Roxana E Delgado, PhD, MS
Professor
I am a health scientist and epidemiologist focusing on military and veteran research, especially family caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured Veterans. For the past fifteen years, my work explored the psychosocial determinants of health and health outcomes in Veterans with complex comorbidity. In recent years I developed the “Military and Veteran Caregiver Research Portfolio” studying the health and well-being of military families and caregivers of wounded, ill, and injured military personnel and Veterans, with an emphasis on the trajectory of health, the delivery of care in complex and large healthcare systems. As a health scientist and epidemiologist, I have worked with healthcare systems, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to conduct studies that may impact the military and the nation's healthcare and social policies. My experience as the wife of a combat wounded Veteran has informed my work and allowed me to be an insider in the community I work with.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2016 - Postdoctoral Fellowship - Epidemiology and Biostatistics (NA) - University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio
- 2013 - PhD - Health Sciences (Summa Cum Laude) - University of Texas at El Paso
- 2003 - MS - Epidemiology (Cum Laude) - University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences
- 1999 - BS - General Science-Natural Sciences (Cum Laude) - University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras
Highlights
- 2022, Nomination to the UT Health San Antonio Presidential Award for Research.
- 2021, Top 20 Influential Latinos in San Antonio, 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month.
- 2018, DoD Tri-Service Nursing Research Award (TSNRP) Col. Regina Aune Perseverance Award. In 2017, TSNRP established the prestigious Regina Aune Perseverance Award to recognize a researcher’s contribution to military nursing and military nursing scholarship.
Appointments
- 05/2023 - Professor/Research - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 10/2017-05/2023 - Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Medicine
- 2019 - Adjunct Assistant Professor - UT Houston, School of Public Health
- 2016 - Adjunct Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, Graduate School
- 5/2012 - Clinical Nursing and Instructor of Clinical Nursing - University of Texas at El Paso, Nursing Deans Office, El Paso
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Instruction & Training
- 2012-2020, NURS 6370 PHD Epidemiology of Border Populations, UT Health San Antonio
- 2018-2019, NURS 6380 PHD Fundamentals of Epidemiology, UT Health San Antonio
- 2018-2022, MSLP 5004 Advance Research Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, UT Health San Antonio
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Research & Grants
Grants
Currently Funded:
2022 – 2025 Funder: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) #W81XWH-21-PRARP-CSRA . Dollars: 233,268 Title: Home- and Community-Based Service Use and Preferences among Post-9/11 Veterans at High Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia and their Caregivers Role: PI
2022-2023 Funder: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and USA, PID #170570 Dollars: 200,000, Title: The Campaign for Inclusive Care Process and Implementation Evaluation Role: PI
2020-2023 Funder: RRF Foundation for Aging, PID #170059 Dollars: 219,676, Title: Translation and Testing of Learning Skills Together to build Confidence for Complex Care Tasks Among Latino Family Caregivers Role: Co-I
2020-2025 Funder: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) #W81XWH2010764 Dollar: 744,499 Title: Military Injuries: Understanding post-Traumatic Epilepsy [MINUTE], Health and Quality of Life Effects of Caregiving Role: PI
2017-2024 Funder: Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) # W81XWH-16-2-0013 Dollar: 2,300,000 Title: Trauma Outcomes and Urogenital Health In OEF/OIF (TOUGH): A Retrospective Cohort Study Role: PI
2021-2023 Funder: Department of Veterans Affairs IPAA agreement Dollar: 44,000 Title: Veteran Hero Care: Elizabeth Dole Center Veteran and Caregiver Research VA Center of Excellence Role: Co-I
Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects:
2016 Funder: NA Dollars: NA, Title: Military Caregivers Health Assessment: Caring for Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members and Veterans, A Pilot Study Role: PI
Completed Research/Projects:
2020-2022 Funder: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and USAA Dollars: 200,000 per year Title: The Campaign for Inclusive Care Process and Implementation Evaluation : Role: PI
