Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., founder and director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio and a leading health disparities researcher, has been named chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, announced Robert Hromas, M.D., dean of the Long School of Medicine. The appointment is effective June 1.
Dr. Hromas also announced that the department will be renamed the Department of Population Health Sciences. The new department will continue to provide services in all biological and medical analytical areas, and will also focus on efforts to use analytical tools to enhance the health of the unique populations in San Antonio and South Texas, he said.
Dr. Ramirez will continue to serve as director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research, which she founded in 2006, and as associate director of cancer prevention at the Mays Cancer Center. She is also the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Endowed Chair in Cancer Healthcare Disparities and Outreach, and the Dielmann Chair in Health Disparities Research and Community Outreach.
“Dr. Ramirez is an internationally recognized health disparities researcher conducting behavioral and communications projects to reduce cancer, increase screening rates and clinical trial participation, prove the efficacy of patient navigation for cancer patients, prevent tobacco use, and improve healthy lifestyles among U.S. Latinos,” Dr. Hromas said.
Dr. Ramirez is also director of the Salud America! national Latino health program, which empowers its network of 250,000 community leaders to drive healthy policy and system changes to promote health equity and support for Latino families.
Dr. Ramirez was named a Susan G. Komen Scholar in 2018 and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. She is also the current president of The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas.