UTHealth is "ready for its close-up."
As you may have noticed, billboards are springing up around town featuring all six schools of UTHealth, as Phase One of a two-year marketing campaign gets underway. These simple, clear billboards serve to remind Houstonians to connect our official name with our shortened, easy-to-remember name.
"Phase One serves to reinforce that we are a 'community of experts' all working together to solve the most challenging health-related issues of our time," says Karen Kaplan, assistant vice president of Public Affairs. "There are many facets and certainly many faces to UTHealth, and the rest of the campaign will highlight our strengths in extraordinary visuals. Right now, we're starting at the very beginning-with our name."
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Davis elected to International Statistical Institute
Barry Davis, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biostatistics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, has been elected a member of the International Statistical Institute (ISI).
The ISI is one of the oldest international scientific associations functioning in the modern world. Its first congresses were convened in 1853 and it was formally established in 1885. The Institute is an autonomous society which seeks to develop and improve statistical methods and their application through the promotion of international activity and cooperation.
Read the full story here.
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Nyitray, Hicks publish article in OutSmart magazine
on HPV, gay men and cancer
Alan Nyitray, Ph.D, ass
istant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences and
Joseph Hicks, D.V.M., graduate assistant and Ph.D. candidate, recently collaborated on an article published in OutSmart, Houston's LGBT Magazine. The article discusses how HPV affects men and its role in causing anal cancer.
G
etting the word out to t
he community is an important task, as Nyitray explains.
"Anal cancer incidence has increased three fold in the last three decades but it has n
o standard screening protocol," says Nyitray. "Raising awareness and assessing screening options in the highest risk group, gay, bisexual and other men having sex with men, is a cancer prevention priority in this community."
They state in the article, "Certain types of HPV can also cause cancer, and the best estimates indicate that about one in 1,000 gay men may get anal cancer this year. HPV causes cervical cancer in women, and several hundred thousand women worldwide die of cervical cancer every year."
"Our study is looking at whether we can teach gay men to screen themselves or their partners for anal cancer and other anal diseases. Right now, we are looking for gay couples to come into our Friday clinic at Dr. Crofoot's office. There, we teach participants how to do an anal exam, ask them to take a couple of surveys, and then see how the results of their own exams stack up against a trained professional's." Read the full article here.
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UTHealth recognized as development site for health care
transparency research
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Trudy Krause, Ph.D. and Cecilia Ganduglia Cazaban, M.D., Dr.P.H
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The Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement (NRHI) has named the Center for Healthcare Data Research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health as one of four additional development sites for its Quality Reporting and Total Cost of Care project. The project is focused on breaking down barriers to reporting the quality and performance level of health care providers and the total cost of health care in communities.
The project first began in 2013 when five regional health improvement collaborations came together to report quality measures and the cost of health care at the primary care-level in their communities. Through this process, the group developed a standard way to implement transparent reporting to enable comparisons from one physician to another and across states. The overall goal is to inform strategies to contribute to the triple aim of improving quality, reducing cost and improving overall health. Read the full story here.
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2015 American Public Health Association Conference
UTHealth School of Public Health student presenters
Several UTHealth School of Public Health students attended and/or presented at the 2015 American Public Health Association (APHA) conference. The conference was held in Chicago from Oct. 31-Nov. 4.
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Isabel J. Roth, M.S.
Title: "Ethical Considerations for Community Dissemination of an Evidence-Based Intervention: A Systematic Approach"
Vishnu Nepal, M.Sc., M.P.H.
Title: "Do Socio-demographic Correlates of Fall-Related Injuries Vary by Body Mass Index?"
Will Shropshire, M.P.H.
Title: "Evaluating the inclusion of people with disabilities in chronic disease prevention and health promotion programs."
Poster presentation: "Depression, Suicide, and Mental Health Service Utilization of Homeless LGBTQ Youth"
Carol Huber, M.B.A.
Title: "Achieving the Triple Aim through Regional Healthcare Partnerships and Learning Collaboratives"
Pragati Advani M.D., M.P.H., Dr.PH.(c)
Title: "Association between acculturation and cancer screening practices among Asian Indians residing in Houston, Texas."
Richlyn Yond, M.P.H.
Title: "More Than Just the Facts: HIV Providers in 7 U.S. Cities Identify Training Needs for HIV Preconception Care"
Vanessa Cox, M.S.
Title: "Association Between Being Out About Sexual Orientation to Primary Healthcare Provider and Physical Health Among Sexual Minority Women."
