Funded Student Researchers

Year Four Funded Student Researchers

Alisha Hayden
Measurement of Coalition functioning of Youth Coalitions with a Smoke Free
Louis Brown, Advisor

Cecilia Brooke Cholka
Cultural Correlates of Condom Use
Theodore Cooper, Advisor

Kevin M. Gutierrez
A Potential Venue for Reducing Hispanic Health Disparities: Examining the Relationship Between Numeracy and Medication Literacy
Lawrence Cohn, Advisor

Marisela Gutierrez
Boosting Cognitive DEvelopment in Minority Populations: A Study of the Beneficial Effects of Active Bilingualism
Christina Sobin, Advisor

Yolanda J. McDonald
Waterborne Diseases in Fort Hancock, Texas: The Impacts of Lack of Plumbing on Water Quality and Self-Reported Health
Sara Grineski, Advisor

Josue G. Lachica
Health Disparities amongst the Hispanic Homeless Populations
Ernesto Castañeda, Advisor

Year Three Funded Student Researchers

Alma Hernandez
Exploring Child Health and Development in Ciudad Juárez through Photo-Interviews.
Dr. Sara Grineski, Advisor

Amir Kamel
Disparities in park availability and amenities by deprivation and acculturation at the neighborhood level within a US-Mexico border urban area.
Dr. Paula Ford, Advisor

Christina Samples
Assessment of the applicability and effectiveness of various exercise intensities on the improvement of fitness in Hispanic older adults.
Dr. Sandor Dorgo, Advisor

Elisabeth Cavegn
The Effect of Exercise on Peripheral Neuropathy and Balance in Older Adults with Type 2 DiabetesDr.
Chantal Vella, Advisor

Jose Guevara
Pilot Project: Efficacy of Personalized Normative Feedback for Smoking Cessation and Prevention among Adolescents in a U.S.-Mexico Border CommunityDr.
Joe Tomaka, Advisor

Julie Blow
Correlates of overweight in a Hispanic community sample.
Dr. Theodore Cooper, Advisor

Luis Omar Rivera
The Role of Perceptual Processing Biases in Hispanics’ Use of Healthcare Services
Dr. Michael Zárate

Rajeev Senapati
Sociotechnical modeling of community health organizations to improve health outcomes
Dr. Arunkumar Pennathur

Thom Taylor
The impact of U.S./México border violence on mental health treatment seeking community members’ traumatic stress levels.
Dr. Theodore Cooper, Advisor

Yolanda McDonald
Socio-spatial and temporal disparities: Water-borne diseases and risk in El Paso and Juárez.
Dr. Sara Grineski, Advisor

Year Two Funded Student Researchers

Fernandez, Norma P.
What is the prevalence of smokers among UTEP students and what are their characteristics?
Dr. Osvaldo Morera, Mentor
UTEP Department of Psychology
Efficient Health Literacy and Effective Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision
Dr. Osvaldo Morera, Mentor
UTEP Department of Psychology

Cavegn, Elisabeth
The Effect of Tai Chi on Peripheral Neuropathy and Balance in Older Adults with Type II Diabetes
Dr. Jodi Riskowski, Mentor
UTEP Department of Kinesiology

Lopez, Jacqueline
Perception and Identification of Voice Disorders: A Comparison Study
Dr. Bess Sirmon Fjordbak, Mentor
UTEP Speech Language Pathology Program

Ortega, Alma
X.PEPT2*2, low-level blood lead, and neurocognitive function in children
Dr. Christina A. Sobin, Mentor
UTEP Department of Health Promotion

Taylor, Thom
The potential impact of community violence on post-traumatic stress and substance use in young adults living along the U.S./Mexico border.
Dr. Theodore V. Cooper, Mentor
UTEP Department of Psychology

Rubio, Kristine
The prevalence of Risk factors of Helicobacter pylori in the Ysleta Population
Dr. Victor Cardenas, Mentor
UTHSPH Epidemiology

