UTHealth Expert List

Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D.

• Dean and M. David Low Chair, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Kozmetsky Family Chair in Human Genetics, UTHealth

The research interests of Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D., encompass the genetic analysis of common chronic diseases. Boerwinkle has authored more than 800 scientific publications in top tier journals and has led groundbreaking research on the connection between genes and health. He and his colleagues completed the world’s first genome-wide analyses for a variety of cardiovascular disease risk factors including hypertension and diabetes. These investigations have been a critical step in developing drugs that lower disease risk.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/Boerwinkle_QA

Arch Carson, M.D., Ph.D.

• Program Director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Training Program, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health

Arch Carson, M.D., Ph.D., is available to discuss toxic environmental contamination, chemical exposures and occupational health.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/4agu8muj

Herbert DuPont, M.D.

• Director, Center for Infectious Diseases, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Mary W. Kelsey Chair in the Medical Sciences, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth
• Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health

Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., has served as infectious disease epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and as president of both the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. DuPont is the author of over 650 scientific papers and 19 textbooks. He can discuss Ebola, influenza, travel medicine, disease outbreaks, intestinal infections and acute diarrhea, food-borne illnesses and norovirus as he was one of the researchers who discovered the virus.

Previous interview: http://go.uth.edu/KPRC_flu

Robert Emery, Dr. P.H.

• Vice President of Safety, Health, Environment and Risk Management, UTHealth
• Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Health, UTHealth School of Public Health

Robert Emery, Dr.PH., specializes in safety issues associated with infectious disease outbreaks, disaster preparedness, radiation safety hazards, industrial safety, occupational health risks and disaster response.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/GMA_Xrays

Susan Fisher-Hoch, M.D.

• Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus

Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, M.D., is one of the world's leading virologists. Fisher-Hoch is able to discuss the influenza virus, viral outbreaks, tropical medicine, diabetes, health disparities, medical virology and infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, typhoid and hemorrhagic fever.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/ABC_Ebola

Jennifer M. Gonzalez, Ph.D.

• Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Services, UTHealth School of Public Health Dallas Regional Campus

Jennifer M. Gonzalez, Ph.D., specializes in criminal epidemiology, violent behavior, and intimate partner violence, as well as addiction and substance abuse. She can also discuss substance abuse in minority groups.  

Previous interview: http://go.uth.edu/KERA_identity

Deanna Hoelscher, Ph.D., R.D.

• Director, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth
• John P. McGovern Professor in Health Promotion, UTHealth School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus

Deanna M. Hoelscher, Ph.D., R.D., specializes in nutrition and physical activity programs for children; school-based obesity prevention programs; nutrition and physical activity related health policy; and measurement tools related to child nutrition and physical activity.

Previous Interview:  http://go.uth.edu/ABC_sugarydrinks

Steven Kelder, Ph.D., M.P.H.

• Co-Director, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth
• Beth Toby Grossman Distinguished Professor in Spirituality and Healing, UTHealth
• Associate Regional Dean  and Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus

Steven Kelder, Ph.D., M.P.H., has more than 15 years experience in design and evaluation of child and adolescent research. He is available to discuss interventions designed for promotion of physical activity and healthy eating, obesity prevention and substance use prevention. He is one of the lead investigators of the CATCH project, a research-based program that guides elementary schools, families and children in being healthy, reaching more than a million Texas children and others in the United States and other countries. 

Harold W. Kohl, III, Ph.D.

• Associate Regional Dean of Global Health and Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus
• Faculty Member, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth

Harold W. Kohl, III, Ph.D., is available to discuss the benefits of physical activity for adults and children, as well as community approaches for increasing physical activity. He is the chair of the President’s Council of Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Science Board. Kohl also led development of the 2008 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines and was lead epidemiologist and team leader in the physical activity and health branch of the division of nutrition and physical activity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Joseph McCormick, M.D.