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Ben King, M.P.H.
Title: "A systematic assessment of the health and healthcare system impacts, costs and cost-offsets of a new street medicine program."
Caryn Turner, M.P.H.
Title: "Hearing Impairment and Noise-Induced Hearing Injury in the United States Military" (Poster Session-Diverse Topics in Public Health Epidemiology)
Swapna Reddy, J.D.
Title: "From surviving to thriving in the era of health care reform: Emerging lessons and promising practices for safety-net hospital systems transformation."
Felicia Carey, M.P.H.
Title: "Perceived Weight and Bullying Victimization in Boys and Girls"
Andrea Betts B.A., M.P.H.(c)
Title: "Accessible Weight Loss: Translating the GLB for people with impaired mobility"
Christina Ly, M.P.H.
Title: "Childhood obesity policies in Texas: Which are supported and why?"
Michelle Hashemi, M.P.H.
Abstract #331345
Title: "How to Communicate with Legislators about Obesity Prevention Policy"
Deepak Vancheswaran, M.P.H., Ph.D. (c)
Title: "Mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood and melanoma risk."
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Student Dennis Li wins poster competition
at 2015 LGBTQ Health Conference
Sixty-five students, professionals, and community health professionals presented
posters o
n topics addressing LGBTQ health issues throughout the life span and from various disciplinary approaches at the 2015 LGBTQ Health Conference, held the day before the APHA Annual Meeting in Chicago. UTHealth School of Public Health student Dennis Li had the first-place student poster, titled, "HIV Riskiness Classification of Venues That Serve Young Men Who Have Sex with Men."
Poster topics included program development, implementation, and evaluation; experiences with schools, the criminal justice system, the military, and transactional sex work; and health risk behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol use.
Read more online here.
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Student Tsun-Hsuan Chen wins first place in exposure science
conference poster competition
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Student Tsun-Hsuan Chen and assistant professor, Kai Zhang, Ph.D.
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UTHealth School of Public Health student Tsun-Hsuan Chen recently won first place in the student poster competition at the 25
th Annual International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Conference. Chen's poster was titled, "Impacts of cold weather on mortality in Texas, 1990-2011," and it was selected from more than 60 student posters.
The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) is the premier professional meeting of the year among exposure scientists who are dedicated to advancing the science of exposure analysis related to environmental hazards, both for human populations and ecosystems. Exposure science is a multidisciplinary field drawing expertise from epidemiology, toxicology, engineering, public health, environmental health sciences, policy, biostatistics, pharmacology, biology, chemistry, industrial hygiene, urban and regional planning, and many other fields. The ISES meeting attracts scientists of international acclaim from academia, government and the private sector.
This year, the theme of the 25
th ISES annual meeting was "Exposures in an Evolving Environment." The conference focus was on highlighting issues that affect the Southwest.
Recent recorded low temperatures and unusual snow accumulation in the U.S. and Europe have raised public awareness of potential health impacts of extreme winter weather. Chen's research showed that cold weather generally has significant impact on mortality in Texas. With a 1
°
C decrease in temperature below cold thresholds, excess risk in mortality increased by 0.1 percent to 5 percent, varying with cities. This research is important because due to a generally warm climate, Texans do not prepare for cold weather as thoroughly as those living in the North.
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Student shares stories from White House internship
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| Range worked closely with the White House gardener. |
Camille Range, a second-year student in the Dietetic Internship Program at UTHealth Schoolof Public Health, has a passion for educating families on how to lead healthy lifestyles. This passion led to her position as the only intern this summer for First Lady Michelle Obama's "
Let's Move!" campaign.
"I was thrilled to work for a national campaign promoting a healthier generation and I saw this internship as proof of the power of the mind. My mom and I used to joke how I should write First Lady Michelle Obama a letter about how much she has inspired me as an African-American female who focuses on nutrition and being active. Last fall, I decided it was time to put my best foot forward and spent months working on my application. I was fortunate to be accepted to the internship this year, before the administration leaves the White House and during the fifth anniversary of 'Let's Move!,'" Range said.
Read the story here.
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SPH and Rice offer new Health Scholars Program
The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) School of Public Health and Rice University have introduced a program that will allow Rice undergraduates in any discipline to earn a master's degree in public health one year after completing their undergraduate degrees.
Read more
here about the new partnership in the Newsroom.
