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Benjamin Olea

June 28, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

What is the Influence of the Indoor Environment on Children’s Health?

This question is being answered by a transdisciplinary team of researchers from engineering, nursing, medicine, and biological sciences. While the past year has been unusual, even in “normal times” most human beings spend between 70% – 90% of their day inside built environments, thus making their homes, offices/workplaces, and schools the most common source of environmental exposures to allergens, dust, viruses, bacteria and molds. Because of their smaller physical size and less mature pulmonary systems, young children are particularly vulnerable to pollution in the air they breathe: This vulnerability is worse for children who have asthma. Drs. Kerry Kinney and Juan Pedro Maestre (Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering) have developed a novel means for measuring indoor air pollutants by using filters placed in central heat and air conditioning (AC) systems to collect samples from indoor air – a technique they call “Filter Forensics.” With funding from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and collaborating with Dr. Sharon Horner (Nursing) long-time researcher of childhood asthma, they tested this ‘filter forensics’ approach in a rural central Texas community in the homes of families who have school-aged children: Half of the families had a child with asthma and half did not. The researchers found differences in the AC filter samples taken from homes of children who had asthma when compared to those who did not have asthma. In general, the microorganisms recovered from the AC filters in the homes of children without asthma were consistent with other studies that have started to identify protective biological exposures, whereas the AC filters in homes of children with asthma yielded more biological factors that are known to trigger or stimulate asthma symptoms.

Drs. Kinney, Maestre, Horner have expanded this work through a second HUD grant and are working with Drs. Matsui (Medicine), Rivera-Mariani (Biomedical Sciences), and Thomaz (Electrical & Computer Engineering) to expand this approach across Texas cities. Starting in Austin in the first year, they tested their remote data collection procedures that they will use in homes across Texas. Notably, this work occurred in the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the current Healthy Homes-Texas study is to evaluate the relationships between environmental contaminants in AC filter dust, home characteristics (type of flooring, cleaning practices, home ventilation practices), and asthma severity and asthma control factors in school-aged children. Understanding the microorganisms and chemicals present in homes is an essential step toward understanding the effects these exposures have on the prevalence and severity of asthma and allergy in children. The Healthy Homes-Texas study is currently recruiting for its second phase and looking for 100 families with school-aged children who have asthma and a comparison group of children who do not have asthma.

If you know someone who would be interested in participating in this study, contact the team through their webpage by clicking the following button:

Authors:

Kerry Kinney, Ph.D., holds the L.P. Gilvin Centennial Professorship in Civil Engineering in The University of Texas at Austin Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and is a courtesy professor in the Department of Population Health. Dr. Kinney’s cross-disciplinary research in environmental engineering and molecular biology centers on the investigation of microorganisms and contaminants in engineered systems including buildings, residential water systems and municipal wastewater systems.
For more information on Dr. Kinney press the following button:

Juan Pedro Maestre, Ph.D., is a research associate and lecturer in Environmental Engineering and Microbiology at The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Maestre specialized in microbiology of the Built Environment, COVID19, and Indoor Air Quality, using molecular biology tools and low-cost sensors for solving problems in natural and human-made systems.
For more information on Dr. Maestre press the following button:

Sharon Horner, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, is a professor and researcher in School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin and holds the Dolores V. Sands Chair in Nursing Research and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Horner’s research is focused on improving health of families with children.
For more information on Dr. Maestre press the following button:

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

June 10, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Precision Health Intervention Methodology Summer Boot Camp, Occurred August 16th- 20th, 2021

The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing hosted a virtual 5-day precision health methodology boot camp designated to present state-of-the-art precision health research intervention methodology and strategies that incorporate individual information to construct precise health interventions in managing multiple chronic conditions (MCC). 

Registrants heard from UT Austin faculty and nationally recognized research experts in the field of genetics & genomics, consumer digital health, big data science, intelligent sensors and wearables, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. They discussed innovative design methodology to construct and evaluate precision interventions.

We will share the learnings and highlights about the week-long event in the coming days. You can view the latest events and news at our UT at Austin School of Nursing News Center: https://nursing.utexas.edu/news-center

23 Top Nurse Scientist Speakers, 22 Sessions on Precision Health Methodology

Please access the line-up of speakers and the topics covered here:

Filed Under: EVENTS

April 5, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Precision Health (T32) Training Program – Information Session

We are recruiting our next cohort of fellows. We will invite two new fellows to join our training program that will begin Fall semester 2021. We invited 1st year (incoming students) and 2nd year students to join Dr. Kim and fellow co-investigators on March 5th to learn more about the Precision Health T32 Training program. You can find the recorded session and application process here: https://nursing.utexas.edu/academics/graduate/degree-offered/phd/precision-health-intervention-methodology-training-self-management-multiple-chronic-conditions-mcc

Full title: Precision Health Intervention Methodology Training in Self-Management of Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCC) – Information Session 

Filed Under: EVENTS

March 10, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Let’s Improve Community Immunity!

