Center for Health Equity

?? Introducing the Data Visualization Studio at the Center for Health Equity! Making sense of data is key to driving impactful public health initiatives. That’s why we’re excited to offer customized interactive data visualization services—helping funders, implementers, and public health professionals track performance in real-time and optimize outcomes. Our services provide: ?? Real-Time Monitoring – Keeping initiatives on track with dynamic dashboards ??? Geospatial Insights – Identifing trends using ArcGIS Pro for impactful mapping ?? Interactive Dashboards – Tracking key metrics effortlessly with Power BI Our expert team of data scientists, cartographers, and statisticians translates complex data into actionable insights—so you can make informed decisions that drive real change. ?? Want to see it in action? Explore our page to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gN5pWEHA

?? National Nutrition Month Spotlight: The Nourish Program ??at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health We want to celebrate the Nourish Program, a powerful initiative that goes beyond just providing food—it teaches people how to grow, prepare, and promote meals that support lifelong health. In collaboration with Brighter Bites, the Nourish Program integrates culinary medicine—a cutting-edge approach combining the art of cooking with the science of nutrition. Through hands-on education, healthcare professionals like physicians, nurses, and dietitians can empower individuals with practical skills to make healthier food choices every day. Interested in how culinary medicine is shaping the future of nutrition and healthcare? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gweivGty and visit the Nourish program website here: https://lnkd.in/gkwQr39d Dolores Hernandez Woods, M.A, RDN, Diana Guevara, MPH, RD, LD, Wesley McWhorter, DrPH, MS, RDN, LD, CSCS, Margaret Raber, DrPH, Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, Laura Moore, Deanna Hoelscher, Melisa Danho, MPH, RDN, LD, Rupa Mahadevan

?? Upcoming Event: Houston Food Bank’s Community Health Summit – “Food Connects Us” Join the Houston Food Bank on Tuesday, March 25, from 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM for the Community Health Summit: Food Connects Us, a free event bringing together local partners and experts to explore the intersection of nutrition, food insecurity, and health. Food is deeply connected to our cultures, families, and communities—but it is also a critical determinant of health and well-being. This summit will highlight how Houston Food Bank’s Health Strategy is tailored to meet the needs of our neighbors and advance food and nutrition security across the region. Click here to register and see the full agenda: https://lnkd.in/g572pNbZ.

At the City of Houston's WIC “Beyond Food Insecurity – Nutrition Security for All” convening, hosted at the Houston Food Bank, Lorena Macías Navarro, doctoral student and Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Health Equity (CHE), delivered a keynote session, “Food Is Medicine: From Theory to Practice.” She introduced Food Is Medicine (FIM) as a set of interventions designed to prevent and manage chronic conditions by integrating evidence-based nutrition support into healthcare. She highlighted key FIM initiatives led by the Center for Health Equity, including the Produce Prescription Program, developed in partnership with Harris Health System, Planet Harvest, Brighter Bites, and DoorDash. (Read more about this collaboration here: https://lnkd.in/gSxRZ6Dw) Her talk also explored the role of culinary medicine—a hands-on approach that merges nutrition science, medicine, and cooking—as a critical tool in supporting behavioral change among WIC participants. She emphasized how WIC staff serve as trusted frontline partners in translating nutrition guidance into actionable, daily practices for mothers, infants, and children experiencing food insecurity. ?? We extend our gratitude to Zahra Koopaei, WIC Director, Houston Health Department (HHD), and Rosana Moraes, RD, LD, WIC Nutrition Education Coordinator, HHD, for the opportunity to engage in this critical conversation!

