Pediatric Population Health Initiative
The Pediatric Population Health Initiative was born out of a vision to promote healthy communities. Its mission is to enhance the health and safety of children, families and their communities through collaborative, novel, evidence-based, population-level interventions.
Promoting Healthy Communities
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The Pediatric Population Health Initiative is a large undertaking and requires a multi-disciplinary approach to make meaningful and sustainable change in communities throughout Greater Houston. The team includes medical professionals, researchers, coordinators, nonprofit partners and other community leaders. This team has identified several key topics to address and investigate through the use of strategic work groups:
Workgroup Co-chairs: Ashley Gibson, MD; Yen-Chi Le, PhD
Sub-workgroup chairs: Zoabe Hafeez, MD; Sheela Gavvala, DO, FAAP
Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), also known as Non-Medical Drivers of Health (NMDoH), are conditions that influence a person’s health outcome. Examples of SDoH are transportation needs, food insecurity, housing stability, financial resource strain, legal needs and health literacy. This workgroup conducts SDoH screenings in both inpatient and outpatient settings to connect patients to appropriate community resources.
Upcoming project:
AIM-AHEAD: Ethical Implications and AI-Driven Solutions for Reducing No-Show Rates in Pediatric Outpatient Care
Workgroup Co-chairs: Monica Kodakandla, MD; Heidi McPherson, MPH
This workgroup aims to improve care coordination and access to community resources. The Health Equity Collective, through the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, is the main driver of this work.
Workgroup Co-chairs: Prajakta Yeragi, MD; Christine Markham, PhD
This workgroup aims to improve health outcomes among children through strategies and interventions focused on nutrition.
Partners include Brighter Bites and UT Physicians Produce Rx Program.
Workgroup Chair: Christina Fok, MD, JD
We partner with Lone Star Legal Aid to provide legal resources to help our pediatric patients and their families address health-harming legal needs that may prevent them from living healthy and safe lives.
Led by Injury Prevention and Outreach Education Coordinator Marisol Nieves, LCSW
We partner with UT Physicians to take a proactive approach to injury prevention through community outreach and education.
Led by Senior Program Manager Eresha Bluth, MHA
The Houston Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program (HVIP) offers comprehensive services to connect victims of firearm violence with community-based support.
Workgroup chair: Andrea Ramirez Varela, MD, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences
Upcoming project:
Futbolito For All: Supporting Active Lifestyles for Latino Children in Galena Park