About the Director
Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., is a Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she also is founding director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR). In 2006, Dr. Ramirez received two endowments to support her research and that of the IHPR – the Dielmann Chair in Health Disparities Research and Community Outreach and the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Endowed Chair in Cancer Healthcare Disparities and Outreach at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) at the Health Science Center. She also is Director of Outreach and Health Care Disparities at the CTRC.
Over the past 25 years, Dr. Ramirez has directed many state-, federal- and privately-funded research programs focused on human and organizational communication to reduce chronic disease and cancer health disparities affecting Hispanics/Latinos and other populations. She has authored many peer-reviewed articles and is frequently invited to speak at scientific meetings.
Dr. Ramirez has been awarded state and national recognition for her work in public health and health disparities research and the advancement Hispanics/Latinos in medicine, public health, and behavioral sciences professions across the United States.
Her long list of honors includes the following: 2007 election to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2007 Professor of Survivorship from Susan G. Komen For the Cure, 2003 Humanitarian Award from the American Cancer Society, the 1996 Sarah Mazelis Award for Health Promotion from the American Public Health Association and the 1991 Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr., Cancer Prevention Award from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Ramirez is a member of various national and regional advisory groups and coalitions. Her most recent appointments include chairmanship of the CDC’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection and Control Advisory Committee. She is a member of many others, including:
- Scientific Advisory Board, Susan G. Komen For the Cure
- Scientific Advisory Board, Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade
- Board of Directors, Lance Armstrong Foundation
- Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Translating Genomic Based Research for Health
- Chair, National Hispanic/Latino Advisory Council, Susan G. Komen For the Cure
Dr. Ramirez is a former member of the National Advisory Board for the National Cancer Institute and National Advisory Council of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. In Texas, she is a member of the Physician Oncology Education Program of the Texas Medical Association and the Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Dr. Ramirez received a B.S. from the University of Houston and her M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. degrees from the University of Texas Health Science Center at the Houston School of Public Health.