Gutierrez, Marisela
The Simon effect and inhibitory control in children exposed to low-level lead
Dr. Christina A. Sobin, Mentor
UTEP Department of Psychology

Hernandez, Alma
Child Health and Development in Ciudad Juarez
Dr. Sara Grineski, Mentor
UTEP Dept of Sociology

Year One Funded Student Researchers (Graduate)

Hernandez, Alma
Exploring the efficacy of an environmental health intervention in south Ciudad Juarez
UTEP Department of Sociology
Dr. Sara Grineski

Ortega, Alma
Longitudinal study of sub-clinical blood lead levels in children of Lamar Elementary School in El Paso Texas
UTEP College of Health Sciences
Public Health
Dr. Tina Sobin

Sanchez, Cristina
Geography of Pesticide Exposure in the Lower Valley (El Paso County, Texas)
UTEP Department of Sociology
Dr. Sara Grineski

De Heer, Hendrik
Project L.E.A.N.: Effects of Continued Exposure to an After-school Physical Activity Program
UTEP Department of Psychology and UTHSPH Masters in Public Health
Dr. Osvaldo F. Morera

Lopez, Jacqueline
Hispanic’s Perceptions on Identification of Functional and Organic Voice Disorders in the Greater El Paso Region
UTEP Department of Speech and Language Pathology
Dr. Bess Sirmon Fjordbak

Gutierrez, Marisela
Inhibitory control processes in Hispanic children with subclinical blood lead levels.
UTEP Department of Psychology
Dr. Tina Sobin

Fernandez, Norma and Arms, Diane
Efficient Health Literacy and Effective Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Aids among Hispanics
UTEP Department of Psychology
Dr. Osvaldo F. Morera

Ariaz, Samantha
The Effects of Technology Enhance Shared Reading on the Vocabulary Acquisition of Bilingual Students.
UTEP Department of Speech and Language Pathology
Dr. Vannesa Mueller

Ramirez, Sandra
The Latina/o Mental Health Paradox, Revisited: Skin Color, Disparities and Depression among New Immigrants
UTEP Department of Sociology
Dr. Maria C. Morales

Year One Funded Student Researchers (Undergraduate)

Bridges, Amber
Social cognitive determinants of physical activity and its association to gender and Hispanic ethnicity.UTEP; Department of Health PromotionDr. Joe Tomaka, Advisor

Peña, PerlaA comparative study of Hispanic parents’ views of their children’s asthma treatments.UTEP; Department of SociologyDr. Sara Grineski, Advisor

PhD Students Funded in Non-Competitive Process to Complete their Research Projects

Guillermina “Mina” Solis

The Coexistence of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Depression in Mexican American Adults: It’s Effects on Glucose Control and Quality of Life.

Presentations:

The Coexistence of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Depression Symptoms in Mexican American Adults: its effect on glucose control and physical function: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is pleased to welcome you as faculty at the AANP 25th National Conference being held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ, on June 23-27, 2010

Mina Solis successfully defended this project as her dissertation titled  THE CO-EXISTENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2 AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN MEXICAN AMERICAN ADULTS:  ITS RELATION TO GLUCOSE CONTROL, PERCEIVED STRESS AND PHYSICAL HEALTH in the University of Texas at El Paso College of Health Sciences on October 12, 2010, and it has been forwarded on toward the awarding of her Interdisciplinary Doctoral Degree

Eva M. Moya, LMSW, PhD

Tuberculosis and TB Related Stigma: Impacts on Health Seeking Behaviors and Access in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas.  Completed Status: 01/07/2010

Eva M. Moya successfully defended this project as her dissertation titled TUBERCULOSIS AND STIGMA: IMPACTS ON HEALTH SEEKINGBEHAVIORS AND ACCESS IN CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO AND EL PASO, TEXAS  in the University of Texas at El Paso College of Health Sciences on April 19, 2010, and it has been forwarded on toward the awarding of her Interdisciplinary Doctoral Degree.

Manuscript submission:
International Journal of Social Work Continuing Education (Fall 2009) focus is on TB in the US-Mexico Border (Two case studies).