APHA update: Yesterday, MD/MPH student Shilpa Rajagopal presented work with Texas DSHS Region 6/5 South on barriers in congenital syphilis care. Texas CS cases rose 148% since 2017. Central Middle School student Laila Serag presented on backpack weight and student health.

Our faculty video series continues with part 2 featuring Dr. Brian Downer. He explains UTMB’s Rehabilitation Sciences PhD (now Rehabilitation and Health Services Research), the small-cohort experience shared with Population Health Sciences, and a social epi perspective. Watch: utmb.us/epz

UTMB’s Kyriakos Markides, PhD, is elected an External Member of the Cyprus Academy in Sociology. A career advancing immigrant and minority aging, the H-EPESE cohort, and the Texas RCMAR now joins a select fellowship of scholars in Cyprus. Read more: utmb.us/ems

Meet Dr. Brian Downer, Associate Professor at UTMB PHHD. He studies cognition, dementia, and healthcare use in older adults and directs two PhD programs in Population Health and Rehabilitation & Health Services Research. Watch the full video: utmb.us/ehz

Proud of our very own Dr. Monique Pappadis, Ph.D., for helping lead the new Joint Messaging Statement on Communicating about Brain Injury.

Dr. Michael Goodman presented The Architecture of Flourishing, outlining the Flourishing Community Model in Kenya and Texas. Community-led steps that build connection, resilience, and well-being. utmb.us/eld utmb.us/dvj

✍️ Dr. Markides is a contributor to this article in honor of International Day of Older Persons on October 1. ❓How has an older adult made a difference in your life? Share your story in the comments below.

🌍 On #InternationalDayOfOlderPersons, we highlight work from our own Dr. Kyriakos Markides: Health and Aging among Immigrants in Western Societies (Daily27), exploring the unique health challenges faced by older immigrant communities. Read here: utmb.us/ek1

Applause for Dr. Meredith Masel, voted Best Professor in The Daily News Readers’ Choice 2025. Galveston readers recognized a teacher whose courses strengthen communication, care, and collaboration. SPPH is proud to learn with her!

UTMB Community: Submit your abstract to the Forum on Aging by October 3!

UTMB SPPH joins partners at the Texas Public Health Summit today in Houston. The program looks to 2050 with focus on technology, transmission, and trust, aligned with TEPHI pillars that strengthen early detection, a reserve workforce, training, and public communication across Texas.

Impact needs range and collaboration. Monica’s path shows how research, policy literacy, and patient-facing work reinforce each other. utmb.us/eid