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INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH PROMOTION RESEARCH (IHPR)

Faculty & Staff

To contact an IHPR faculty or staff member, e-mail them or call 210-562-6500.

Faculty

  • ramireza imgAmelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H.

    IHPR Director
    Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: ramirezag@uthscsa.edu
    Faculty Profile

    Dr. Ramirez, who has been director of the IHPR since its inception, is a nationally recognized expert in the field of health promotion and education. She’s received many honors and awards, including election to the Institute of Medicine, and is involved in many professional groups regarding minority health and cancer prevention, including a presidential appointment to the National Cancer Advisory Board. Her work has been widely published in scientific journals, and she’s directed research projects at the state, federal and private levels that focus on human and organizational communication to reduce chronic disease and cancer health disparities.

    For more about Dr. Ramirez, click here.

  • gallionk imgKipling J. Gallion, M.A.

    IHPR Deputy Director
    Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: gallion@uthscsa.edu
    Faculty Profile

    Mr. Gallion, who has been with the IHPR since its inception, has a master’s degree in applied communication and has done much work in the health communications field. He was previously an assistant professor at the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

  • chalelap imgPatricia Chalela, Dr.P.H

    Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: chalela@uthscsa.edu
    Faculty Profile

    Dr. Chalela, who has been with the IHPR since its inception, has a background in health promotion and was previously a research associate at the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

  • hughesd imgDaniel Hughes, Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: hughesdc@uthscsa.edu

    Dr. Hughes, who joined the IHPR in October 2009 from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, has experience in behavioral research interventions related to exercise science. He is involved in several research projects on physical activity, including its impact on Latino breast cancer survivors.

  • parra-medina imgDeborah Parra-Medina, Ph.D., M.P.H

    Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: parramedina@uthscsa.edu

    Dr. Parra-Medina, who joined the IHPR in 2008, has a background in health promotion, public health epidemiology, health disparities in cancer and chronic disease, and community-based interventions among under-served and minority populations, including Latinos.

  • majorss imgSandra San Miguel de Majors, M.S.

    Research Instructor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: sanmiguels@uthscsa.edu
    Faculty Profile

    Mrs. San Miguel de Majors, who has been with the IHPR since its inception, coordinates projects and assists with special projects. She has a master’s degree in psychology and previously was a research associate at the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

  • mojica imgCynthia Mojica, Ph.D.

    Research Instructor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: mojicac@uthscsa.edu

    Dr. Mojica, who joined the IHPR in 2009, is involved in several research projects, including a cancer education and outreach effort. Mojica recently completed a post-doctoral training fellowship at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and has research experience in telephone counseling after an abnormal mammogram, methods to increase cancer screening rates, and much more.

  • velezl imgLuis F. Velez, M.D., Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: velezl2@uthscsa.edu
    Faculty Profile

    Dr. Velez, who has been with the IHPR since its inception, has a medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and a doctorate in behavioral sciences. He was previously an assistant professor at the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

  • wildesk imgKimberly Raiford Wildes, Dr.P.H., M.A., L.P.C.-I.

    Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: wildes@uthscsa.edu
    Faculty Profile

    Dr. Wildes, who has been with the IHPR since its inception, has a master’s degree in clinical psychology with licensure as a professional counselor intern and a doctorate of public health with an emphasis in behavioral science. She was previously an assistant professor at the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center of the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

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Staff

  • covarrubiasv imgSandra Veronica Covarrubias, B.S.

    Patient Navigator, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: covarrubiasv@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Covarrubias is an IHPR patient navigator responsible for recruiting patients, obtaining informed consent and administering study questionnaires. She has a bachelor’s degree in health education and work experience in health information management, including electronic medical record systems and patient and physician assistance.

  • denton imgCourtney Denton, B.A., M.P.H.

    Social Science Research Associate III, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: dentonc2@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Denton, who joined the IHPR in 2008, recently earned her master’s of public health at The University of Texas School of Public Health in San Antonio. She has experience working with health care agencies and nonprofit organizations.

  • despresc imgCliff Despres, B.J.

    Informational Writer, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: despres@uthscsa.edu

    Mr. Despres handles a wide variety of writing, editing and communication work at the IHPR. He has several years of experience in journalism and public relations, including work at the Denton Record-Chronicle newspaper in Denton, Texas, and the news office of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

  • esparzal imgLaura Esparza, M.S.

    Project Coordinator, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: esparzal@uthscsa.edu

    Laura Esparza, who joined the IHPR in October 2009, has designed, implemented and evaluated community interventions focused on reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity among women, youths and underserved populations. She has a master’s degree in health and kinesiology from UT San Antonio.

  • griffiths imgSandra J. Griffith, B.S.

    Project Coordinator, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: griffiths3@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Griffith provides oversight for grant management, reporting and submissions, as well as fiscal-year budget planning at the IHPR. She has a bachelor’s degree in business education and work experience in project management, including stints at USAA Federal Savings Bank and Baylor College of Medicine.

  • haverlahs imgSharon Kay Haverlah, B.A.

    Project Coordinator, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: haverlah@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Haverlah is the project coordinator for the IHPR Redes En Acción project, which she first was involved with as part of Baylor College of Medicine. She has a bachelor’s degree in management/business administration and has earned project management certification from a Fortune 500 financial services corporation. She previously was a project manager for USAA Federal Savings Bank.

  • moralesd imgDaisy Morales-Campos, Ph.D.

    Project Coordinator, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: moralescampo@uthscsa.edu

    Dr. Morales-Campos, who joined the IHPR in September 2009, is a bilingual/bicultural researcher with experience developing and implementing community-based interventions among Hispanics. She completed her doctoral degree at The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston.

  • munoze imgEdgar Munoz, M.S.

    Statistician, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: munoze@uthscsa.edu

    Mr. Munoz is a statistician who provides support to the IHPR by helping develop research protocols, conduct analyses, identify and use available methodologies and databases, and prepare reports. He has prior work experience as a statistician in Colombia, and he also has a master’s degree in epidemiology.

  • thompsonc imgCelia Thompson

    Administrative Assistant II, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: Thompsonc2@uthscsa.edu

    Mrs. Thompson provides support in a myriad of administrative functions, including management of the IHPR calendar. She has more than 25 years experience as an administrative assistant. Prior to working in various academic settings, she was administrative assistant to the chief operating officer of a NYSE-listed oil refining company. In the academic world, she has worked for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Trinity University, Baylor College of Medicine and UT Health Science Center.

  • vega imgRebecca G. Vega, B.A.

    Accountant I, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: vegarg@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Vega reviews and reconciles monthly ledger accounts and subaccounts and assists in reviewing and reporting grants at the IHPR. She also helps create, submit, and revise prior approvals and purchase orders. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

  • whiteheads imgSylvie Whitehead

    Administrative Assistant II, School Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: whiteheads@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Whitehead provides receptionist functions and administrative, grant and event/travel planning functions. She has training as a medical secretary with coursework in medical transcribing, medical terminology and records management. She previously was administrative support coordinator at Baylor College of Medicine.

  • wittenburgc imgCynthia Wittenburg, M.S.

    Research Study Coordinator, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas
    Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Email: Wittenburg@uthscsa.edu

    Ms. Wittenburg, who joined the IHPR in 2009, will serve as the IHPR’s patient navigator in the Valley. Wittenburg previously was an adjunct professor and coordinator for student health education at The University of Texas at Brownsville. She has a master’s degree in health education and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.

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