Dr. Ana Ayala-Copete Completes WHO/PAHO Fellowship at Sealy Center on Aging

The Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB Health recently hosted Dr. Ana Ayala-Copete as part of its collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). From February through June 2025, Dr. Ayala-Copete participated in a fellowship at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston (UTMB Health) that advanced her research on aging and supported international efforts to improve the health of older populations. 

Dr. Ayala-Copete is a physician and specialist in geriatric medicine from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. She has been involved in aging and neuroscience research since 2015 as a member of the Neuroscience and Aging Research Group (Semillero de Neurociencias y Envejecimiento), working under the guidance of Dr. Carlos Cano. Her work focuses on dementia, cognitive decline, and other age-related conditions affecting the growing older adult population in Latin America. 

During her time at SCOA, Dr. Ayala-Copete collaborated with Drs. Al Snih and Downer on research promoting healthy aging across the Americas. She also trained alongside UTMB experts in geriatrics and public health, including time with the ACE geriatric inpatient team under the guidance of Dr. Raji. He remarked, “Your contributions to our ACE geriatric inpatient team and medical student teaching were excellent and very helpful. You did a great job—with a positive attitude and outstanding people and communication skills.”  

Dr. Ayala-Copete also participated in community outreach initiatives with Alice Williams and academic events as well as the Consortium of Excellence organized by Dr. Perez. She visited the Pepper Center with Dr. Missy Morrow and had the opportunity to explore geroscience and basic research with Dr. Landay’s lab and team. These experiences deepened her understanding of aging research, allowed her to engage with leading experts in the field and foster collaboration through a multidisciplinary approach. 

Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Ayala-Copete shared that her time at the Sealy Center on Aging had been “an incredibly meaningful and unforgettable learning experience,” shaped by the support, mentorship, and kindness of SCOA faculty and staff. She expressed appreciation for the collaborative environment and opportunities to grow as both a clinician and researcher.