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TPHA Sections

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Community Health Worker
Community Health Worker

The Community Health Worker (CHW) section exists to support the 4,000+ trusted frontline public health workers across Texas who serve as liaisons between community members and health/social services to improve health outcomes and equity in public health, community health, healthcare, and community settings. 


Please note: CHWs are known by various titles, including promotores de salud, health coaches, community health representatives, and many more.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Lidiana Ramirez

Chair-Elect: vacant

Secretary: vacant

Secretary-Elect: vacant

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Environmental & Consumer Health
Environmental & Consumer Health

The Environment and Consumer Health Section advances public health practice, policy, and education related to the environmental, occupational, and consumer factors that shape health and wellbeing across Texas communities.


This section brings together public health professionals, researchers, educators, students, and advocates committed to addressing environmental exposures, consumer product safety, food systems, housing conditions, climate impacts, workplace health, and more. 


Members engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and education to reduce health risks, promote equity, and strengthen protections for vulnerable populations.


Through education, collaboration, and policy engagement, the Environment and Consumer Health Section supports evidence-based approaches to preventing environmental and consumer-related health harms, advancing environmental justice, and fostering healthier, safer communities statewide.



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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Kim Rahebi, PhD, MPH, CPH

Chair-Elect: J. Edward Dotherow

Secretary: Nancy De La Fuente

Secretary-Elect: Yasmin Hart

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Epidemiology
Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the basic science and cornerstone of public health. Epidemiological work takes place in almost all public health settings in Texas, including in local and state government, academia, healthcare settings, and industry. The Epidemiology Section aims to foster collaboration on important epidemiologic work in Texas by bringing together public health professionals from different work settings and with different health topics of expertise. Our Section also works to enhance epidemiologic and other career skills for public health professionals.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Natalie Archer, PhD

Chair-Elect: Elizabeth Cuevas, PhD

Secretary: Miso Lee, PhD

Secretary-Elect: Sandra Ovuegbe, MPH

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Health Education
Health Education

The Health Education Section brings together public health professionals who are committed to using education as a tool to improve health outcomes across Texas. Health education serves as a foundational component of public health practice, supporting efforts in chronic disease prevention, infectious disease response, and community-based outreach.


This section offers members opportunities to collaborate, build skills, and share effective strategies that inform and engage individuals and communities. Members also contribute to TPHA’s Annual Education Conference by presenting innovative approaches and educational practices that support healthier living.


Tagline: Advancing public health through education, collaboration, and evidence-based practice.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Elizabeth Wachira, PhD

Chair-Elect: Savannah Panagopoulos, MPH

Secretary: Emily Gordon-Araki, MPH

Secretary-Elect: Allison Christian

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Maternal & Child Health
Maternal & Child Health

This section allows professionals to focus on the unique challenges and opportunities related to maternal and child health and will focus on maternal, infant, child, and adolescent health. Its primary goal is to address public health issues related to these specific populations. The section aims to enhance MCH practice in Texas by providing a platform for members to collaborate, share best practices, and address MCH challenges related to public health practice, management, and opportunities for professional growth.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Renee Orrantia, MPH, CPH

Chair-Elect: Candace Robledo

Secretary: Sharon Munroe

Secretary-Elect: Marissa Gough

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Mental Health
Mental Health


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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Matt Short, MS, NCC, LPC

Chair-Elect: Jeff Hatala, PhD, MPH

Secretary: vacancy

Secretary-Elect: vacancy

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Oral Health
Oral Health

This section serves as a hub for public health administrative professionals across Texas, fostering a dynamic environment for networking, skill-building, and peer engagement. We offer professional development training designed specifically to meet the complex challenges faced by administrative leaders. A core function of the section is to facilitate the sharing of innovative administrative strategies.


Members actively participate and present at the Annual Education Conference, ensuring that the most effective ideas and cutting-edge practices are disseminated to advance the careers and impact of administrative leaders throughout the Texas public health system.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Urvi Mehta

Chair-Elect: Jessica Vu

Secretary: Shwetha Kuman

Secretary-Elect:

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Public Health Nursing
Public Health Nursing

This section serves as a hub for public health nurses across Texas, creating a collaborative environment for professional growth, networking, and knowledge exchange. We focus on advancing nursing practice through evidence-based strategies, community engagement, and leadership development. A core function of the section is to promote innovative approaches to population health and strengthen the role of nurses in shaping public health policy.


Members actively contribute to statewide initiatives and present at the Annual Education Conference, ensuring that best practices and emerging trends in public health nursing are shared to improve health outcomes and elevate the profession throughout Texas.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Patricia De La Cruz

Chair-Elect: Lauri Hix, MPH, BSN, RN

Secretary: Hadja Diallo, MD, MPH, BSN

Secretary-Elect: Jen Collins, PhD, RN

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Urban Planning
Urban Planning

Urban planners and public health practitioners have long known there is an intersection of public health and urban planning and that the built environment has a direct impact on health outcomes in our communities. With poorer health outcomes becoming more evident in our society, urban planners and public health practitioners are working more closely together to propose solutions to increase positive health outcomes. The Urban Planning section is designed to bring urban planners and public health professionals together in an interdisciplinary team to investigate and recommend innovative solutions to the unique challenges facing us in Texas.

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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Cameron Walker

Chair-Elect: vacancy

Secretary: Craig Farmer

Secretary-Elect: vacancy

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Vision Care
Vision Care

The Texas Public Health Association - Vision Care Section works to improve and protect the visual health of Texans through public health initiatives, multidisciplinary provider collaboration, and data-informed strategies. The Section serves as a resource for eye care providers, supporting efforts to reduce preventable vision loss and improve access to quality vision care statewide.


We collaborate with clinical and community partners to address vision health disparities, promote evidence-based practices, and align clinical care with public health priorities. Through these efforts, the Vision Care Section supports the eye care workforce and advances comprehensive vision and eye health for all Texans.


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Leadership
Leadership

Term 2025-2026

Section Chair: Ellie Hyler Stivala

Chair-Elect: Jung-Sun Kim

Secretary: Batool Kazimi

Secretary-Elect: Mallory Rickett

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Email Today: txpha@aol.com