Projects

Pioneering Health Research and Support for First Responders

The USA Center is at the forefront of first responder health research. As part of this, the USA Center has launched Critical Access, a groundbreaking initiative designed to enhance occupational medical screening for rural first responders in Texas. Critical Access has the following key objectives:

1. Empanel a transdisciplinary working group. Empaneling a stakeholder group of local volunteer firefighters, state and national fire service organizations, government administrators, clinicians, and researchers is essential to developing a sustainable, mobile, and patient-centered occupational medical screening program that meets the specific needs of Texas-based rural volunteer firefighters.

2. Conduct the inaugural Texas Volunteer Firefighter Health Screening Summit. Local, state, and national stakeholders with a working knowledge of the communities, culture, and context of rural volunteer firefighters are uniquely positioned to identify needs, priorities, and barriers for a mobile occupational screening program. Likewise, they are also able to devise appropriate and feasible mitigation and implementation strategies for a mobile occupational medical screening program for the rural Texas volunteer fire service.​ Focus groups will be conducted with relevant stakeholders to identify the needs, barriers, and implementation priorities for a mobile rural volunteer firefighter occupational medical screening program.​

3. Develop an evidence-based mobile occupational medical screening protocol. Although there are existing protocols for firefighter occupational screening (e.g., NFPA 1582), it is not clear if this protocol is adequate for a mobile application or the specific needs of Texas-based rural volunteer firefighters. Using the data collected from the summit, this project will produce a protocol specific to a mobile, rural firefighting occupational medical screening program. A statewide survey will be launched among rural volunteer firefighters in Texas to assess their likelihood of accessing a mobile occupational medical screening program.

4. Develop and publish empirical data that will inform future research and policy to enhance medical access for rural volunteer firefighters. We will conduct an integrative literature review exploring current fire service occupational screening programs in terms of need, barriers, and current practice to characterize the state of practice. We will publish data collected during the summit, a report with an analysis of the data, and other publications which will be designed to inform clinical care, local, state, and national policy, stakeholder organizations, and future research.

Implementing a mobile occupational medical screening program as part of Critical Access has the potential to improve quality of life while decreasing medical costs through early detection of cancer and other medical conditions among first responders. This novel approach aims to improve access to essential health services, ensuring that first responders who serve in remote areas receive the support they need.

Leading the Charge in Disaster Medicine and Public Health

The USA Center proudly represents Texas A&M University in the pioneering Joint Disaster Medicine and Public Health Ecosystem for the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH), a key initiative of the Uniformed Services University. The Joint Disaster Medicine and Public Health Ecosystem has been established as a national resource dedicated to enhancing the nation's preparedness for disasters and public health emergencies. It brings together top organizations from government, academia, and industry, each recognized for their excellence in disaster medicine and public health. The NCDMPH is an interagency body led by senior officials from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, State, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs.

Enhancing Well-Being for Military Families

The USA Center is partnering with the Center for Health & Nature to evaluate the Military Families Outdoors (MFO) program. MFO is dedicated to improving the well-being and quality of life for active-duty military families through enriching outdoor experiences, mental health support, environmental awareness, and social welfare initiatives. The program strives to ensure that frequent relocations do not limit access to the benefits of nature.

Key outcomes for this project include:

1. Raising awareness of park and nature-based health resources within military-connected communities.

2. Enhancing access to the health benefits of parks and public lands for underserved military communities through effective communication, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.

3. Boosting participation in targeted health promotion activities among disadvantaged military service members and their families.

4. Promoting healthy lifestyles and habits by showcasing the benefits of parks and public lands.

MFO is a collaborative effort involving federal and non-profit organizations such as the Defense Health Agency, National Park Service, Blue Star Families, Wilderness Inquiry, and YMCA.

Advancing Disaster Preparedness through Public Health Research

Funded by a seedling grant from the Texas A&M Health Science Center, the USA Center has undertaken significant research into family disaster preparedness across Texas. We launched a comprehensive statewide survey to evaluate how well families are prepared for a range of disasters, including hurricanes, floods, freezes, and pandemics. Conducted in both English and Spanish, this survey aimed to capture diverse attitudes, perspectives, and behaviors regarding disaster readiness.

Recognizing that health disparities often widen during emergencies, this research focuses on identifying gaps in family preparedness—a crucial aspect of health equity. By pinpointing these gaps, we aim to enhance preparedness strategies and address inequities.

Following this, we expanded our research to the national level with a subsequent survey designed to uncover gaps in individual preparedness. This broader scope allows us to apply public health research methodologies to understand and improve disaster preparedness on a wider scale, ultimately contributing to more equitable and effective emergency response strategies.

