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.
A newly published study by Neil Mehta and Octavio Bramajo offers fresh insights into a critical public health concern: why Americans live shorter lives compared to people in other wealthy nations. Their research investigates how deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) contribute to the growing life expectancy disparity between the United States and its economic peers between 2008 and 2019.
Register for the Alzheimer’s Association UTMB Student Symposium at UTMB on April 28, 2025. This event is an excellent opportunity for insights from community members, networking, and a platform for students to present research about aging populations through a poster session.
Join us for the next Texas RCMAR presentation on April 22, 2025. "Charting Your Funding Journey: Grants, Opportunities, and Institutional Resources", is presented by: Toyin Babarinde, PhD, Executive Director of Research Development, Office of Strategic Research Development, at 3 PM via Zoom.
A recent article by Dr. Masel and colleagues, published in Age and Ageing, explores the benefits and challenges of using visit recordings to improve communication with older adults.
A recent study by Dr. Elizabeth Vaughan and colleagues, titled, "Exploring Age-Related HbA1c Variations in CHW-Led Programs," has been selected as a late-breaking abstract for presentation at the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions. The event will be held June 20-23, 2025, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The Dementia Care Study (D-CARE study), the largest pragmatic trial on dementia care, looked at different ways to care for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. The study found that there were no big differences in the behavior of patients or how stressed caregivers felt, whether the care was given through a health system, a community organization, or regular care over 18 months. However, the study also found that caregivers felt more confident in handling challenges related to dementia and getting the support they need when they received care through the health system or community organizations.
Join us for the Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC) for Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas (CERCIT) Seminar Series: "Deep Learning Approach to Nonparametric Propensity Score Estimation with Optimized Covariate Balance," is presented by Maosen Peng, MD Anderson
Please join us for the next Pepper Investigators Lecture: "Navigating Turbulent Waters: Leveraging Artificial and Real Intelligence Tools," presented by Kimberly A. Skarupski, PhD, MPH, Associate Vice Provost, Leadership Development; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Geriatrics, John Sealy School of Medicine; Professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public and Population Health on April 30, 2025 at noon in RSH 6.100 and via Teams. Lunch provided for those in person.
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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