Our collaborating center fosters research to improve the health of older populations by training scholars with a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary perspective and by establishing collaborations with institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
UTMB Sealy Center on Aging World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Aging and Health
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177
Directions and Maps
Phone: (409) 747-0008
Email: pahowho.aging@utmb.edu
As a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center, we support the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) through the implementation of research and clinical training in public health, geriatrics, and gerontology, following the organization’s guidelines and responding to its needs. Our experts provide technical guidance to PAHO/WHO Member States using population data, best-practice tools, and research collaborations. As one of the few centers focused on aging and geriatrics in the Region of the Americas, we stand out for our emphasis on Latin American and population-based research. With our center's recent redesignation, we continue contributing to the global efforts under the United Nations Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030) strategy.
We are pleased to announce that Norma A. Pérez Raifaisen, MD, DrPH, CPC, will serve as Director of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Collaborating Center on Aging and Health at the UTMB Sealy Center on Aging, effective May 1. Dr. Pérez Raifaisen is Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, John Sealy School of Medicine and PI, Center of Excellence for Professional Advancement and Research.
Dr. Ayala-Copete is a Colombian physician and specialist in geriatric medicine from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. She has been part of the Neuroscience and Aging Research Group (Semillero de Neurociencias y Envejecimiento) since 2015 at her alma matter, where she began her journey as a young researcher under the supervision of Dr. Carlos Cano. Her research mainly focuses on people living with dementia, cognitive decline, and aging-related conditions. Ana aims to contribute to a better understanding of the needs of a growing older adult population and become an agent of change for improving older adults’ health throughout the Americas.
Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Pain and cognition among older adults across contexts," presented by Sadaf Milani, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public and Population Health on June 25, 2025 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Teams. Lunch provided for those in person.
When Dr. Yong-Fang Kuo analyzed Medicare data from more than 2 million older adults, the results revealed a striking pattern: those who received annual wellness visits were significantly more likely to receive early diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment—catching memory problems before they progressed to full dementia.
Led by Dr. Neil K. Mehta, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and associate dean for research for the School of Public and Population Health, the new center aims to become a nationally recognized leader in outcomes research by leveraging UTMB's exceptional data infrastructure and multidisciplinary expertise. As a university-wide center, it will create new opportunities for collaboration between clinical and research enterprises across UTMB.
The Department of Epidemiology hosted Dr. Neil Mehta for a compelling seminar in April, where he shared his research insights and perspectives on advancing epidemiological excellence at UTMB's School of Public and Population Health. "Why are some people healthy and others not?" This fundamental question, first encountered in a 1990s book on population health determinants, sparked Mehta's career trajectory. His fascination with life expectancy patterns led him to explore statistical regularities in human mortality across centuries.
In April 2025, researchers from UTMB Health’s Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC) participated in the annual meeting hosted by the Coordinating Board of the Pepper Centers. Attendees included faculty across career stages who gave several notable presentations. The meeting provided a valuable platform for collaborative learning and mentorship.
Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Impact of Error-Augmented Visual Feedback in Robotic Gait Rehabilitation Post-Stroke," presented by Mansoo Ko, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Professions on May 28, 2025 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Teams. Lunch provided for those in person.
Join us for the next Texas RCMAR presentation on May 272, 2025. "Negotiating Personhood in Home-Based Dementia Care: Exploring Ethnographic Methodologies in Dementia Research", is presented by: Micaela Bermea, Doctoral Candidate, UTSA, at 3 PM via Zoom.
UTMB Health has launched the Center for Health and Clinical Outcomes Research, a university-level initiative led by Dr. Neil K. Mehta, professor of epidemiology and associate dean for research in the UTMB School of Public & Population Health. The center will advance outcomes research by uniting clinical and academic departments and leveraging UTMB’s data infrastructure to improve health care and population health.
Hello world! We are excited to connect with you here about aging research from UTMB Health, including funding, new grants, researcher highlights, important findings, and more. Students, trainees, and early career researchers are invited to follow us for announcements and opportunities 🤜🤛
— Sealy Center on Aging (@utmbscoa.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 10:29 AM
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