Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

Professor

Director of Institute for Health Promotion Research, Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio

Associate Director of Cancer Outreach and Engagement at Mays Cancer Center

U.S. Latinos face a troublingly higher risk of disease—from obesity and diabetes to certain cancers—than their non-Latino peers. These health disparities exist for many reasons, including cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez is director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research (IHPR), chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences, and associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at the Mays Cancer Center, all at UT Health San Antonio. The IHPR, founded in 2006, investigates causes and solutions to cancer and chronic disease disparities to improve Latino health in San Antonio, South Texas and the nation. The IHPR has a faculty and staff of researchers who specialize in population health, prevention and screening, and health promotion and communication in issues of obesity, cancer, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity, and more among Latino and underserved populations. The IHPR’s official charter is to: conduct research, interventions and outreach projects on health disparities and health equity; train scientists and mentor students; and communicate findings and tools with researchers, academics and advocates using websites, social media, news media, public service announcements, scientific articles and reports, and more. The IHPR is the headquarters for Salud America!, a national program that uses innovative, evidence-based research and communications to educate and activate an online network of more than 300,000 advocates to promote healthy change and equity for Latino and all families (www.salud-america.org; @SaludAmerica on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube). Salud America! synthesizes research findings and data into culturally and linguistically relevant dissemination of health awareness-building content, role model stories and videos to stimulate health behavior changes and lay-friendly tools and action opportunities to drive grassroots system and policy changes. In addition, the IHPR has led studies on patient navigation, cancer screening and clinical trial enrollment, and incorporating the latest mobile technologies—smartphone apps, text messaging programs, and social media innovations—to improve health behaviors among Latinos, including a bilingual messaging service to help young adults quit smoking (https://quitxt.org/). Dr. Ramirez also has personally trained and/or mentored over 300 Latino undergraduate and pre- and post-doctoral students, as well as early-career faculty members, instructing about research design, methods, data analysis, and career development. Dr. Ramirez’s recognitions include 2007 election to the National Academy of Medicine, 2011 White House “Champion of Change,” 2014 Everett M. Rogers Public Health Communication Award from APHA, and 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Ramirez is on the San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council and is President of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas from January 2019 to January 2021. Dr. Ramirez, a native of Laredo, Texas, earned MPH and DrPH degrees from UT Health Science Center at the Houston School of Public Health.

Professional Background
Education
- 1992 - DPH - Health Promotion - University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- 1977 - MPH - Health Services Administration - University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- 1973 - BS - Psychology - University of Houston
Appointments
- 6/2019 - Chair - Department of Population Health Sciences and Chair - UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, Population Health Sciences, San Antonio
- 10/2012 - Director, Cancer Prevention and Health Disparities - The Cancer Center at UT Health Science CenterSan Antonio
- 9/2008 - Adjunct Professor and Adjunct Professor of Public Health in San Antonio Regional Campus - UT School of Public Health at HoustonHouston
- 10/2006 - Dielmann Chair in Health Disparities Research and Community Outreach - UT Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio
- 10/2006 - Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics - UT Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio
- 10/2006 - Director and Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Endowed Chair in Cancer Healthcare Disparities and Outreach - The Cancer Center at UT Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio
- 10/2006 - Director, Institute for Health Promotion Research - UT Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio
- 8/1994 - Associate Director for Community Research and Executive Committee Member - The Cancer Center at UT Health Science Center at San AntonioSan Antonio
Instruction & Training
- - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 5/2018 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 4/2018 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 1/2017 - Present, Ph.D. Dissertations Directed, UTSA
- 9/2016 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 5/2016 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 9/2007 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 4/2007 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 1/2007 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, MD Anderson
- 10/2006 - Present, Individual Instruction, UTHSCSA
- 10/2006 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, UTHSCSA
- 8/2006 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, Univ of Texas at Austin
- 6/2006 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, MD Anderson
Research & Grants

Associate Director for Cancer Prevention and Health Disparities

Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Clinical Trials, Gynecologic Oncology

