trainees attending events

Pre and Postdoctoral TrainingT32 Health of Older Minorities

This program, funded by the National Institute on Aging (AG T3200270), offers specialized training for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers focusing on the health of older minority populations, particularly older Hispanics.

Training Program Co-Directors: Brian Downer, PhD and Neil Mehta, PhD, MSc, MA

T32 Program Trainees collaborate with Center faculty who collectively manage over $30 million in annual external research funds dedicated to minority health and aging.

Research areas include health disparities, aging trajectories, medical outcomes, health service utilization, social epidemiology, rehabilitation, psychosocial stress, and health promotion. Expert mentoring teams guide trainees toward becoming independent researchers, with contributions from sociologists, economists, demographers, physicians, epidemiologists, and statisticians.

Trainees also gain opportunities to present their research at events like the Sealy Center on Aging's Annual Forum on Aging and the Clinical & Translational Research Forum, and receive additional funding for travel and training, alongside full health care benefits and the NIH stipend.

Contact Us

Cortney Sendejas
Administrative Coordinator
Phone: (409) 772-1129
E-mail: cmsendej@utmb.edu

Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA)
301 University Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77555-0177

Applications

Include the following:

  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter stating research interests and relevant prior training

 

 Download T32 Flyer

Program Information

Associated Research Programs

Requirements

Candidates

This opportunity is open to predoctoral and postdoctoral students interested in aging research. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. All applications will be reviewed by the Training Grant Selection Committee and applicants may be invited to interview.

Trainee Benefits

Additional funds to cover tuition and fees for relevant courses and other training-related expenses Full health care benefits Predoctoral fellows - Earn a PhD degree in Population Health Sciences or Clinical Science (Health Services Research) in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health or other doctoral programs at UTMB.

Mentors

Mentor NameArea of Interest
Soham Al Snih, MD, PhDAging in Hispanics, frailty, health outcomes, health disparities, and obesity
Abbey Berenson, MD, PhDHealth of women throughout the life-span
Brian Downer, PhDDementia, cognitive aging, post-acute care
James S. Goodwin, MDComparative effectiveness, functional recovery
Daniel Jupiter, PhDLower extremity complications of Diabetes
Yong-Fang Kuo, PhDHealth outcomes, large datasets
Chih-Ying (Cynthia) Li, PhD, OTRHealth services research
Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPHPhysical activity interventions, cancer survivorship, technology, video games, mobile devices
Kyriakos Markides, PhDHispanic health, aging, and physical function
Neil Mehta, PhDEpidemiology of chronic diseases and survival
Sadaf Milani, PhDEpidemiology of cognition, pain, and gender
Monique Pappadis, PhD, MEdDisparities in rehabilitation post-brain injury
John Prochaska, DrPHHealth outcomes and disparities
Elise Smith, PhDResearch ethics, research integrity, and public health ethics
Heidi Spratt, PhDBioinformatics, biomarker discovery, and machine learning
Susan Weller, PhDMinority health, measurement of cultural beliefs, and chronic disease
Xiaoying Yu, PhDApplied statistics, HIV research

Trainees

Current Predoctoral

  • Anita Brandt (2024-present)
  • Alexandra (Alex) Holland (2023 – present)

Past Predoctoral

  • Alexander (Alex) Rader (2023 – 2025)
  • Maryam Hussain (2023 – 2024)
  • Mariela Gutierrez (2020 - 2023)
  • Roberto Rodriguez (2019 - 2023)
  • Monica Hernandez (2018 - 2023)
  • Paige Birkelbach (2017 - 2020)
  • Camille Brightwell (2017- 2019)
  • Catherine Hay (2017 - 2018)
  • Robert Buschmann (2015 - 2017)
  • Figaro Loresto (2014 - 2017)
  • Benjamin Vickers (2014 - 2017)
  • Joseph Saenz (2011 - 2016)
  • Lawrence Panas (2011 - 2013)
  • Thuy Quynh Do (2010 - 2012)
  • Kristen Sheffield (2008 - 2010)
  • Bret Howrey (2005 - 2008)
  • Julie Kutac (2007 - 2009)
  • Jackie Hirth (2006 - 2008)
  • Meredith Masel (2005 - 2007)
  • Ina Bawaya (2004 - 2006)

Current Postdoctoral

  • Joey Saavedra (2024 - present)

Past Postdoctoral

  • Phillip Cantu (2020 - 2022)
    Mentor: Dr. Markides
    Current Position: Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics, UTMB
  • Sadaf Milani (2018 - 2020) 
    Mentor: Dr. Wong
    Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, UTMB
  • Marc Garcia (2016 - 2018) 
    Mentor: Dr. Wong
    Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Syracuse University
  • Brian Downer (2014 - 2016) 
    Mentor: Dr. Wong
    Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Public and Population Health, UTMB
  • Preeti Zanwar (2012 - 2014)
    Mentor: Dr. Goodwin
    Current Position: Lecturer, Applied Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Thomas Jefferson University
  • Sunshine Rote (2012 - 2014)
    Mentor: Dr. Markides
    Current Position: Associate Professor & Associate Dean of Research, Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville
  • Maria Monserud (2010 - 2012) 
    Mentor: Dr. Wong
    Current Position: Associate Professor, Dept of Sociology, University of Houston
  • Bret Howrey (2010 - 2011)
    Mentor: Dr. Goodwin
    Current Position: Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, UTMB
  • Holley Beard (2008 - 2010) 
    Mentor: Dr. Wong
    Current Position: Head, Office of Affordable Housing Research, Ohio Housing Finance Agency
  • Kristen Gerst (2008 - 2010) 
    Mentor: Dr. Wong
    Current Position: Clinical Associate Professor, Gerontology, University of Georgia
  • Jennifer Tovar (2006 - 2008) 
    Mentor: Dr. Markides
    Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Texas at El Paso
  • Ivonne Berges (2005 - 2007)
    Mentor: Dr. Peek
    Current Position: Academic Professional, Office of Academic Affairs, University of Georgia
  • Patricia Harrington (2006 - 2007) 
    Mentor: Dr. Freeman
    Current Position: Head of Assessment,  Assessment, Health Information and Quality Authority- Health Technology, Dublin, Ireland
  • Vinod Kaushik (2005 - 2006) 
    Mentor: Dr. Al Snih
    Current Position: Associate Professor, Dept Internal Medicine-Geriatrics UTMB
  • James Stimpson (2004 - 2006) 
    Mentor: Dr. Eschbach
    Current Position: Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Last updated: December 2025 RMG