Faculty and Staff
DH-CHEER Faculty and Staff
Director
- Director, Dorothy I. Height Center for Health Equity & Evaluation Research (DH-CHEER)
Formerly the Center for Research on Minority Health (CRMH)
Center of Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach and Research on Disparities in Health and Training (EXPORT)
Office of the Vice President for Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) - Founder, Biennial Symposium Series on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Cancer
- Cofounder, Intercultural Cancer Council
- Chair, Health Disparities Education, Awareness, Research and Training (HDEART) Consortium
- Director, Reproductive Biology Graduate Education Program, Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences,
The University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston - Principal Investigator, SECURE Gulf Coast Consortium
- Professor, Department of Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
- Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, MD Anderson
- Professor, Graduate School of Social Works, University of Houston
Telephone:
DH-CHEER Office - 713-563-2764
Isabel Estudillo, Administrative Assistant - 713-563-2749
Email: lajones@mdanderson.org / lajones5@uh.edu
Associate Directors
Claudio J. Conti, Ph.D., D.V.M.
Professor - Department of Carcinogenesis
Scientific Director - DH-CHEER
MD Anderson
Telephone: 512-237-9428
E-mail: cconti@mdanderson.org
Robin Fuchs-Young, Ph.D.
Professor - Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine
College of Medicine and the Institute for Bioscience and Technology (IBT)
208 Reynolds Medical Building
Texas A&M Health Science Center
College Station, TX 77843-1114
Telephone: 512-699-3704
E-mail: fuchs-young@medicine.tamhsc.edu
CHEER Faculty
Clifford C. Dasco, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., M.A.
Executive Director, Abramson Center for the Future of Health
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University
Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen University Professor, University of Houston
Telephone: 713-798-3147 / 713-441-3932
E-mail: cdasco@theabramsoncenter.org
Beverly Gor, Ed.D., RD, LD
Instructor, Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
Concentration: Asian American Health Disparities, Childhood Obesity
Telephone: 713-563-2750
E-mail: bjgor@mdanderson.org
Pamela M. Jackson, M.S.
Instructor – General Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Telephone: 713-798-5424
E-mail: pjackson@bcm.edu
Thelma Hurd, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
Director, Breast Surgery Program
Division of Surgical Oncology
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Telephone: 210-567-0716
E-mail: thurd@uthscsa.edu
Raheem J. Paxton, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
Research Assistant Professor - College of Technology's Abramson - Center for the Future of Health, University of Houston
Telephone: 713-563-2735
E-mail: RJPaxton@mdanderson.org, rjpaxton@uh.edu
Isabel Torres, Dr.P.H.
Associate Professor - Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston
Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Palliative Care & Rehabilitative Medicine,
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-563-4125
E-mail: istorres@mdanderson.org / istorres@uh.edu
DH-CHEER Core Units
Community Relations Core
Jasmine J. Opusunju, M.S.Ed, CHES, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator - CAN DO Houston
Telephone: 713-745-0239
E-mail: jjopusunju@mdanderson.org, jasmine@candohouston.org
Education Core
Karyn Kirkendoll-Harvey, M.P.H.
Program Coordinator
Telephone: 713-745-3591
E-mail: kjkirken@mdanderson.org
Research Core
Richard A. Hajek, Ph.D., M.S.
Senior Research Scientist
Research Core Director
Telephone: 713-563-4122
E-mail: rhajek@mdanderson.org
Maria Berglund, M.S.
Coordinator
Research Dietitian
Telephone: 713-563-2756
E-mail: mberglund@mdanderson.org
Allison De La Rosa, M.P.H.
Research Coordinator - Behavioral Science
Telephone: 713-563-4124
E-mail: ade1@mdanderson.org
Data/Biostatistics Core
Mike Hernandez, M.S.
Research Statistical Analyst - Department of Biostatistics
Telephone: 713-563-4245
E-mail: mhernandez@mdanderson.org
Son Hoang, M.S.
Informatics Analyst
Telephone: 713-563-2753
E-mail: tvhoang@mdanderson.org
Maria del Rocio Moguel, B.S.
Database Developer
Telephone: 713-563-4123
E-mail: rmoguel@mdanderson.org
Clinical Core
Caren E. Blinka, J.D., M.S.
Program Manager
Administrative and Clinical Core Director
Telephone: 713-563-2747
E-mail: cblinka@mdanderson.org
Administrative Core
Isabel Estudillo
Senior Administrative Assistant
Telephone: 713-563-2749
E-mail: imestudi@mdanderson.org
Mary Vera
Senior Administrative Assistant
Telephone: 713-745-7151
E-mail: mavera@mdanderson.org
Fellows
Kimberly Enard, Ph.D., M.B.A., MSHA
Postdoctoral Fellow - Kellogg Health Scholar
Concentration: Health Policy, Health Services Research, Health Disparities
Telephone: 713-792-4086
E-mail: krenard@mdanderson.org
Celia Garcia-Prieto, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow - Department of Health Disparities Research
Concentration: Minority Health Research
Telephone: 713-834-6046
E-mail: CGarcia-@mdanderson.org
Shelly Hovick, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow - Behavioral Science
Concentration: Health and Risk Communication
Telephone: 713-745-4008
E-mail: srhovick@mdanderson.org
Stacy Lloyd, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Concentration: Human Genetics and Cancer Health Disparities
Telephone: 713-563-2752
E-mail: smlloyd@mdanderson.org
Affiliated Faculty
Selina Ahmed, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Human Services & Consumer Sciences
Texas Southern University
Visiting Associate Professor, Department of Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-313-7636
E-mail: sahmed1@mdanderson.org / ahmed_sm@tsu.edu
Dalliah M. Black, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Assistant Professor - Department of Surgical Oncology
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-792-4236
E-mail: dmblack@mdanderson.org
Abenaa Brewster, M.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-4928
E-mail: abrewster@mdanderson.org
Jubilee Brown, M.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Gynecologic Oncology
Medical Director - Ovarian Cancer Nutrition Intervention Project
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-792-1380
E-mail: jbbrown@mdanderson.org
John DiGiovanni, Ph.D.
