Dr. Shreela Sharma, Vice Chair and Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at UTHealth Houston, has been named a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) by its Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. The recognition honours her sustained excellence in research, education, and public health service, particularly in advancing lifestyle and cardiometabolic health.
Leadership in Public Health and Epidemiology
Dr. Sharma serves as Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health. As a behavioural epidemiologist, she focuses on food insecurity, nutritional epidemiology, and diet-related chronic diseases, especially among vulnerable and underserved populations. Over the years, she has built a robust, federally funded research programme addressing these critical public health challenges.
Driving Impact Through Community Health Programmes
She has led several major initiatives, including the Coordinated Approach to Child Health, which promotes childhood health and obesity prevention. Notably, CATCH Early Childhood has demonstrated measurable success in reducing obesity risk among preschool children. In addition, she has contributed to the NIH-funded CATCH Healthy Smiles programme, which focuses on improving oral health and preventing dental caries among school-aged children.
Contributions During the COVID-19 Pandemic
More recently, Dr. Sharma has played a key role in pandemic-related research and public health response. She contributed to a statewide COVID-19 symptom tracking initiative and supported rapid data analysis for the Texas Medical Center and local health departments.
Furthermore, she helped develop TexasPandemic.org, an interactive platform providing real-time insights into the spread of COVID-19 in Texas. She also examined the pandemic’s impact on employment, food security, and social determinants of health, while contributing to the NIH-funded RADx initiative to increase testing in high-risk communities.
Commitment to Community and Social Impact
Beyond research, Dr. Sharma remains deeply engaged in community service. She is the co-founder and principal investigator for Brighter Bites, a nationwide initiative that provides fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income families.
Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for the University of Houston Friends of Women’s and Gender Studies Programme and co-leads the Greater Houston Coalition on Social Determinants of Health, working to address food insecurity and related challenges across Harris County.
Recognising Excellence in Health Leadership
Dr. Sharma holds a PhD in Epidemiology with a minor in biostatistics and is a registered dietitian in Texas. Her election as a Fellow of the American Heart Association underscores her significant contributions to public health, research, and community well-being.
References:
UTHealth Houston SPH Epidemiology/ Facebook
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health/ Dr. Shreela Sharma’s Profile