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UTMB School of Public & Population HealthHispanic Heritage Month 2022

For Hispanic Heritage Month, SPPH would like to highlight some of the faculty, students, staff and alumni who identify as Hispanic and/or Latino/a/x (or serve these populations). These individuals work across many different areas of public health, including education, patient care, research, administration, and practice.
Click on their names below to learn more about them and their work.
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  • Carlos Orellana Garcia, MPH

    Master of Public Health- Epidemiology Track 2022

    Doctoral Student in Health Behavior Research at Keck School of Medicine of USC

    What made you interested in your field or area of study (bioethics and health humanities, clinical science, public/population health, rehabilitation sciences, etc.)?

    During my MPH's Applied practice Experience course, I was able to collaborate and learn from various institutions research opportunities. During this time I learned various qualitative research skills and became very interested to explore the field of Health Behavior. Being able to incorporate my training in Epidemiology and Medical Anthropology into my current field of study, I am able to enhance my training and explore more my interest in cancer health disparities.

    What does being Hispanic mean to you?

    For me being Hispanic is about the unique culture, "la cultura Hispana". From the many dishes across our regions, the dances, music, customs, to the "familia" style of care. Being Salvadorian, we have our unique things but I can relate with many other Latin American countries with our share cultural things. Additionally, these connections I am able to incorporate in my research training, as I talk with community members and patients to have a deeper conversations and understand barriers we are facing. This connection is the beauty of being Hispanic and represent many of the aspect of Hispanic Heritage Month.

  • David S. Lopez, MS, MPH, DrPH

    SPPH- Department of Epidemiology

    What is your area of research and/or what do you teach?

    I am a cancer epidemiologist, and my research focus is on cancer health disparities. My recent research projects have investigated the interplay between use of metformin, statins, weight loss medications, testosterone replacement therapy and hormone- and obesity-related cancers among men and women of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. We have also investigated the association of those medications with cardiovascular disease among hormone- and obesity-related cancer survivors.   

    What does being Hispanic (Latino/a/x) mean to you? AND/OR What does serving the Hispanic (Latino/a/x) community mean to you?

    I always see it as a privilege to serve the underrepresented and understudied populations to the best of my ability. During the opportunities that I have had meeting with community members, I always feel that I learn more from them than vice versa. I grew up in the poorest neighborhoods of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and meeting with members of underserved communities gives me the feeling that I am with family.

  • Marisol Luna

    SPPH program and current year- 2nd year MPH-Epidemiology

    What made you interested in your field or area of study (bioethics and health humanities, clinical science, public/population health, rehabilitation sciences, etc.)?

    I became interested in public/population health just by beginning to notice the health disparities and inequities that existed in my own community. Learning the role epidemiology plays in prevention, and the impact interventions can have on the health of a community is what drew me to pursuing a career in public health.

    What does being Hispanic (Latino/a/x) mean to you? AND/OR What does serving the Hispanic (Latino/a/x) community mean to you?-

    Serving the Hispanic community to me means being able to bring awareness to health topics or inequalities in my own community that my fellow Hispanics may not understand or may be too afraid to ask about. Informing individuals in my own community about topics that can lead them to live healthier and longer lives is a very important goal of mine.

     

     

  • Samantha Paredes, MPH

    UTMB GSBS/SPPH Program & Graduation Year   - Master of Public Health- Epidemiology Track 2021

    Your current job/position - Community Epidemiologist II Oklahoma State Department of Health

    What made you interested in your field or area of study (bioethics and health humanities, clinical science, public/population health, rehabilitation sciences, etc.)?

    Public Health has always been my passion due to my want/need to help people. I became intrigued with the Epidemiology field while working as a patient care technician. I have a huge interest in infectious disease prevention and decided to continue my education with a program that addressed both worlds.

    What does being Hispanic mean to you?

    Being Hispanic to me means being an achiever. Although I was not born with privilege and had to witness the sacrifices my parents made to ensure we had a better life, I have persevered. All this while having the support and roots of my heritage cheer me on to become more then could ever have been dreamed for a Hispanic Woman. Breaking generational curses and becoming a woman my ancestors (as well as my future children) can be proud of!

  • Cortney Sendejas

    Business Coordinator for SPPH

    What does being Hispanic (Latino/a/x) mean to you? AND/OR What does serving the Hispanic (Latino/a/x) community mean to you?

    For me being Hispanic means to be proud of where my family came from, the hardships they endured so that my father and then myself and my siblings could have the opportunities we had growing up. Talking about my culture and the things that my grandparents taught me that I now try to instill in my own daughter is how I serve my community so that I can keep my culture alive and show how great it is to be Hispanic.

  • William Valencia, MD, MPH

    UTMB SPPH Master in Public Health, 2020. Residency in Aerospace Medicine, 2021

    Your current job/position - UTMB/NASA Flight Surgeon

    What made you interested in your field or area of study (bioethics and health humanities, clinical science, public/population health, rehabilitation sciences, etc.)?

    I wanted to support human exploration in space through Preventive and Aerospace Medicine. I enjoy playing a direct role in the wellbeing of our astronauts.

    What does being Hispanic mean to you?

    To me, being Hispanic means belonging to a culture that values close family ties and solidarity among the various Spanish-speaking nations and their neighbors.

  • Rebeca Wong, PhD

    Department of Population Health and Health Disparities

    What is your area of research and/or what do you teach?

    Research on aging and health of Mexican and U.S. Hispanic populations using a wide socioeconomic and life course perspective   

    What does being Hispanic (Latino/a/x) mean to you? AND/OR What does serving the Hispanic (Latino/a/x) community mean to you?

    I was born and raised in Mexico, a college graduate from a public (free) University in Mexico. I enjoyed the double privilege of having Mexican and Chinese parents and coming from a long line of hard-working global migrants. Thus, as a Mexican living in the United States, I am keenly aware of the responsibility I have to contribute positively to the diverse society in which I live, and to honor the culture and country of my origin. This may sound ‘corny’ but I really go back to this responsibility when I face professional setbacks and when I celebrate accomplishments. To me, ‘giving back’ is the central meaning of being Hispanic. 

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