Population Science and Prevention Program

Research profile

Grants

Federal

Funding Agency National Institutes of Health Title San Antonio Cancer Institute Status Active Period 9/1998 - Present Role Contributor Grant Detail To identify the cultural, economic, and structural barriers to early phase clinical trial participation faced by patients and oncologists, and to develop effective interventions to reduce these barriers, thereby increasing participation in drug development trials. Funding Agency Susan G. Komen Foundation Title Susan G. Komen Status Active Period 4/2017 - 3/2018 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail The proposed study involves a 2-group randomized control trial with 3-time assessments (baseline, 3 and 6 months) and will enroll 120 breast cancer patients who are prescribed EHT and are attending the breast clinic at the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC), an National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The intervention group will receive two components: 1) a bilingual, culturally tailored, personalized, interactive mobile app; and 2) support from a patient navigator. The control group will receive the usual care and information provided by the CTRC?s breast clinic and pharmacy to patients undergoing oral EHT. The intervention components are based in Social Cognitive Theory and elements of Motivational Interviewing. Funding Agency NIH/NCI Title Redes En Accion: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Research Network Status Active Period 9/2010 - 8/2017 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail

Private

Funding Agency Goldsbury Foundation Title Culinary Health Education for Families, CHEF Status Active Period 1/2018 - 1/2019 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail The Culinary Health Education for Families program (CHEF) provides a culturally relevant pathway for individuals to adopt and sustain healthy eating habits through culinary and nutritional education and demonstration for children and their families. The goals of the program are to provide, evaluate, and continuously improve educational activities for children and their families in a community setting, including after-school program activities and summer classes, and drive organizational change in community partners to develop policies and systems to initiate a culture of health and wellness. Our team of DEB and IHPR researchers provides the data-driven evaluation of the effectiveness of CHEF community program to provide unbiased and scientifically valid conclusions on measurable outcomes, including knowledge, culinary skills, eating behavior, and self-efficacy of children participating in the CHEF program. The evaluation team uses state-of-the-art tools for data collection, management, and statistical analyses with the goal to become recognized leaders in the field of improving dietary health in this population. Funding Agency Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Title Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Status Active Period 3/2018 - 8/2018 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail Salud America! (`SA!) is a Social Cognitive Theory-based program that creates and disseminates dynamic multimedia content designed to promote advocacy capacity development focusing primarily on Latinos and Latino communities. SA! will monitor online network activities with robust online and social media analytical tools and conduct periodic surveys/polls and other assessments to determine the extent to which SA! educational materials and network activities are positively influencing levels of self and collective efficacy of network members. The analysis will inform future efforts to promote the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?s Health Kids, Healthy Weight initiative and reduce Latino childhood obesity. Anticipated duration is 6 months with a budget of $500,000.

State

Funding Agency CPRIT Title CPRIT Status Active Period 3/2018 - 2/2021 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail Utilizing well-developed promotional plans and the evidence-based, culturally tailored English and Spanish mobile SMS cessation service that we have created and tested in South Texas, we will carry out an intensive social media promotional campaign to recruit 5,000 young adult cigarette smokers to a social-media enhanced version of this service over three years of work, focusing on all young adults and those who speak Spanish in rural counties and Spanish-speaking young adults in low-income zones of five major metropolitan areas?all within the six Texas Public Health Regions we have selected in South, West and Central Texas. Responses to promotion, receipt of services and cessation outcomes will be tracked for process, outcome and impact evaluation. Funding Agency CPRIT Title SMS Cessation Service for Young Adult Smokers in South Texas Status Active Period 9/2014 - 8/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail This project?s innovative features include attention to a population that has not been served with efforts to promote smoking cessation. We will employ an innovative mix of traditional media (radio) and new social media (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) for outreach young adults who smoke. We will also transform evidence-based SMS cessation assistance methods, that have previously been available only in English or with generic Spanish translation, to fit the language use and cultural milieu of young Spanish and English speakers.
Publications

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Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.

Professional Background

Education

Appointments

Instruction & Training

Research & Grants

Grants

Federal

Private

State

Publications

Abstract

Electronic/Web Publication

Journal Article

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