UTH

News Archive

From left: Dean Eric Boerwinkle, PhD; Theresa Tran, MD; Mayor John Whitmire; President Melina R. Kibbe, MD; and Scott Forbes. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

UTHealth Houston partners with city of Houston to establish new academic health department

UTHealth Houston announced today a partnership with the city of Houston to establish a new academic health department that will strengthen the region’s public health workforce, expand hands-on training opportunities, and deepen collaboration between academic experts and city health leaders.

Shreela Sharma pictured in front of greenery. (Photo by UTHealth Houston)

Sharma named fellow of the American Heart Association

Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, vice chair and professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, has been named a 2026 fellow of the American Heart Association.  

Screenshot of a data visualization webpage from the Bexar County Gun Safety Project titled “Bexar Responsibly.”

Testa collaborates with authorities in Bexar County to bring attention to gun thefts from vehicles through new dashboard

Alexander Testa, PhD, associate professor in San Antonio, has been studying gun safety for years, and this year, in collaboration with Bexar County’s Bexar Responsibly Campaign Testa helped provide the data and structure for a brand new gun theft dashboard that the county is hoping will help residents understand the scope of the problem.

Ashley Shaw

Centering Youth Voices in Mental Health Research: The Work of Emily Lemon, PhD, MPH

Emily Lemon, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences in Brownsville and faculty member at the Center for Healthy Communities, is dedicated to advancing youth mental health through community-engaged research that centers young people as partners in the research process.

Kristina Mena appointed to EPA’s Science Advisory Board

A professional headshot of a woman with short dark hair and green eyes, wearing a bright red blazer and a delicate necklace, smiling at the camera. The background is softly blurred with greenery and a warm sunset sky.

May 7, 2026

Kristina D. Mena, PhD, MSPH, has been selected to serve on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board, a national panel that provides independent scientific guidance on environmental and public health issues.


Leading change

Sofia Tovar

May 6, 2026

MPH in Healthcare Management graduate Sofia Tovar is focused on driving meaningful change across the health system landscape.




Data Discovery and Purpose 

Arham Salman pictured in front of research poster.

May 4, 2026

For Arham Salman, public health is not just about discovering and analyzing data, it’s about translating science into actionable insights.  


A Passion for Health Promotion

Jazzmyn Hollister pictured in Bolivia in front of wall art depicting Chagas clinic.

May 1, 2026

For Jazzmyn Hollister, a second-year MPH student with the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, public health has always been rooted in a simple yet powerful idea: helping communities thrive.


2026 Teaching Awards

Photo of trophy with glitter and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health logo pictured on top of gray background.

May 1, 2026

Congratulation's to this year's recipients of the Teaching Awards






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