Hear from inaugural chair Dr. Mandy Hill on UTMB’s Department of Population Health and Health Disparities and our focus on improving the health of populations through research and education.
Visit the department page to learn more utmb.us/exs
Get to Know Us begins Dr. Meredith Masel’s faculty feature. She shares lessons from peer population health leaders on department growth, faculty and student recruitment, and building programs with staying power. Watch utmb.us/g0x
ALT Dr. Meredith Masel, left, smiles while seated across from Dr. Mandy Hill during a filmed interview, with a video camera visible in the foreground.
Public health approaches are strongest when they fit daily life. Our faculty focus on practical strategies that are simple, available, and built around what people value.
Explore PHHD research: utmb.edu/spph/department/of-…
What would you say to students considering public health? Monique Pappadis, PhD, encourages students to look at community needs and consider how public health training can help them improve health locally and beyond. Watch: utmb.us/exr
ALT Monique R. Pappadis sits on the left in a clinic office and shakes hands with a seated woman holding printed materials. A computer monitor and office supplies are visible behind them.
Closing out this week's announcements from PHHD. Congratulations to Dr. Monique Pappadis, named Assistant Dean for Community-Based Research at SPPH!
ALT Congratulations graphic for Dr. Monique Pappadis, named Assistant Dean for Community-Based Research at the School of Public and Population Health. Features her headshot against an orange arch background with confetti.
Third of four this week. Congratulations to Dr. Dana Wiltz-Beckham, named Assistant Dean for Student Advancement at SPPH!
ALT Congratulations graphic for Dr. Dana Wiltz-Beckham, named Assistant Dean for Student Advancement at the School of Public and Population Health. Features her headshot against an orange arch background with confetti.
Second of four this week. Congratulations to Dr. John Prochaska, named Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Development at SPPH!
ALT Congratulations graphic for Dr. John Prochaska, named Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Development at the School of Public and Population Health. Features his headshot against an orange arch background with confetti.
First of four appointments to share from PHHD this week. Congratulations to Dr. Cara Pennel, named Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at SPPH!
ALT Congratulations graphic for Dr. Cara Pennel, named Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at the School of Public and Population Health. Features her headshot against an orange arch background with confetti.
How does the department collaborate? Dr. Pappadis shares how overlapping research interests in UTMB’s Department of Population Health and Health Disparities create opportunities to work together and build partnerships beyond the institution.
Watch: utmb.us/exq
ALT Promotional graphic featuring Monique R. Pappadis against a blue background with the question, “How does the department collaborate?” Text at the bottom reads: “Rehabilitation Outcomes Scientist | Aging Care Disparities Researcher | Practice-Focused Educator,” “Monique R. Pappadis, PhD, MEd, FACRM,” and “Associate Professor,” alongside the UTMB Population Health and Health Disparities logo.
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PHHD at UTMB's School of Public and Population Health awards its inaugural pilot grant to Dr. Michael Goodman for a 500-participant study on community perceptions of AI-enabled health tools in Galveston County. utmb.us/fkq
ALT Dr. Sallam, Dr. Hill, Dr. Goodman, and Dr. Serag stand together in front of a glass-walled conference room as Dr. Hill presents the inaugural PHHD Pilot Award to Dr. Goodman. Dr. Goodman holds the clear award at center while the group smiles for the camera.
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SPPH students visited the Galveston County Health District, role-played a real lead poisoning case that uncovered dangerous shelter conditions, and learned how GIS data guides local Narcan distribution.
Read more: utmb.us/fhi
ALT Group photo of UTMB School of Public and Population Health students with Dr. Philip Keiser and Galveston County Health District staff during a Public Health Practice II visit at GCHD.
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Losing 4 to 7 percent of body weight can cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by half. This CBS News segment featuring Dr. Hanaa Sallam focuses on practical prevention steps, including simple walks, healthier food choices, and more daily movement. cbs19.tv/video/news/local/di…
More than 115 million U.S. adults have prediabetes. Tomorrow for Diabetes Alert Day, CBS News features UTMB's Dr. Hanaa Sallam on the CDC-accredited Diabetes Prevention Program she directs. Look out for the segment tomorrow!
@AmDiabetesAssn@UTMBPopHealth
ALT Karen Hua with CBS News stands behind a camera with Dr. Sallam in front of it answering interview questions. Behind Dr. Sallam is an open classroom with folding chairs arranged on top of yoga mats.
ALT Dr. Sallam and Karen Hua posing for a photo in front of a handmade sign that reads “Grow Your Mind”.
New Get to Know Us video: Monique Pappadis, MEd, PhD, on how early work in rehab and trauma care led her to brain injury research, and how an institutional collaboration with Dr. Leila Wood launched her elder mistreatment work.
Watch: utmb.us/exp
ALT Seated next to a computer, Monique Pappadis (left) in conversation with person (right)
New Get to Know Us video: Dr. Monique Pappadis on building a brief primary care screening tool for elder mistreatment, informed by Medicare data and perspectives from providers, caregivers, and people living with cognitive impairment.
Watch: utmb.us/exo
ALT A graphic showing Dr. Pappadis from her vlog interview along with the title of the video "Developing a screening tool for elder mistreatment"
New publication with UTMB SPPH’s Kyriakos Markides, PhD: Using 2017–2021 American Community Survey data, Vietnamese-origin older adults had the highest disability prevalence among major Asian-origin subgroups studied.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.…
ALT A collage of an elderly asian woman smiling and an older man being fitted for a hearing aid
Another new paper compares older adults in Mexico vs the U.S.: Mexican & U.S. Hispanic participants reported higher vision/hearing difficulties than U.S. non-Hispanic participants, yet lower social isolation—suggesting cultural/social context matters.
academic.oup.com/psychsocger…
Student spotlight: UTMB IM/Aerospace Medicine resident Vasilis Mavratsas on prevention, risk assessment, and translating clinical needs into vehicle design—plus lessons from his Vast rotation.
Read the student spotlight: utmb.us/f72
ALT Vasilis wearing a heavy coat during his polar rotation
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Missed our Feb 16 graduate info session? Recording is up: MPH, MA Bioethics & Health Humanities, MS Biostatistics & Data Science live Q&A (incl. Online MPH in Biostatistics, Fall 2026). youtu.be/QBuCqyTozNc
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UTMB SPPH Zoom info session Mon Feb 16, 6 PM CST! Meet program directors, talk with recruiters & hear from students alumni. Programs include MPH, online MPH Biostatistics, MA Bioethics & HH, MS Biostatistics & DS. Add to calendar utmb.us/f4u
Get to Know Us starts a new faculty feature with Dr. Monique R. Pappadis, Associate Professor and Vice Chair in PHHD. In video 1, she shares the roles she holds across UTMB. Watch: utmb.us/exm