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in a healthy world

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The Latest

Blog

Teaching Kitchen Recipes from April 2, 2025

Check out two recipes made by our amazing Austin staff at an event hosted at our Austin community room on April 2, 2025!

Preventive colonoscopy saved my life – it could save yours too! Blog

Preventive colonoscopy saved my life – it could save yours too!

Did you know that you can prevent or reduce your risk for developing colorectal cancer (CRC)? In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Kat Sisler (UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin alumna, Never Too Young Taskforce member, and cancer survivor) shared the value of preventive screenings.

What to know about early-onset colorectal cancer and screening Blog

What to know about early-onset colorectal cancer and screening

Did you know you can prevent or reduce your risk for colorectal cancer (CRC)? In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Kat Sisler (UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin alumna, Never Too Young Taskforce member, and cancer survivor) wrote to share the value of preventive screenings.

Leveraging out-of-school time to promote healthy movement behaviors for children and adolescents Blog

Leveraging out-of-school time to promote healthy movement behaviors for children and adolescents

What are students doing when school lets out for the day, on weekends, and during holiday and summer breaks?

Can training attention improve students’ emotional well-being? Blog

Can training attention improve students’ emotional well-being?

A recent study tested this question with a digital intervention called Finding Focus. High school students completed a series of short, interactive lessons and exercises designed to help them train their attention and use it to more skillfully navigate thoughts and emotions.

Warm up with these 3 fun winter recipes! Blog

Warm up with these 3 fun winter recipes!

As winter sets in and the holidays near, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living has recipes to help you enjoy a holiday season that is both healthy and flavorful!

3 Thanksgiving classics with a nutritious twist Blog

3 Thanksgiving classics with a nutritious twist

We know Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and, of course, great food. To support your holiday wellness, check out these three recipes developed by the Nourish Program that bring together traditional Thanksgiving flavors with a nutritious twist!

Dr. Steven Kelder offers recommendations to reduce youth vaping Blog

Dr. Steven Kelder offers recommendations to reduce youth vaping

Youth vaping and e-cigarette use is an epidemic in the United States. While the number has declined since 2019, Dr. Steven Kelder, epidemiology professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin and founding member of CATCH Global Foundation, said there are data driven resources available to help further curb use among young people.

Resource guide: Child health research Blog

Resource guide: Child health research

October is National Children's Health Month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting and improving the health of all children under the age of 18. The Center is committed to advancing child health through research, education, and community engagement. We hope you will join us in supporting children’s health by sharing the research resources below! 

Resource guide: Substance use prevention research Blog

Resource guide: Substance use prevention research

October is National Substance Use Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of preventing substance use and promoting healthier communities. At the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, our experts study tobacco and alcohol abuse prevention, and work to reduce unhealthy and addictive behaviors through education, policy change and research.

Houston bus shelters may trap dangerous heat, study finds News (External)

Houston bus shelters may trap dangerous heat, study finds

A UTHealth study found some Houston bus shelters can trap heat, raising the risk of heat stroke and reducing ridership. Trees may offer a better solution.

Children who engage in regular physical activity are more likely to maintain healthy behaviors into adulthood News (External)

Children who engage in regular physical activity are more likely to maintain healthy behaviors into adulthood

Promoting physical activity among children is essential to fostering long-term health and development.

Hello Houston (May 6, 2025) News (External)

Hello Houston (May 6, 2025)

We discuss Houston’s hot stops, this year’s hurricane forecast, and learn how Starbase, Texas became an official city. Plus, Tony-nominated actor and Houston native Kevin Cahoon.

Bus Shelters Don’t Protect You, They Slowly Cook You News (External)

Bus Shelters Don’t Protect You, They Slowly Cook You

Even if it’s been designed to keep you cool with ventilation slots that allow a breeze to pass through and with tinted glass that protects against the sun, they still somehow bake you alive.

Unprocessed vs. Processed vs. Ultra-Processed Food: What's the Difference? News (External)

Unprocessed vs. Processed vs. Ultra-Processed Food: What's the Difference?

Dolores Woods, Registered Dietitian at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, guides us on which processed foods to eat in moderation and which to avoid.

