2023 texas sophe conference

Andrew Springer, DrPH is a tenured Associate Professor at UTHealth School of Public Health with 20+ years' experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating health programs for youth and communities in the U.S. and Latin America. His notable work includes the first CDC-guided youth risk behavior survey in El Salvador, NIH-funded research on tobacco prevention, and community health initiatives in underserved areas. A registered health promotion practitioner, he actively contributes to coalitions like Austin/Travis County Community Health Improvement Plan. Andrew specializes in participatory planning, evaluation methods, and contextual health intervention design. He also teaches at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia and has received outstanding teaching awards from UTHealth.

With two decades in public health and community development, Heidi McPherson, MPH drives collective efforts for better population

health. She currently co-leads the Health Equity Collective at UTHealth-Houston, focusing on sustainable, equitable health systems via collaborative social determinants of health improvements. Heidi excels in building cross-sector partnerships for healthier communities and is involved in key health coalitions like Houston Business Coalition on Health, TCHMB, Be Well Acres Homes, and more. Outside work, she loves running, tango, birdwatching, and exploring with her family. Based in Texas, Heidi originally hails from Hawaii.

Deanna Hoelscher, PhD, R.D., L.D., C.N.S.

Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living

Regional Dean - UTHealth School of Public Health

Joel Romo

Director of External Affairs, The Cooper Institute

President, Texana Public Affairs

Representative Donna Howard

Texas State House Member, District 48

Vice-Chair of the Health Care Reform Committee

Member of the House Appropriations Committee  

Member of the Higher Education Committee