UTHealth Houston SPH Epidemiology

Dr. Lopez del Amo, Assistant Professor in Epidemiology, has been invited to deliver research seminars at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, highlighting the growing international impact of research in vector control, genome editing, and genetic biocontrol.
These visits will provide opportunities to establish potential collaborations for future multidisciplinary projects and strengthen partnerships with researchers advancing innovative approaches to vector-borne disease control.
His latest research, including work published in Nature Communications, will also be featured at the Gordon Research Conference on Genetic Biocontrol this July.

Pictured: Dr. Lopez del Amo with host Dr. Angela Meccariello at Imperial College London.

Exciting news to celebrate! 🎉
Associate Professor Qian Xiao, PhD, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar for 2026–2027. During her time in Australia, she will collaborate with leading researchers at the University of Canberra’s Health Research Institute and the NHMRC Healthy Environments and Lives National Research Network on an innovative project exploring how environmental exposures impact sleep and chronic disease.
Her work will advance understanding of how factors such as light, noise, heat, and air pollution influence health outcomes at both the population and community levels, contributing to global efforts to improve public health.
🔗 Want to learn more? Sign up for our newsletter here: go.uth.edu/EpiNewsletter

Augusto Cesar F. De Moraes, PhD, assistant professor, co-authored a new study in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension examining how cardiometabolic risk develops in U.S. adolescents.

Tracking more than 3,000 youth ages 12 to 16, the study found abdominal obesity is already common, with rapid increases in cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure over just a few years. The largest changes were seen in body fat and lipid levels.

This work was conducted in collaboration with colleagues across institutions, with support from the IC2 Institute, and Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

Young adult cancer survivors face greater social challenges than their peers, according to new research in Cancer Research Communications led by Ami E. Sedani, PhD, Assistant Professor at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Dallas.

Using national BRFSS data, the study found adults ages 18 to 39 with a cancer history experience higher rates of food and housing insecurity, barriers to work and transportation, and cost-related challenges in accessing care.

The findings highlight the need for stronger support, better resource connections, and policies that improve survivorship care for young adults.

Want to read more? Sign up for our monthly newsletter, Epi in the News, out this week:
👉 go.uth.edu/epinewsletter 👈

Meet our newest doctoral graduate 🎓
Congratulations to Brooklyn Adams Baker, PhD, MPH, a 2026 doctoral graduate from Epidemiology at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Brooklyn’s work advances maternal and child health by uncovering pathways behind persistent disparities in birth outcomes and translating research into public health practice.
👉 Read the full feature to learn about her journey, research, and impact in Texas public health.

Brooklyn Adams Baker, PhD, MPH, Advances Maternal and Child Health Through Epidemiology Brooklyn Adams Baker, PhD, MPH, Advances Maternal and Child Health Through Epidemiology Written by: Jana Satterwhite | Updated: March 02, 2026 Brooklyn Adams Baker, PhD, MPH, a 2026 doctoral graduate from the Department of Epidemiology at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, has pursued a p...

🎉 Congratulations to Dr. Shreela Sharma!

Shreela Sharma, PhD, RD, LDN, Vice Chair and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston, has been named a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) by the AHA Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health.

This prestigious honor recognizes her sustained excellence and leadership in scholarship, education, and service, as well as her impactful work advancing lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.
We are proud to celebrate Dr. Sharma’s achievements and her continued contributions to public health.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week Spotlight
Celebrating Dr. Rajvi Rahul Shah, MPH Epidemiology
graduate! 🎉
“Congratulations, Rajvi, on completing your MPH in Epidemiology. Wish you the very best in all things in the future!"
— Dr. Shreela Sharma

We are proud to celebrate Mackenzie Senn, MPH, Epidemiology PhD graduate, during Graduate Student Appreciation Week. 🎉

“Congratulations, Mackenzie, on the successful completion of your PhD. It has been a pleasure serving as your advisor. I am so proud of you and everything you have accomplished, and I can’t wait to see all the great things you will do in the future. You did it!”
— Professor Shreela Sharma, PhD 🎓

Join us in celebrating Jiawei Tu, MPH, a PhD student in Epidemiology, during Graduate Student Appreciation Week. 👏

“Congratulations on all your accomplishments this past year. Having two abstracts accepted as oral platform presentations is a huge achievement. Your hard work and dedication to our group and our collaborators have been incredibly impactful, and we are so proud of you.”

Assistant Professor Yixuan He, PhD 🎓

🎓 Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week! 🎓
We’re proud to spotlight Dania Mofleh, PhD Epidemiology candidate, as she celebrates the successful completion of all her PhD requirements!
“Congratulations, Dania! It has been a joy working with you and watching you grow. I am so proud of all you have accomplished. Completing your residency while finishing your dissertation side by side is no easy task—but you did it! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.”
— Professor Shreela Sharma, PhD

Congratulations, Dania, on this incredible milestone and well‑deserved achievement!