Growing Up in America: Dr. Data Takeover on Food Insecurity News (External)

Growing Up in America: Dr. Data Takeover on Food Insecurity

Co-hosts Dr. Chris Kulesza (Rice University) and Dr. Shreela Sharma (UTHealth School of Public Health) lead a special episode dedicated to one of the most urgent issues facing Texas families: food insecurity.

Harris County faces STI rate surge in young adults, communities of color News (External)

Harris County faces STI rate surge in young adults, communities of color

Harris County has a higher-than-average rate of HIV and sexually transmitted infections than the Texas average, which can lead to increased STI transmission, poor health outcomes, higher health care costs and reduced quality of life, health care officials said.

Springer named 2025 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor News (External)

Springer named 2025 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor

A devoted professor and researcher, Andrew Springer, DrPH, has been named a 2025 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award recipient.

Shelters at bus stops intended to provide relief from heat can actually result in higher temperatures, UTHealth Houston researchers discover News (External)

Shelters at bus stops intended to provide relief from heat can actually result in higher temperatures, UTHealth Houston researchers discover

Some public transit shelter designs can actually do more harm than good when it comes to shielding from summer temperatures, according to a study led by UTHealth Houston.

Can Tart Cherry Juice Help Reduce Gut Inflammation? News (External)

Can Tart Cherry Juice Help Reduce Gut Inflammation?

Tart cherry juice, the star of the viral “Sleepy Girl Mocktail,” has been linked to better sleep, cognitive health, and muscle recovery.

Blog

Teaching Kitchen Recipes from April 2, 2025

Check out two recipes made by our amazing Austin staff at an event hosted at our Austin community room on April 2, 2025!

Preventive colonoscopy saved my life – it could save yours too! Blog

Preventive colonoscopy saved my life – it could save yours too!

Did you know that you can prevent or reduce your risk for developing colorectal cancer (CRC)? In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Kat Sisler (UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin alumna, Never Too Young Taskforce member, and cancer survivor) shared the value of preventive screenings.

What to know about early-onset colorectal cancer and screening Blog

What to know about early-onset colorectal cancer and screening

Did you know you can prevent or reduce your risk for colorectal cancer (CRC)? In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Kat Sisler (UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin alumna, Never Too Young Taskforce member, and cancer survivor) wrote to share the value of preventive screenings.

Leveraging out-of-school time to promote healthy movement behaviors for children and adolescents Blog

Leveraging out-of-school time to promote healthy movement behaviors for children and adolescents

What are students doing when school lets out for the day, on weekends, and during holiday and summer breaks?

Can training attention improve students’ emotional well-being? Blog

Can training attention improve students’ emotional well-being?

A recent study tested this question with a digital intervention called Finding Focus. High school students completed a series of short, interactive lessons and exercises designed to help them train their attention and use it to more skillfully navigate thoughts and emotions.

Warm up with these 3 fun winter recipes! Blog

Warm up with these 3 fun winter recipes!

As winter sets in and the holidays near, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living has recipes to help you enjoy a holiday season that is both healthy and flavorful!

3 Thanksgiving classics with a nutritious twist Blog

3 Thanksgiving classics with a nutritious twist

We know Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and, of course, great food. To support your holiday wellness, check out these three recipes developed by the Nourish Program that bring together traditional Thanksgiving flavors with a nutritious twist!

Dr. Steven Kelder offers recommendations to reduce youth vaping Blog

Dr. Steven Kelder offers recommendations to reduce youth vaping

Youth vaping and e-cigarette use is an epidemic in the United States. While the number has declined since 2019, Dr. Steven Kelder, epidemiology professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin and founding member of CATCH Global Foundation, said there are data driven resources available to help further curb use among young people.

Resource guide: Child health research Blog

Resource guide: Child health research

October is National Children's Health Month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting and improving the health of all children under the age of 18. The Center is committed to advancing child health through research, education, and community engagement. We hope you will join us in supporting children’s health by sharing the research resources below! 

Resource guide: Substance use prevention research Blog

Resource guide: Substance use prevention research

October is National Substance Use Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of preventing substance use and promoting healthier communities. At the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, our experts study tobacco and alcohol abuse prevention, and work to reduce unhealthy and addictive behaviors through education, policy change and research.

Houston bus shelters may trap dangerous heat, study finds News (External)

Houston bus shelters may trap dangerous heat, study finds

A UTHealth study found some Houston bus shelters can trap heat, raising the risk of heat stroke and reducing ridership. Trees may offer a better solution.

