Leadership

Dr. Hilsabeck is a neuropsychologist, with experience in ADRD psychometrics, including validation of neuropsychological measures and psychometric characteristics of cognitive measures in ethnically diverse populations. She uses cognitive performance combined with voice analysis and machine learning techniques. She will co-leads the CAPAS Development core and is our liaison with the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Network (TARCC), a collaboration of medical research institutions in Texas for diagnosis and treatment of ADRD, to help recruit new investigators to AD/ADRD research with CAPAS goals.

Dr. Himali a statistician with expertise in longitudinal studies for dementia, including working with the consortium Methods for LOngtitudinal studies in DEMentia (MELODEM), an international initiative to harmonize data across longitudinal studies of AD/ADRD. He spearheaded efforts across all Framingham Heart Study cohorts to make data sets available to all investigators within and beyond the study community. He provides leadership to help disseminate data sources and data sharing for Hispanic ADRD, including helping to liaison with the longitudinal cohorts of AD/ADRD at UTHSA and beyond.

Dr. Lin is a medical sociologist and family demographer, with research focus on health inequalities and family dynamics and life course. His work uses longitudinal cohort data from national and international aging surveys. He helps coordinate the Pilot Projects program and the professional training opportunities of emerging scholars.

Dr. Martinez is an expert in bilingualism, modern languages and literatures at UTSA, and serves as dean of the College of Fine Arts. His research has focused extensively on language barriers and their effects on healthcare among Hispanics, incorporating insights into language concordance as a mechanism to reduce disparities. He will assist with research communication through CAPAS research briefs and bilingual communication and health information dissemination, and will serve as liaison within UTSA institutions

Dr. Patel is an expert in models of care among low-income Hispanic population, and contributes to interventions to find treatments for better quality of life for persons and families caring for persons with dementia. Her work increases recruitment and enhances the capacity of ADRD studies by educating and engaging its members in ADRD early detection, care, treatment, and prevention. She helps craft communications with the public, helping select and curate content for the community.

Dr. Ramirez is a leader in communication for health promotion research. She leads large teams for a national health communication network for Latinos, using digital communication to augment awareness and community efforts for system change, and positive behavior changes in AD/ADRD, cancer, and healthy lifestyles among underserved minority populations, especially Latinos. She co-leads the CAPAS teams in communications to the public and serves as liaison for community and institutional support.

Dr. Reistetter is an occupational therapist with health research expertise focusing on physical and cognitive function, health services, and rehabilitation outcomes for brain health. He co-leads the CAPAS development core and helps recruit new investigators to AD/ADRD research in UTHSA.

Dr. Riosmena is a social demographer with expertise on health-related selectivity of Latino immigrants and return, and the impacts of migration on aging, cognitive function, and physical function. He provides administrative and scientific leadership to the San Antonio CAPAS.

Dr. Satizabal is a neuroepidemiologist with research experience to identify psychosocial, lifestyle, environmental, and genomic factors contributing to disparities in AD/ADRD. She serves as Principal Investigator of the San Antonio Heart and Mind Study (SAHMS), funded by NIA, and leads the population neuroscience core in ADRC at the Biggs Institute. She brings her expertise on longitudinal cohorts for ADRD among the CAPAS affiliates, contributing to data sharing. She will serve as liaison with ADRC and the Biggs Institute.

Dr. Schmidt is an applied demographer with research experience in health disparities, cancer outcomes, and qualitative and quantitative methods. She provides ….

Dr. Wong is a population economist, expert in Hispanic cognitive and broader aging and population health studies, with experience in data collection, data sharing, and cross-national research of longitudinal aging studies. She provides essential leadership for our new center’s emphasis on Hispanic AD/ADRD.