Dr. Gang Han is a biostatistician who has collaborated on projects totaling over $18 million and is author or co-author on more than 90 peer-reviewed articles. His research focuses on statistical computing, Bayesian analysis, HIV viral load modeling, survival analysis methods in cancer research, design and analysis of Phase I/II clinical trials and translational studies, and statistical methods in the development of personalized medicine.
Dr. Alva O. Ferdinand is a health policy expert who exemplifies thoughtful, collaborative, and important contributions to several areas of public health research. Her research primarily focuses on disparities in health outcomes, state and federal regulation of health care delivery and the effectiveness of laws aimed at improving public health. She is most widely known for her work on the impact of texting while driving bans on reducing roadway injuries and deaths.
Dr. Xiaohui Xu exemplifies a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to environmental epidemiology research. He recently received a $2.4 million multi-institutional grant from NIA/NIEHS to study effects of air pollution on brain health – with a focus on the potential impacts of long-term air pollution exposure on later life Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Dr. Natalie Johnson’s innovative work characterizing air pollution exposure during pregnancy has been recognized with an Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. This $2 million+ multiyear grant will fund research to to combat infant respiratory diseases.
Highly accomplished researchers and distinguished scholars are instrumental in producing graduates who are amply prepared for the realities of an evolving health care landscape. Get to know the dedicated faculty who support our mission.
Selina Stasi, DrPH, MPH, has partnered with community organizations to provide assistance in fulfilling their missions, while giving her students the opportunity to give back. The organizations Stasi partners with provide an array of experiences for her students, who get a chance to see some of the concepts from the course unfold in the real world.
Krystal Flores, DrPH, MPH, wasn’t always destined to be a professor in Public Health. A course in border health, and a desire to serve as a mentor for first-generation students, however, led her to change directions. Now, Flores is using funding from the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen to help prepare future students in her Applications of Public Health class as they develop and implement two local public health interventions in partnership with local stakeholders in the Rio Grande Valley.
For Bita Kash, PhD, MBA, FACHE, professor at the School of Public Health, the future of health care lies in using the knowledge and experience of industry leaders to guide academic research.
Whether using data to design a better hospital or reducing readmissions, Kash—and the Center for Health Organization Transformation that she leads—uses evidence-based strategies to improve patient care and access.
An ergonomic engineer by trade, Mark Benden, PhD, associate professor at the School of Public Health, is always on the lookout for the latest and greatest innovative solutions to solve some of the most complex public health issues.
Ten years ago, Benden developed workstations that allow productivity while combating sedentary lifestyles–and so the idea of stand-biased desks was born.
Few can claim to be among the very best in both research and teaching, but Regents Professor Thomas McDonald, PhD, has been recognized as a top leader in both. McDonald’s latest award recognizes his transformational teaching.
Biostatistics is a crucial part of public health research and practice. Qi Zheng, PhD has identified methods and examples to improve biostatistics education, including for students with limited mathematical backgrounds.
Itza Mendoza-Sanchez, PhD, was selected by ASPPH as one of only three faculty nationwide to receive the Delta Omega Innovative Curriculum Award. She is on the forefront of bridging the gap between public health academia and practice through helping develop an innovative graduate public health curriculum that is responsive to the educational needs of the public health work force.
For Gerard E. Carrino, PhD, MPH putting students first is his priority. Carrino’s work with his students extends beyond the classroom where he currently serves as the coach for the Texas A&M Health CLARION Interprofessional Case Competition team. Carrino was recently recognized by The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M with its Distinguished Teaching Award for the School of Public Health.
She teaches in the college’s Forensic Nursing Program, which offers a master’s degree in forensic nursing and a graduate certificate in forensic health care.
For Gerard E. Carrino, PhD, MPH, putting students first is his priority. Carrino’s work with his students extends beyond the classroom where he currently serves as the coach for the Texas A&M Health CLARION Interprofessional Case Competition team. Carrino was recently recognized by The Association of Former Students at Texas A&M with its Distinguished Teaching Award for the School of Public Health.