Professor - College of Pharmacy
The University of Texas at Austin
Telephone: 512-495-4726
E-mail: jdigiovanni@mail.utexas.edu
Theresa Duello, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Wisconsin
Telephone: 608-262-7456
E-mail: tmduello@facstaff.wisc.edu
Linda Elting, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.
Professor - Department of Biostatistics
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-563-4305
E-mail: lelting@mdanderson.org
Karl Eschbach, Ph.D.
Professor - Division of Geriatric Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch
Telephone: 409-266-9680
E-mail: karl.eschbach@utsa.edu
Ernest Hawk, M.D., M.P.H.
Vice President and Division Head, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences
Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair for Early Prevention of Cancer
Professor, Department of Cancer Prevention, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences,
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-792-3900
E-mail: ehawk@mdanderson.org
Jessica Hwang, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor - Department of General Medicine
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-4516
E-mail: jphwant@mdanderson.org
Jennifer Irvin Vidrine, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor - Department of Health Disparities Research
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-2383
E-mail: jirvinvidrine@mdanderson.org
Denae King, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor
Mickey Leland Center for Environment, Justice, and Sustainability
Texas Southern University
Telephone: 713-313-4804
E-mail: kingdw@tsu.edu
Larry E. Laufman, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of General Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Telephone: 713-798-5387
E-mail: llaufman@bcm.edu
Somdat Mahabir, Ph.D.
Program Director – Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program
Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National Cancer Institute
Telephone: 301-496-0270
E-mail: mahabir@mail.nih.gov
Kyriakos S. Markides, Ph.D.
Professor and Director - Annie and John Gnitzinger Professor of Aging Studies
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health
University of Texas Medical Branch
Telephone: 409-772-9137
E-mail: kmarkide@utmb.edu
Folakemi Odedina (nee Badejogbin), BPharm, Ph.D.
Professor – Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy
University of Florida College of Pharmacy
Telephone: 727-394-6089
E-mail: fodedina@cop.ufl.edu
Guadalupe R. Palos, Dr.P.H., M.S.N., R.N., LMSW
Manager of Clinical Protocol Administration and Cancer Survivorship
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-3592
E-mail: gpalos@mdanderson.org
Lucinda Nevarez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Social Work • Visiting Research Professor
University of Houston
Telephone: 713-743-5753
E-mail: lnevarez@uh.edu
Curtis Pettaway, M.D.
Professor - Department of Urology
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-792-3250
E-mail: cpettawa@mdanderson.org
Lois Ramondetta, M.D.
Professor - Department of Gynecologic Oncology & Reproductive Medicine
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-0307
E-mail: lramonde@mdanderson.org
Gloria Regisford, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Biology
Prairie View A & M University
Telephone: 713-563-2763
E-mail: gregisford@mdanderson.org / gloria_regisford@pvamu.edu
Leslie Schover, Ph.D.
Professor - Department of Behavioral Sciences
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-2681
E-mail: lschover@mdanderson.org
Andrea Shelton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,
Texas Southern University
Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Disparities Research, MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-313-1121
E-mail: ashelton@mdanderson.org / sheltonaj@tsu.edu
Ya Chen Tina Shih, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Chicago School of Medicine
Contingent work, Department of Biostatistics, MD Anderson
Telephone: 773-702-0406
E-mail: tinashih@uchicago.edu / yashih@mdanderson.org
Mary Ann Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Environmental Sciences
UT Health Science Center
Telephone: 713-500-9236
E-mail: mary.a.smith@uth.tmc.edu
Abida Solomon, Ph.D.
Associate Professor - College of Nursing
Prairie View A & M University
Telephone: 713-797-7048
E-mail: absolomon@pvamu.edu
George Stancel, Ph.D. - EXPORT
Dean - Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences
UT Health Science Center
Telephone: 713-500-4472
E-mail: george.m.stancel@uth.tmc.edu
Robert Volk, Ph.D.
Professor - General Internal Medicine - Research
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-563-2509
E-mail: bvolk@mdanderson.org
Tanya Washington-Stephens, M.D.
Associate Professor - Department of Diagnostic Radiology
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-7410
E-mail: tstephen@di.mdacc.tmc.edu
David Wetter, Ph.D.
Chair - Department of Health Disparities Research
MD Anderson
Telephone: 713-745-2682
E-mail: dwetter@mdanderson.org
Consultants
Niiobli Armah
Manager, Childhood Obesity
Health & Wellness, NAACP
Telephone: 713-563-2736
E-mail: narmah@mdanderson.org
Angelina Esparza, M.P.H., M.S.N., R.N.
Director of Survivorship - National Home Office
American Cancer Society
Telephone: 404-329-7776
E-mail: angelina.esparza@cancer.org
Jan Liang, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Associate Professor (Retired) - Department of Molecular Pathology
MD Anderson
Telephone: 281-358-0364
E-mail: janliang@yahoo.com