Empowering the Next Generation of Population Health Leaders
The Population Health Research Fellowship Program at the UTHealth Houston Office of Population Health is designed to nurture and empower early-career faculty investigators dedicated to advancing population health research and practice. This one-year, renewable fellowship offers protected time for research, funds to support pilot studies, robust mentorship, and engagement within a dynamic learning community. Fellows benefit from seminars, skill-building workshops, and targeted support to develop scholarly and practice-based projects, all aligned with both institutional priorities and their own career aspirations.
Rooted in UTHealth Houston’s mission, the program fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across the university’s seven schools and provides flexible opportunities for fellows to tailor their research to specific interests while contributing to evidence-based, equity-focused solutions that improve health outcomes in Texas and beyond.
By investing in emerging leaders at the intersection of science and practice, the Population Health Fellowship aims to build a vibrant pipeline of professionals committed to transforming population health.
Our Fellows
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Xiaoyang Ruan, PhD Project Title: Decoding Variations in GLP-1 Induced Weight Loss Among Obesity Population |
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Higinio Fernández-Sánchez PhD, RN, FAAN Project Title: Embodied Narratives of Long-Term and Lifetime Survivors Aging with HIV: A Narrative Inquiry Using Body Mapping |
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Ashley R. Shaw, PHD, MPH Project Title: MIND+SOUL: A Peer-Led, Faith-Based Intervention to Promote Brain Health and Reduce Dementia Risk Among Older Black Adults |
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Ethan Hunt, MPH, PhD Project Title: Phones Off, Eyes Up: Pilot Study of Adolescent Sleep and School Engagement in Texas Middle Schools |
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Linda Pang, MD Project Title: A Framework for Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease |
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Tulsi Patel, RDH, MHA, FADHA Project Title: Healthy Mouth, Healthy Me: A Nutritional Counseling Initiative to Improve Oral Health Literacy |
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Funlola Are, PhD Project Title: Evaluating Primary Care Stepped Care Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSC-TF-CBT) for Population-Level Impact |