2018-2020 Funder: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and USAA Dollars: 200,000 per year Title: The Campaign for Inclusive Care Process and Implementation Evaluation Role: Co-PI
2017-2018 Funder: USAA Grant # Dollars: 264,000 Title: Military Caregivers TeleHealth Initiative Role: Co-Investigator (PI: D. Velligan)
2017-2018 Funder: State of Texas, Texas Veteran and Family Alliance PID #164246 Dollars: 169,300 Title: Program Evaluation of the Texas Veteran and Family Alliance Bexar County Role: PI
2016- 2018 Funder: ReACH Pilot Funding Dollars: 9,000 Title: Military Caregivers Health Assessment: Caring for Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members and Veterans, A Pilot Study Role: PI
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Service
Institutional
2017-2018 UT Health San Antonio, Deputy Director, Military Health Institute
Service to the Profession
STUDENT MENTEES/TRAINEES
2022- Kayla Torres, PhD candidate, mentoring of doctoral research project 1hour/week
2018-2019 Ruth Morrison, PhD candidate, supervision of doctoral research project 2 hours/week for 15 months
Service to the Profession:
2023 Grant Reviewer, RRF Foundation
2022-2023 Advisory Board, USAA Suicide Prevention Initiative
2022-present Scientific Advisory Board, Dole Foundation Scientific Advisory Board
2022-present Manuscript Reviewer,Quality of Life Research
2021-present Manuscript Reviewer, Journal of Psychological Trauma
2020-present Editorial Member, Journal of Veteran Studies
2018-present Manuscript Reviewer, Rehabilitation Psychology
National
Professional Affiliations (memberships)
- 2022-2024 AMSUS Society of Federal Health Professionals
- 2021-2023 American Evaluation Association
- 2021-2023 American Public Health Association (APHA)
- 2015- Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow Alumna
- 2010- Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary
Community
2023 Member, Rotary Club of Fair Oaks Ranch, SA, TX
2018- Board of Directors, TBI Warrior Foundation
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Publications
- Sperber, N., Delgado, R., Barrett, R., Boucher, N., Christensen, L., McKenna, K., & Whitaker, C. (2023). Training Health Care Practitioners to Include Family Caregivers With Web-Based Learning Modules. The Permanente Journal, 27(1), 28..
- Bouldin, E. D., Delgado, R., Peacock, K., Hale, W., Roghani, A., Trevino, A. Y., & Pugh, M. J. (2022). Military Injuries—Understanding Posttraumatic Epilepsy, Health, and Quality-of-Life Effects of Caregiving: Protocol for a Longitudinal Mixed Methods Observational Study. JMIR research protocols, 11(1), e30975.
- Leykum, L. K., Penney, L. S., Dang, S., Trivedi, R. B., Noël, P. H., Pugh, J. A., Shepherd-Banigan, M. E., Pugh, M. J., Rupper, R., Finley, E., Parish-Johnson, J., Delgado, R., Peacock, K., Kalvesmaki, A., & Van Houtven, C. H. (2022). Recommendations to Improve Health Outcomes Through Recognizing and Supporting Caregivers. JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 1–5. https://doi-org.libproxy.uthscsa.edu/10.1007/s11606-021-07247-w
- Shepherd-Banigan, M. E., Boucher, N. A., McKenna, K., Delgado, R. E., Whitaker, C., Christensen, L., & Sperber, N. R. (2021). Family Caregiver and Provider Perspectives on Inclusive Care: Aligning Needs and Expectations. Medical Care, 59(11), 961-969. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001622
- Delgado R. E., Peacock, K., Wang, C-P., Pugh, M.J. Phenotypes of caregiver distress in military and veteran caregivers: Suicidal ideation associations. PLoS ONE, (2021). 16(6): e0253207. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253207
- Boucher NA, Shepherd-Banigan M, McKenna K, Delgado, R.E., Peacock K, Van Houtven CH, Van Noord M, Sperber NR. Inclusion of Caregivers in Veterans' Care: A Critical Literature Review. Med Care Res Rev. 2021 Oct;78(5):463-474. doi: 10.1177/1077558720944283. Epub 2020 Jul 25. PMID: 32715922.
- Pugh MJ, Swan AA, Amuan ME, Eapen BC, Jaramillo CA, Delgado R, et al. (2019) Deployment, suicide, and overdose among comorbidity phenotypes following mild traumatic brain injury: A retrospective cohort study from the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium. PLoS ONE 14(9): e0222674. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222674
- Sperber, N. R., Boucher, N. A., Delgado, R., Shepherd-Banigan, M. E., McKenna, K., Moore, M., . . . Van Houtven, C. H. (2019). Including Family Caregivers In Seriously Ill Veterans’ Care: A Mixed-Methods Study. Health Affairs, 38(6), 957-963.Delgado, R., Peacock, K., Elizondo, B., Wells, M., Grafman, J, & Pugh, M. (2018). A Family's Affair: Caring for Veterans with Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury. Military Medicine, Volume 183, Issue suppl_1, 1, Pages 379–385.
