SAN ANTONIO — The Institute for Integration of Medicine & Science (IIMS) and the UTSA College of Health, Community and Policy have officially announced the recipients of the 2026 IIMS Community Engagement Small Project Grants program. Designed to bridge the gap between academic research and grassroots public health solutions, the initiative has awarded $5,000 to each of seven distinct community-academic partnerships across South Texas.
The funded projects span a wide and critical range of public health topics, including youth firearm violence prevention, caregiver support, nutrition, oral health, environmental safety, occupational hazards, harm reduction, and men’s wellness. By fostering collaboration between academic institutions and local community organizations, the grant program aims to directly translate research findings into tangible public health benefits for residents throughout the region.
Grants were made available to both newly formed and established partnerships. To qualify, proposed projects had to focus on key areas such as research and assessment, education and training, or the dissemination and communication of research results, program features, and policy implications. The selected initiatives reflect the diverse and complex health challenges facing South Texas communities today, bringing together researchers, medical students, community health workers, and local advocates to address them.
Dr. Erika Brigmon, Gabrielle Capesius, and Lacy Lichtenhan
“Arts for Justice: The Story of Firearm-related Violence from a Youth Perspective.”
Addressing one of the most pressing public safety and public health crises of the modern era, Dr. Erika Brigmon of Trauma and Emergency General Surgery at UT Health San Antonio has teamed up with medical students Gabrielle Capesius and Lacy Lichtenhan from the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. Their project explores firearm-related violence specifically through the lens and experiences of young people. By incorporating the arts into their approach, the team seeks to capture youth perspectives on violence, bringing a human-centered narrative to a topic that heavily impacts community well-being and safety in South Texas.
Dr. Kristen Eom, Ariel Gomez, and Juana Escareño
“Pilot Implementation and Evaluation of Self-Care Pods for South Texas Caregivers.”
Recognizing the immense physical and emotional toll placed on individuals who care for aging, ill, or disabled family members, this project focuses entirely on the often-overlooked population of caregivers. Dr. Kristen Eom, PhD, MPH, of the UT Health San Antonio Kate Marmion School of Public Health, is collaborating with Ariel Gomez, MPH, CHES, of the South Central Area Health Education Center, and Juana Escareño, MS, CHW-I. Together, the team is piloting and evaluating the implementation of "self-care pods" designed to offer vital support, relief, and resources to caregivers throughout the region who frequently experience high levels of burnout and stress.
Dr. Moshtagh Farokhi and Rebecca Smith
“Bridging Nutrition and Oral Health: An Interprofessional Hands-on Partnership of UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry and the San Antonio Food Bank in Edgewood ISD.”
Diet and dental health are inextricably linked, yet they are often addressed in isolation. To combat this disconnect, Dr. Moshtagh Farokhi, DDS, MPH, from the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry, has partnered with Rebecca Smith, MS, RD, of the San Antonio Food Bank. Their initiative focuses directly on students and families within the Edgewood Independent School District in San Antonio. By establishing an interprofessional, hands-on educational partnership, the team aims to improve both nutritional habits and oral health outcomes in an area that can greatly benefit from targeted community health interventions.
Dr. Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe, Ibukun Awolusi, Kristin Brown, and Leanne Fawkes
“AI-Driven Environmental Assessment and Spatial Data Analysis to Predict and Prevent Childhood Lead Poisoning in San Antonio.”
Tackling a persistent and entirely preventable environmental hazard, this multidisciplinary team is leveraging advanced technology to protect children from toxic exposure. Dr. Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe, PhD, MPH, of the UT Health San Antonio Kate Marmion School of Public Health, is joining forces with Dr. Ibukun Awolusi and Dr. Kristin Brown of UTSA Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Management, alongside Dr. Leanne Fawkes of the UT Health San Antonio Kate Marmion School of Public Health. The project utilizes artificial intelligence-driven environmental assessments and spatial data analysis to map, predict, and ultimately prevent childhood lead poisoning across San Antonio neighborhoods.
Ana Pineda Reyes, Araceli Herrera, Dr. David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, and Dr. Marvin González Quiroz
“The Lived Experience of Occupational Exposure Among Latina Domestic Workers in San Antonio.”
Domestic workers perform essential labor that keeps households running, yet they frequently face occupational hazards, underreporting of injuries, and a lack of workplace protections. Ana Pineda Reyes, MPH, a student and trainee at the UT Health San Antonio Kate Marmion School of Public Health, is leading a project alongside Araceli Herrera of Domesticas Unidas. They are working in close collaboration with Dr. David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras and Dr. Marvin González Quiroz from the UT Health San Antonio Kate Marmion School of Public Health. The project centers on documenting and understanding the lived experiences of occupational exposure among Latina domestic workers in San Antonio, providing a voice to a vulnerable workforce.
Terri Murphy-Sanchez, Nima Shariatzadeh, Dang Nguyen, Ananya Gupta, and Kathleen Ready
“Wound Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance in People Who Inject Drugs in Bexar County: A Prospective Community-Based Study.”
Focusing on a highly marginalized population facing severe medical vulnerabilities, this prospective community-based study examines critical health risks in Bexar County. Terri Murphy-Sanchez, MS, MLS, of the UT Health San Antonio Division of Medical Laboratory Sciences, is collaborating with Nima Shariatzadeh, BS, from the Bexar Area Harm Reduction Coalition. They are joined by medical students Dang Nguyen, BS, Ananya Gupta, BS, and Kathleen Ready, BS, from the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. The research team is investigating wound pathogens and antimicrobial resistance patterns among people who inject drugs, aiming to improve clinical understandings and intervention strategies for this high-risk group.
Martha Castilla, Dr. Eduardo Gandara Garcia, and Dr. Danet Lapiz Bluhm
“Hombres West: A Community-Academic Partnership Towards Health Engagement and Empowerment of Men in South Texas.”
Health disparities among men—particularly regarding preventative care, chronic illness, and mental health—remain a significant public health challenge. Martha Castilla, CHW-I, of the South Texas AHEC Programs, is partnering with Dr. Eduardo Gandara Garcia of the UTSA College for Health, Community, and Policy, and Dr. Danet Lapiz Bluhm, PhD, of the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing. Their project, titled "Hombres West," is designed to foster health engagement and personal empowerment among men living in South Texas, utilizing community health worker expertise and academic research to encourage proactive health management.
Find Out What’s Driving the Health of Your Community
The rollout of these seven community-based projects highlights a growing recognition that improving public health requires grassroots involvement alongside institutional research. Organizers emphasize that individuals do not need to hold a formal research position to make a tangible difference in the well-being of their neighborhoods.
Residents looking to understand and advocate for health improvements where they live can begin by utilizing public resources such as the local Salud America! Health Report Card. These report cards allow community members to browse localized data, explore critical metrics related to housing, education, transportation, and healthcare, and utilize interactive mapping and data visualization tools to compare their local area against state and national benchmarks. By bringing concrete data into local conversations, community advocates and organizations can drive meaningful dialogue and policy changes tailored to their region’s unique needs.