• Regional Dean, UTHealth School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus
• James H. Steele Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus

Joseph McCormick, M.D., is an infectious disease specialist and expert on viral hemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola, Lassa and Marburg. McCormick was involved in investigating the first-recorded Ebola outbreak in 1976. His experiences are chronicled in a book coauthored with his wife, Susan Fisher Hoch, M.D., titled “Level 4: Virus Hunters of the CDC.” He has intimate knowledge of West Africa and can provide his unique insights into the public health aspects of the current Ebola outbreak. He can also provide an interesting perspective on the designation of “emerging diseases.”

Previous interview:http://go.uth.edu/AC360_McCormick

Kristina Mena, Ph.D.

• Interim Regional Dean, UTHealth School of Public Health El Paso Regional Campus
• Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health

Kristina Mena, Ph.D., specializes in water quality, food safety and environmental science. She is one of a small group of researchers with expertise in microbial and chemical risk assessment. This allows her to examine both acute and chronic health outcomes associated with exposure to contaminated water. Mena has assisted with an Associated Press investigation of the water quality levels in Rio de Janeiro in advance of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/WP_Mena

Laura Moore, R.D., L.D.

• Dietetic Specialist, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Director, Dietetic Internship Program, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Faculty Member, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Health Living, UTHealth

Laura Moore, R.D., L.D., is a registered dietitian and director of the dietetic internship program at the UTHealth School of Public Health. She can discuss nutrition, obesity risk factors, diabetes, hypertension, meal planning and preparation, diets and weight loss.

Previous interview: http://go.uth.edu/goodingluten

Melissa F. Peskin, Ph.D.

• Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health

Melissa F. Peskin, Ph.D., specializes in teen dating violence, teen pregnancy interventions, adolescent health issues and sexually transmitted infections. As part of her research, Peskin has led studies on the efficacy of “It’s Your Game-Tech,” an online version of an evidence-based sex education program called “It’s Your Game: Keep It Real,” which is used to educate teens on risky sexual behavior and teach healthy decision making. She has studied how the program aids in reducing teen dating violence and has developed other interventions to promote healthy relationships among young people.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/KRIV_Peskin_IYG

Belinda Reininger, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

• Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus

Belinda Reininger, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., specializes in evidence-based, community approaches to improving health in minority populations. Reininger's research focuses on the health disparities faced by Hispanics who live along the Texas-Mexico border, where rates of obesity and chronic disease are particularly high. Reininger can discuss community-based participatory research strategies, health disparities and chronic diseases.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/Reininger_QA

Pauline Rosenau, Ph.D.

• Professor, Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, UTHealth School of Public Health

Pauline Rosenau, Ph.D., specializes in health care reform, public health policy, health care systems and health insurance. Rosenau can also discuss comparative health policy, health system performance, private/public partnerships for health services, long-term care and the social determinants of health.

Shreela Sharma, Ph.D., R.D.

• Assistant Director, Dietetic Internship Program, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Faculty Member, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth
• Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health

Shreela Sharma, R.D., Ph.D., is a registered dietitian and can discuss risk factors of obesity among children, nutrition and physical activity.

Previous Interview: http://go.uth.edu/ABC_obesity

Susan Tortolero Emery, Ph.D.

• Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Research Affairs, UTHealth School of Public Health
• Allan King Professor in Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health

Susan Tortolero, Ph.D., specializes in research of teen pregnancy interventions, adolescent health issues, sexually transmitted diseases and infection prevention. Tortolero led the development of “It’s Your Game: Keep It Real,” an evidence-based sex education program used to educate teens on risky sexual behavior and teach healthy decision making. She can also discuss teen dating violence.

Previous interview: http://go.uth.edu/HPM_Tortolero

Catherine Troisi, Ph.D.

• Associate Professor, Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, UTHealth School of Public Health

Catherine Troisi, Ph.D. is an infectious disease epidemiologist with expertise in influenza, hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus (HPV) and syphilis. She can also discuss infectious disease outbreaks such as Ebola, immunizations and issues of public health practice in the community.