Current BIRCWH Scholars

Dr. Soham Al Snih
Dr. Ivonne-Marie Bergés
Dr. Celia Chao
Dr. Jeff R. Temple
Dr. Patricia van den Berg
Dr. Karen Williams

Dr. Soham Al Snih
1986 M.D. Universidad Central de Venezuela, "Luis Razetti" School of Medicine, Caracas, Venezuela
2001 M.S. Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UTMB
2005 Ph.D. Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UTMB
Mentors: Dr. Kenneth Ottenbacher and Dr. James Goodwin

Dr. Al Snih's research examines the prevalence of obesity and the relationship between obesity, muscle strength, and disability among older Mexican American in the United States and elders from Latin America and the Caribbean. She will be using date from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE), an ongoing community-based study of older Mexican Americans aged 65 and older, and from the SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento en America Latina y el Caribe), a cross-sectional multicenter survey of representative samples of elderly populations living in seven large cities in Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Uruguay.

Findings from this research will provide better understanding of the association between obesity and disability risk, and the role that muscle strength plays on the association between obesity and disability in these populations.

Dr. Ivonne-Marie Bergés
1980 B.S. Psychometrics National University Pedro H. Ureña, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1984 M.S. Clinical Psychology, National University Pedro H. Ureña, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
1997 M.S. Health Promotion and Gerontology, UTMB
1999-2004 Predoctoral fellowship, Sealy Center on Aging, UTMB
2004 Ph.D. Preventive Medicine and Community Health, UTMB
2004-2007 Postdoctoral fellowship, Sealy Center on Aging, UTMB
Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Ottenbacher

Ivone-Marie's main research interest is in documenting the disparities in stroke outcomes in underserved ethnic groups. “I am particularly interested in gender differences in functional recovery post stroke and how these differences may vary by ethnicity,” she says. Berges has focused her research on psychosocial factors: stress, social support, social and networks. Among other things Dr. Berges’ investigation may cover during her tenure as BIRCWH scholar is the relationship of home and community ties of non-Hispanic white, African American, and Hispanic women with stroke over a 12 month follow-up period and how the presence of these ties to home and community may facilitate better outcomes. 

Prior to becoming a BIRCWH scholar, Berges had already submitted a “Career Development Award to promote Diversity in Neuroscience Research” to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). While she awaits a response, she is planning an R03/R0 application to the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality on much the same subject.

Dr. Celia Chao
1987 A.B. East Asian Studies, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY
1991 M.D. Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
1991-1998 Residency, General Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery New Haven, CT
1998-2000 Fellowship, The Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Mentors: Dr. Courtney Townsend and Dr. Mark Hellmich

Celia's research topics concern the role of gut peptide hormone bombesin in breast cancer.

Approximately 25% of breast cancer patients have over-amplification of the Her-2-neu gene, a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, correlating with poor prognosis.  Interestingly, among aggressive hormonally driven solid tumors such as ovarian, breast, and prostate cancer, studies have shown increased expression of the bombesin (BBS)-like peptide hormone, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and its cognate receptor, GRP receptor (GRPR).  We hypothesize that the EGFR family, including Her-2-neu synergize with GRPR to develop the metastatic phenotype.

Specific molecular targeting of breast cancers with Her-2-neu over-expression is moderately therapeutic in the metastatic setting and unknown in the adjuvant setting.  The elucidation of EGFR trans-activation by GRPR should facilitate the rational design of combination drug regimens for the tumors that are most elusive to current therapeutics. The long-term goal of my laboratory is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms regulating development of the metastatic phenotype prior to the development of large volume disease, thereby tailoring specific combination treatment options in the adjuvant setting.

Dr. Jeff R. Temple
1998 B.A. Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX
2004 M.A. Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
2006 Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX
2005-2006 Predoctoral Internship, Clinical Psychology, Brown University, Providence, RI
2006-2007 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Brown University, Providence, RI
Mentor: Dr. Abbey Berenson

Jeff’s research has primarily focused on examining the causes, course, and consequences of violence within intimate relationships. He is particularly interested in the negative effects of partner violence, sexual aggression, and psychological abuse on women’s mental and physical health. For example, he recently found that sexual assault by a current or former partner was associated with more symptoms of PTSD, stress, and dissociation than sexual assault by a stranger. He has also conducted research demonstrating that a sizeable portion of violent relationships are characterized by mutual violence in which both the man and woman perpetrate and are victimized by violence. However, despite the similarities in rates of violence perpetration, Dr. Temple’s research has shown that women are substantially more likely to suffer negative consequences relative to their male counterparts.

Jeff has become increasingly interested in violence prevention and intervention research as a means to prevent the occurrence and recurrence of partner violence in intimate relationships. Thus, in addition to pursuing his line of research on the association between partner violence and women’s health, he intends to design, implement, and evaluate the efficacy of a violence prevention program for at-risk youth.

Dr. Patricia van den Berg
1986 B.A. University of California, Berkeley
2001 M.A. University of South Florida, Tampa
2005 Ph.D. University of South Florida, Tampa
2008 M.P.H. University of Minnesota School of Public Health Mentor: Dr. Abbey Berenson

Dr. van den Berg's research focuses on eating- and weight-related problems in adolescent girls and women. She is interested in the relationship between body image and health behaviors such as disordered eating behaviors and physical activity. She also has a particular interest in sociocultural influences on body image and health behaviors, including media, peer, and family influences.

In Minnesota Patricia conducted research using data from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), which is a 5-year longitudinal study of the socio-environmental, personal, and behavioral predictors of eating behaviors, weight, and body image among an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. She conducted studies on the relationship between reading magazine articles about dieting or weight loss and unhealthy weight control behaviors (such as laxative use, binging, and vomiting) and the frequency and effect of weight teasing across race/ethnicity and weight status. In one study she found that body dissatisfaction was a longitudinal predictor of increased BMI among overweight adolescent girls.

Patricia plans to continue her research in this area at UTMB, and is especially interested in examining eating and weight-related issues in Hispanic adolescent girls.