Children who engage in regular physical activity are more likely to maintain healthy behaviors into adulthood News (External)

Children who engage in regular physical activity are more likely to maintain healthy behaviors into adulthood

Promoting physical activity among children is essential to fostering long-term health and development.

Hello Houston (May 6, 2025) News (External)

Hello Houston (May 6, 2025)

We discuss Houston’s hot stops, this year’s hurricane forecast, and learn how Starbase, Texas became an official city. Plus, Tony-nominated actor and Houston native Kevin Cahoon.

Bus Shelters Don’t Protect You, They Slowly Cook You News (External)

Bus Shelters Don’t Protect You, They Slowly Cook You

Even if it’s been designed to keep you cool with ventilation slots that allow a breeze to pass through and with tinted glass that protects against the sun, they still somehow bake you alive.

Unprocessed vs. Processed vs. Ultra-Processed Food: What's the Difference? News (External)

Unprocessed vs. Processed vs. Ultra-Processed Food: What's the Difference?

Dolores Woods, Registered Dietitian at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, guides us on which processed foods to eat in moderation and which to avoid.

Growing Up in America: Dr. Data Takeover on Food Insecurity News (External)

Growing Up in America: Dr. Data Takeover on Food Insecurity

Co-hosts Dr. Chris Kulesza (Rice University) and Dr. Shreela Sharma (UTHealth School of Public Health) lead a special episode dedicated to one of the most urgent issues facing Texas families: food insecurity.

Harris County faces STI rate surge in young adults, communities of color News (External)

Harris County faces STI rate surge in young adults, communities of color

Harris County has a higher-than-average rate of HIV and sexually transmitted infections than the Texas average, which can lead to increased STI transmission, poor health outcomes, higher health care costs and reduced quality of life, health care officials said.

Springer named 2025 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor News (External)

Springer named 2025 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor

A devoted professor and researcher, Andrew Springer, DrPH, has been named a 2025 Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award recipient.

Shelters at bus stops intended to provide relief from heat can actually result in higher temperatures, UTHealth Houston researchers discover News (External)

Shelters at bus stops intended to provide relief from heat can actually result in higher temperatures, UTHealth Houston researchers discover

Some public transit shelter designs can actually do more harm than good when it comes to shielding from summer temperatures, according to a study led by UTHealth Houston.

Can Tart Cherry Juice Help Reduce Gut Inflammation? News (External)

Can Tart Cherry Juice Help Reduce Gut Inflammation?

Tart cherry juice, the star of the viral “Sleepy Girl Mocktail,” has been linked to better sleep, cognitive health, and muscle recovery.

Upcoming Events

Jun 16

2025 TCHMB Summit

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Between July 2023-June 2024, Center faculty research and initiatives have impacted more than 17 million lives.

CATCH My Breath, a Center research project, was the first evidence-based vaping prevention program for school children.

The Center’s project, Texas SPAN, was the first to collect state-representative obesity surveillance data in elementary, middle, and high schools

The Center has had a direct hand in developing physical activity guidelines for schools in the U.S.

The TX RPC Project has created more than 50 data-driven resources to be used in developing and implementing health policies in Texas.

Center research led to the placement of refrigerators in Early Childcare and Education Centers to keep food at a safe temperature.

The Center’s Nourish Program offers the first ‘seed to plate to prevention’ dietetic internship in the U.S.

Since 2019, the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System (TATAMS) has collected data on the impact of new and emerging tobacco products.

Food is Medicine interventions have helped improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Center work on our flagship program CATCH led to extensive dissemination of the program and development of the CATCH Global Foundation.

In memoriam: Harold W. (Bill) Kohl III, PhD

Dr. Kohl

Harold W. (Bill) Kohl III, Professor of Epidemiology at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin and Research Professor of Kinesiology and Health Education at the University of Texas at Austin, died on January 7, 2024. He was regarded as a luminary in public health, epidemiology, and physical activity research.  Continue reading

Center Initiatives

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Dietetic Internship Program

TX SPAN Data Explorer

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Michael & Susan Dell Center Lectureship in Child Health

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Philip R. Nader Legacy of Health Lectureship

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Texas Child Health Status Report

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