Director’s Corner
Today, healthcare is at a defining moment, at the heart of macro-social transformation. U.S. demographics are radically shifting, and technological advances are spreading rapidly and widely. The core conditions of people’s daily lives are changing as well. It is thus difficult, for example, to ignore the remarkable penetration of new, persuasive technology into modern daily life, not only by commercial technological giants such as Amazon and Facebook, but also by small online merchants.
Pilot Updates
New and Ongoing Pilot Studies – New Pilot Studies are Dr. Morrison’s “A Cognitive Self-Management Intervention for Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: Adapting Web-based Technology,” and Dr. Young’s “Integrated Self-Management Intervention for Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.”
Ongoing Pilot Studies are Dr. Harrison’s “Self-Management of Aging-Related Bio-Behavioral Decline in People with Osteoarthritis (OA),” and Dr. Cuevas’s “Adaptation of a Cognitive Training Intervention for Diabetes Self-Management pilot studies.”
Learn about New and Ongoing Pilot Studies >
In the News
These days it would be hard to name an industry that hasn’t been impacted by innovative technology resulting in greater efficiency, convenience, and affordability. Health care, however, seems to be the exception. While health care keeps getting costlier, patient outcomes have gotten worse and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes are now responsible for 80% of total spending…
Photo Credit: Harvard Business Review Article
Accomplishments
CHW Institute – With generous funding through a grant from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Center for Health Equity Research (HER), began an initiative to perform a comprehensive, multi-level workforce analysis within Central Texas and will join forces with existing agencies who are currently providing certified CHW training…
Health Point Mini Grant – As part of this initiative, in May 2016, HER applied for and received a HealthPoint mini-grant from the University and received $1,500 to fund new activities to address concerns raised in the survey. More specifically, this mini grant focused on providing outlets to improve mental health and physical activity, in addition to raising awareness about ways to incorporate wellness throughout the work day…
St. David’s 2017 Opportunity Grant Recipient – St. David’s Foundation has launched Opportunity Grants to provide financial support for new approaches to improving community health. These grants seek proposals that include innovative, transformative ideas for making Central Texas the healthiest community in the world…
Activities
Front Porch Gathering – “Health Disparities in Communities of Color and the Impact on Mental Wellness”
Opportunity Forum – “After the Storm: Building Resilient and Equitable Communities”
CHPR Conference – “Health Disparities in the Precision Health Era Across the Lifespan”
The LaVerne Gallman Distinguished Lectureship in Nursing Presents – “Health Disparities in the Era of Precision Health:” Will our new tools reduce or expand the gaps?
Staff Highlight
Paige Menking – Graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs who joined our team last year to work as a GRA on our Community Health Worker (CHW) Institute. As a health policy student and a certified CHW and CHW Instructor, Paige has proven herself invaluable when it comes to looking at ways to empower this workforce and enhance their presence as part of a holistic health team. She has been selected as our Staff Highlight and shared some of her history and vision for better health care delivery.