- Pugh, M.J., Swan, A., Carlson, K., Jaramillo, C., Eapen, B., Dillahunt-Aspillaga, C., Amuan, M., Delgado, R., McConnell, K., Finley, E. and Grafman, J. (2018). Traumatic brain injury severity, comorbidity, and community reintegration among veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. Archives of Rehabilitation Medicine, Volume 99, Issue 2, Supplement, Pages S40–S49.
- Delgado, R., Peacock, K., Elizondo, B., Wells, M., Grafman, J, & Pugh, M. (2018). A Family's Affair: Caring for Veterans with Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury. Military Medicine, Volume 183, Issue suppl_1, 1, Pages 379–385.
- Delgado, R. (2022, December 3). Research needed for veterans with genital and reproductive wounds [Commentary]. https://www.militarytimes.com/opinion/commentary/2022/12/03/research-nee...
- Delgado, R. E., Peacock, K., Pugh, M. J., & Luby, C. (2021). Chapter 25. Second Service: Military and Veteran Caregivers Among Us. Caring for Veterans and Their Families: A Guide for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Berry, K., Delgado, R., Dorr, J., McConnell. K., Walter, J. (2016). “The Caregivers Companion: Self-Care for Health in Mind, Body & Spirit”, Samueli Institute, Alexandria, VA. URL: http://samueliinstituteblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Caregiver...
- Delgado, R. (2023, June 12-14). Inclusion of Military Caregivers in the Veterans’ Care. 2023 Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Conference, Austin, TX.
- Christensen, L., Delgado, R., Whitaker, C., and Barrett, R. Public‒Private Partnership Model: Family Caregiver Integration & Healthcare Teams. in National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care Education and Research. 2022. San Diego, CA: The California State University.
- Delgado, R., Peacock, K., Kalvesmaki, A., Sperber, N., Viny, M., Whitaker, C., Pugh, M. J. (2021, October 24-27). Campaign for Inclusive Care: Incorporating Military Caregivers in the Care of Veterans Paper presented at the APHA’s 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo. Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness, Denver, CO and online.
- Sperber N.R., Boucher NA, Delgado R, Shepherd-Banigan M, McKenna K, Moore M, Kabat M, Van Houtven CH. Including Family Caregivers in Seriously Ill Veterans’ Care: A Mixed-Methods Study. Presentation in Supporting Family Caregivers within Systems of Care Delivery Symposium. The Gerontological Society of America's 71st Annual Scientific Meeting, Austin, Texas, November 13-17, 2019
- Kabat, M., Delgado, R., Rodewald, L., Guerra, S., and Rasco, S. (2018). Military and Veteran Caregivers: Identifying, Supporting, and Caring for Caregivers in Modern Military Healthcare, AMSUS, The Society of Health Professionals Annual Conference, 26-30 November, Washington DC.
Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based)
Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.)
Books/Book Chapters:
Abstracts
Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)
2023 “Inclusion of Military Caregivers in the Veterans’ Care.” 2023 Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Conference, Austin, TX.
2023 “Partnering with Families and Caregivers.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), VA/SAMHSA Governor’s Challenge Policy Academy, Washington DC
2023 “Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.” Maryland’s Commitment to Veterans, Maryland Department of Health, [Virtual]
2022 “The Future of Caregiving: A Path for the Way Forward. Addressing the Caregiving Crisis: How States and Communities Can Better Support Military and Veteran Caregivers.” Learning Community Online, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) [Virtual]
2022 “Empathy Fatigue: Caregivers Are Impacted Too.” National Alliance for Mental Illness Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.
2022 Caring for a Veteran with Traumatic Brain Injury. In. Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Community (MVCN): Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Community (MVCN) [Virtual].
2018 “Redefining Caregiving: Thriving Beyond the Wounds of War.” Third Annual National Caregiving Conference, Chicago, IL.
2017 “Welcome Home: The Experience of Combat Wounded Veterans and their Caregivers.” Reel Thanx Gala, Midland, TX.
2017 A Journey after Traumatic Brain Injury. The Ecumenical Center, San Antonio, TX.
Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations
2022 “Caring for Wounded, Ill and Injured Veterans.”, Medicine Grand Rounds, UT Health San Antonio
2021 “The Health and Well-Being of Military Families Caring for Wounded, Ill, and Injured Veterans.”, Medicine Grand Rounds, UT Health San Antonio
2016 “Care for The Returning Veteran.”, Medicine Grand Rounds, UT Health San Antonio
Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations
2018 “Supporting the Wounded, Ill and Injured: Military Caregivers Health-Related Outcomes.” TriService Nursing Research Program Research and Evidenced-Based Dissemination Course, San Antonio, TX