Empowering CHWs/Promotores through Training and Collaboration

At the USA Center, we understand the vital role that Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Promotores play in educating, advocating for, and advancing community health. Recognizing their crucial contributions, we have developed Continuing Education Units (CEU) trainings covering a broad range of public health topics to further enhance their skills and effectiveness.

We actively participate in a collaborative working group focused on CHW and Promotores interests in Central Texas. This group brings together stakeholders to address the evolving needs of these essential professionals. To ensure our efforts are aligned with the real-world needs of the CHW workforce, we have designed a comprehensive survey to assess current challenges and opportunities. This survey will guide our initiatives and help us tailor support to strengthen the impact of CHWs and Promotores in the communities they serve.

Safeguarding Health: Investigating H5N1 Transmission on Dairy Farms

The USA Center is proud to be part of a dedicated team of researchers at the Texas A&M School of Public Health conducting a critical study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This research addresses the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 on dairy farms, particularly focusing on the health of dairy farm workers.

With over 30 years of expertise in investigating occupational health among dairy farm workers, our researchers at Texas A&M University, School of Public Health (TAMU SPH) are uniquely positioned to address this urgent issue. The recent detection of H5N1 in dairy cows and a confirmed human case among dairy workers has highlighted the need for rapid detection and accurate estimation of H5N1 infections in humans. Through this project, we aim to: 

1. Rapidly detect H5N1 infections in humans to obtain a more accurate estimation of human cases and exposure.

2. Understand occupational exposures and transmission pathways between cattle and humans.

3. Develop strategies to mitigate the risk of H5N1 infection among dairy farm workers.

Through this research, we are contributing to national health efforts by enhancing our understanding of H5N1 and its impact on both human and animal health. Our goal is to improve detection, prevention, and response strategies, ensuring the safety and well-being of dairy farm workers and the broader community.

Advancing Research, Strategy, and Community Resilience Through Innovative Summits & Conferences

The USA Center is committed to creating platforms that bring together researchers, clinicians, emergency management practitioners, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to elevate discussions on various public health and emergency management topics. These efforts are designed to pave the way for future research and strategic advancements, ultimately leading to more resilient communities and improved public health outcomes.

2024 Tactical Athletes Summit: In collaboration with the Texas A&M University Huffines Institute, the USA Center hosted the Tactical Athletes Summit. This summit highlighted the underfunding of community-based tactical athletes (e.g., firefighters and law enforcement) in physical screening, training, and monitoring. The summit brought thought leaders together to discuss potential solutions, with main themes including physical and mental health and actionable data-driven decision making.

Disaster PRIMR 2024 Conference: The USA Center also hosted the Disaster Preparedness for, Response to, Innovation on, Mitigation of, and Recovery (PRIMR) 2024 Conference. This event provided a platform to discuss challenges and identify innovative strategies to improve community resilience. This year's focus was on rural and tribal communities, addressing issues such as heirs’ property rights, gentrification, environmental catastrophes, and accessibility challenges.

2023 Scowcroft Summit on Border Health: As part of this initiative, the USA Center co-hosted the 2023 Scowcroft Summit on Border Health, focusing on cross-border health opportunities and challenges. Government officials, researchers, and public health leaders gathered to explore case studies, engage with panels of subject matter experts, and participate in networking opportunities.

Examining EMS Provision in the U.S.-Mexico Border Region

USA Center-Affiliated Faculty Member, Dr. Christine Blackburn, leads research on the unique challenges associated with providing emergency medical services (EMS) in the U.S.-Mexico border region. This research examines the impacts of these challenges on the resource requirements of EMS providers operating in this area. The objective is to identify and analyze the factors influencing service delivery and resource allocation, with the aim of informing policy and improving operational effectiveness in border region EMS systems.

Understanding Protective Factors for the Mental Health & Suicide Consequences of Climate-Related Disasters across Gulf Communities

The USA Center, under the leadership of Faculty Fellow Dr. Hannah Rochford, has been awarded funding from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to investigate the risk factors contributing to climate-induced mental health impacts. While the mental health effects of climate-related disasters are well-documented, there is a pressing need for strategies to mitigate these adverse outcomes and address existing inequities. This project aims to identify equitably protective factors, and partner with Gulf community stakeholders to translate these into policy and adaptive actions.

Advancing Data Use Agreements and Legal Analysis

The USA Center provided administrative support to Faculty Fellow Dr. Cason Schmit for a data use project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This project aimed to develop a specialized instrument for characterizing and comparing Data Use Agreements (DUAs). A tool was designed to analyze and summarize DUAs, identifying commonalities, variances, and critical points. Additionally, the project encompassed the development of a framework for analyzing and summarizing state laws pertinent to public health surveillance and DUAs. This framework aimed to produce a detailed spreadsheet cataloging each state's relevant legislation. Furthermore, the project included the creation of a matrix to assist jurisdictional partners in evaluating and selecting appropriate DUA terms from a standardized template.