Health of Texas Horizon plans to address emerging health needs for Texans 

Published: August 28, 2025

Health of Texas, which is led by team members from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, has three elements: Health of Texas Community, Health of Texas Data, and Health of Texas Horizon. 

What lies just beyond the horizon when it comes to health in Texas? That is one question that Health of Texas Horizon hopes to answer by leveraging Health of Texas findings. 

“Health of Texas?Horizon is a new opportunity?for us to address health across the state,” 
said Melissa Valerio-Shewmaker, PhD, MPH, professor and associate dean of Faculty Affairs at the school of public health. “What this will allow us?is to quickly identify?a special area or health topic?that is impacting a specific community.” 

Identifying these topics will allow Health of Texas Horizon to pivot and guide potential actions to address them. Some potential topics could include: 

• Maternal health 

• Health education 

• Mental health 

• Diabetes 

• Obesity 

• Rural and urban health 

Health of Texas participants may be contacted to be part of future Health of Texas Horizon projects, including completing additional surveys or other activities. All invitations will come from the Health of Texas team at UTHealth Houston. Participants should stay subscribed to Health of Texas communications to ensure they receive all updates. 

“My dream is that because of the Health?of Texas program,?all Texans are healthier,” said Eric Boerwinkle, PhD, dean of the school of public health. “The program is identifying?future directions?of how we can live healthier.?What can we do to improve our own health?” 

“This element is really allowing us?to look forward to the future,” Boerwinkle said. “What are the new threats to our health??How do we respond to those new threats?” 

In anticipation of future projects and partnerships to develop solutions for Texans’ health needs, Health of Texas Horizon will play a role in supporting a healthy state. 

“My biggest hope?for the Health of Texas program?is that we are able to work alongside?community members?to address local and statewide needs?and identify the best strategies?to address health across Texas,” Valerio-Shewmaker said. 

Watch a video about Health of Texas Horizon at https://go.uth.edu/AboutHorizon. Contact the Health of Texas team by leaving a message on a secure voicemail at 713-500-9441 or by emailing [email protected]. Follow Health of Texas on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.