Miyong T. KimWelcome to the first edition of our newly formatted HER newsletter. The shared goal of our center and our many community partnerships is to enhance widespread community immunity. We approach this goal by first listening to the community and identifying their health needs. We then work together to build on this knowledge to both enhance and provide quality care, while at the same time empowering individuals to better manage aspects of their health that are within their control.

When working with underserved communities, we must aim to better understand their specific needs and how they are both coping and suffering. With COVID-19 many people may experience serious physical and mental health consequences from social isolation and the disruption of daily routines. Although the COVID-19 pandemic will cease in time, this crisis highlights potential problems in our community health infrastructure and persistent inequalities in the US health care system.

Assisting community members to find solutions they can implement on their own and strategies to navigate our complex healthcare system can make a huge difference—a term we call “self-management.” For the past six years, our team at the Center for Health Equity Research (HER) at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing has been working on multiple projects to find effective solutions for people with multiple chronic conditions who also struggle with complex social determinants of health. For example, our African American Mental Health and Wellness Project (AMEN) partners with churches to provide education and access to mental health resources and services. Our Community Health Worker Institute trains non-medical people in their community—people who share the same culture and language–to serve as advocates, educators, resource navigators, and bridges to health care in underprivileged populations.

In addition, we are working on incorporating technological innovations and big data science to propel self-management science forward. Focusing on the development of personalized solutions informed by data from individuals, systems, and populations will help us find solutions that fit individuals—whatever their respective resources.

Stay tuned for stories from the researchers, clinicians, clients, and community members that highlight our vision.

Miyong Kim, PhD, RN, FAAN
Director, Center for Health Equity Research

Return to the full newsletter here>

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

February 12, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

AMEN Program Q&A

Keeping the Faith, Pastor Daryl Horton of Mt. Zion

Pastor Horton and his wife, Shalonda are an integral part of the AMEN team. Pastor Horton has served as assistant pastor and youth ministry director and recently transitioned to the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist church, while Shalonda Horton, PhD, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and co-investigator of the AMEN program serves as the health ministry leader at Mt. Zion Baptist church, and both have joined forces to increase mental health awareness and services to their congregants. Pastor Horton believes that civic engagement and community advocacy are a vital part of his role as a leader in his church and community.

Q: Our community and the world at large have been in deep in physical, emotional, and social justice crises that seem to continuously evolve. What role does a faith community play in weathering these storms?

A: In moments of challenge and crisis, I believe that faith can provide a sense of peace, comfort, and calm—it can help people feel less vulnerable in situations where they feel they have little control. It offers an opportunity to embrace the idea that there is a greater being who is watching and aware—even if the world does not seem invested in righteousness and social justice, there is always a presence who is.

This has been a very interesting period of time. The death of Mr. George Floyd, as well as a global pandemic, have motivated people in our community—congregants and clergy–to reach out to each other and express how much they care and are thinking of them. I believe these crises have given all of us an opportunity to appreciate the importance of family.

Q: What impact has the AMEN project had on the community during these difficult times?

A: We have a number of lay health workers who have been under a tremendous amount of stress in the past weeks and months—understandably, as they support the health of the community. AMEN has provided them a safe place of release, where they can safely express what they’re experiencing and feeling, where others understand what they’re going through and are willing to listen. We have a faith community to serve our congregants’ spiritual needs, and the School of Nursing has provided programs for physical health. The AMEN project is the piece that allows us to serve the whole person—physically, mentally, and spiritually. For a community, the church is a very sacred place; inviting people in who are not a part of it gives both groups the opportunity to appreciate the others’ perspective, and to foster a sense of mutual trust.

  1. As a pastor and community leader, you wear many hats. You’re a spiritual leader, mentor, educator, counselor, and advocate for social justice. You care for so many people—how do you take care of yourself?

A. I do make an effort to take care of myself. Despite my public roles, I’m really an introvert at heart—I really enjoy reading, video games, listening to music. I enjoy peace and solitude.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AMEN PROGRAM VISIT:
https://nursing.utexas.edu/research/amen

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

February 12, 2021 by Benjamin Olea

Virtual Group Hug

Poor social support during pregnancy and early motherhood is a risk factor for postpartum depression. Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW), a community organization that facilitates access to quality and culturally appropriate prenatal and postnatal care for women of color in Austin and Travis County teamed up with HER to provide maternal justice programming, and is now heeding the call with programs that provide virtual kinship and conversation during COVID and beyond. During this time of physical distancing, the program is providing Virtual Prenatal and Post-Partum Circles in both English and Spanish. In 2016 HER and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation joined forces to create HER’s Community Health Worker Institute. The institute focuses on workforce research to explore the impact and needs of these health care heroes, which will inform trainings across the state that include the latest evidence-based practice and technology.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MSVW AND ITS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, VISIT msvwatx.com

Filed Under: Newsletter, Summer Newsletter 2021

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