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MPACH students win business plan competition 
Two teams from UTHealth School of Public Health competed in the Second Annual Business Plan Competition hosted by the Gulf Coast Medical Management Association on November 7. Raphael Ezeagu, Debanshu Roy and Jenna Sneed presented their Jetson approach to urgent care, proposing a telehealth pod model starting in San Antonio. Seyram Butame, Donovan Evans and Angela Lu proposed an urgent care and freestanding emergency department that would help meet the primary and chronic care needs of the Hispanic population in Laredo, Texas. Seyram, Donovan and Angela won the competition taking home a great experience as well as a $500 prize.
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School of Public Health community shares
cultures from around the globe at the seventh 
annual Diversity Fair
The UTHealth School of Public Health Student Association held its seventh annual Diversity Fair on Nov. 13 at UTHealth's Cooley Center.
The fair is a way to celebrate the school's diversity and increase cultural awareness within the community through cultural performances, exhibits and cuisine.
Read more about the event and its history here on the website.
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Alumnus Brian Smith receives Public Health Award
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| Brian Smith, M.D., M.PH. and TAFP past president Dale Ragle, M.D. Photo by TAFP/Jonathan Nelson |
Brian Smith, M.D., M.P.H., of McAllen, Texas, was awarded the Public Health Award by the Texas Academ
y of Family Physicians during the organization's 2015 Annual Session and Primary Care Summit in The Woodlands on Nov. 14. The award recognizes individuals who are making extraordinary contributions to the public health of Texas. Smith earned an M.P.H. from UTHealth School of Public Health and an M.D. from The University of Texas Health Science Center Southwestern Medical School in Dallas.
Smith served as the regional medical director for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Region 11 for 17 years, and for five additional years as the communicable disease clinician. In this role, he was responsible for 19 counties in south Texas, dealing with tuberculosis, diabetes, Ebola, influenza, and other cross-border issues. He provided emergency preparedness for many hurricanes and other natural disasters along the state's coast. Before joining DSHS, Smith practiced medicine in south Texas community health centers; with the Cherokees and Choctaws in Oklahoma; and in other countries including Guatemala, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Adapted from Texas Academy of Family Physicians press release
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Alumna finds children with specific birth defects at increased risk for abuse
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Bethanie Van Horne, Dr.P.H.
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Children born with cleft lip or palate and spina bifida are at an increased risk for abuse before the age of 2, according to research from an alumna of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, Bethanie Van Horne, Dr.P.H. The results were published in the December issue of the journal
Pediatrics. Van Horne is now
assistant director of state initiatives at UTHealth's Children's Learning Institute. She conducted the study as part of her dissertation at UTHealth School of Public Health.
In the study, researchers found that compared to children without birth defects the risk of maltreatment in children with cleft lip and/or palate was increased by 40 percent and for children with spina bifida, the risk was increased by 58 percent. These rates were especially high during the first year of life. However, children with Down syndrome were not at an increased risk compared to children with no birth defects.
"A baby with Down syndrome develops just like any other baby unless they have another congenital defect. When they start missing developmental milestones is when the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome become more apparent. Additionally, they typically do not have the same level of medical complexity as babies with cleft lip with or without cleft palate and spina bifida, who likely have a lot of medical needs and complications. If you've just given birth and have to deal with a lot more complexity and care, it's hard," said Van Horne.
Read the full story here.
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- Jose L. Medina, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.,CHES has been selected as an FDA Tobacco Regulatory Science Fellow by The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), formerly the Institute of Medicine, along with the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). Read the full story here.
- Jan M. Eberth, Ph.D. and Tisha M. Felder, Ph.D., early stage investigators with the Cancer Prevention and Control Program in the Arnold School of Public Health, recently received prestigious mentored research awards. Read full story here.
- Faisal H. Aboul-Enein, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., has been selected as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Earning the distinction of board certification in healthcare management as a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) signifies your expertise, experience and commitment to continuing education and professional development.
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Offering a practicum?
A practicum is a unique learning opportunity that allows students to apply classroom learning in a community-based setting. It is a required component of the M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. degree programs.
If you or your company would like to offer an opportunity for students to complete a practicum or field experience, please click here.
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Keep in touch! 
Have you kept in touch with an alumnus or alumna and know of some news that we could share? If so, please contact Kori Gould, Strategic Communications and External Affairs Specialist for the School of Public Health or call 713-500-9039.
We may share the news in the next alumni newsletter, on the website and possibly
more!
Please take a moment to update your Alumni information
here.
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- Linda J. Clark-McIntosh, M.P.H. '76
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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