It’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) day! Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) are the cornerstone of food, nutrition and health. Today we celebrate all dietitians and spotlight our very own RDNs, Center Director Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD and one of our affiliate faculty and member of CHE Executive Advisory Team Deanna Hoelscher who is Director of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living. Drs. Sharma and Hoelscher have collaborated successfully for two decades on nutrition research that has directly impacted lives of Texans. Together, they also co-direct the Nourish program that brings culinary medicine to life. Read more on Nourish here - https://lnkd.in/gkwQr39d And Read some of their collaborative research here - https://lnkd.in/garbpHvR

?? National Nutrition Month: Advancing Food Is Medicine ?? Access to nutritious food is essential for preventing, managing, and treating chronic conditions. Food Is Medicine (FIM) integrates healthy food into healthcare, ensuring it becomes a covered medical benefit. At the Center for Health Equity, we lead research, policy, and partnerships to expand FIM programs in Texas. Collaborating with health systems, managed care organizations, and community partners, we are designing and testing interventions for: ?? Children – Evaluating a home-delivery produce prescription program for Medicaid-eligible school-aged children at risk for obesity. ?? High-Risk Pregnant Mothers – Implementing and assessing produce prescription models for pregnant mothers on Medicaid. ?? New Initiative! With Cigna Foundation funding, CHE and UT Physicians are launching a produce prescription program for individuals with diabetes. ?? Scaling Food Is Medicine in Texas As the backbone organization of the Health Equity Collective, CHE is expanding FIM programs and equipping stakeholders to inform policy action for making healthy food a covered medical benefit. ?? Strengthening the Evidence Base CHE is mapping FIM programs across Texas through the Texas Consortium for Non-Medical Drivers of Health, fostering collaboration and policy advancement. Read more about our work in this space here: https://lnkd.in/g3_Fmpgv

?? Faculty Spotlight for National Nutrition Month! ?? Meet Dr. Marcia Otto, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and valued faculty member of the Center for Health Equity! ?? Dr. Otto’s research is dedicated to advancing nutrition science to inform dietary interventions, policy, and clinical practice—ensuring better health outcomes for all. Her current research at the Center for Health Equity includes: ??? The U-Dine Study – Exploring dietary patterns and insufficiencies while evaluating how cancer and related treatments impact diet quality among oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) patients across their cancer journey. ?? Everything in Moderation? – Investigating the role of dietary diversity in overall diet quality and its impact on cardiovascular health among diverse U.S. adults. ?? Read about the U-Dine Study here: https://lnkd.in/g_6HiS3y ?? Learn more about Dr. Otto’s research lab here: https://lnkd.in/ep7UsY7e We are proud to celebrate Dr. Otto’s incredible contributions to the field of nutrition and health equity! ????

Congratulations to Center for Health Equity Research Scientist, Maha Almohamad, PhD, MS! In a recent study she led, the findings highlight the critical role of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation in mitigating the effects of very low food security on cardiometabolic conditions. ?? This work contributes to the growing body of evidence that food is medicine and strengthens the case for healthcare systems to engage in solutions that promote nutrition security and equitable access to healthy food. ?? Read more about the study here: https://lnkd.in/d7AXENT5 Anjail Sharrief- Ibrahim MD MPH, Ruosha Li, Natalia Heredia, Shreela Sharma, PhD, RDN, LD, Jayna Dave, Ph.D., Eric Calloway

March is National Nutrition Month! ???? At the Center for Health Equity, nutrition is critical to our work. Access to healthy, nourishing food is a fundamental pillar of health equity, and we are committed to advancing solutions that make nutrition security a reality for all. This month, we’re excited to highlight: ? The incredible work of our team in nutrition research and programs ? Current and future collaborations that drive impact ? Recent grants that allow us to expand our efforts ? Upcoming events and conferences Stay tuned as we showcase the power of nutrition in building healthier communities! We look forward to engaging with partners, sharing key learnings, and celebrating the work being done to ensure everyone has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. Follow along and join the conversation! #NationalNutritionMonth #HealthEquity #NutritionSecurity #FoodIsMedicine

?? Join us in welcoming new faculty member, Serwaa S. Omowale, PhD, LMSW, MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health! As a licensed social worker and public health scholar, Dr. Omowale brings a unique perspective to the Center for Health Equity's research portfolio. Read more here ?? https://lnkd.in/gGhSmDX2