Anjelica Martinez

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SURF Mentoring

Potential projects/topics: I welcome prospective mentees eager to understand the intersection of maternal health, immigrant health, and well-being in Greater Houston. One of these projects, Project MIND (also called the Maternal Health Project), aims to understand the lived experiences of pregnant and postpartum mothers, identify barriers to health, well-being, and healthcare access, and identify protective/resiliency factors. We are actively recruiting hundreds of mothers to identify gaps in resources and community strengths to ensure pregnant and postpartum mothers receive the care they need. Our objective is to develop recommendations to improve health services and resources during and after pregnancy as part of our dissemination strategy to inform real and sustainable change.

Another set of projects aims to understand the chronic health and emotional well-being of Hispanic/Latino and immigrant populations residing in Greater Houston, with particular attention to social determinants, such as language fluency, that shape health outcomes.

Potential skills gained: Mentees will gain skills surrounding 1) qualitative and quantitative data analysis, 2) scientific writing and translation of findings via presentations, manuscripts, and other reports for community partners, 3) conceptual knowledge of maternal health, immigrant health, and associated disparities, and 4) professional networking

Required qualifications:

  • Required skills: Spanish speakers (intermediate or higher) are strongly preferred.
  • Preferred majors: Students pursuing a degree in psychology, sociology, Hispanic/Latino studies, public health, or a related field are strongly preferred.

Direct mentor: Research Analyst; Staff

Research Areas

Anjelica Martinez is a Research Analyst at the Center for Community and Public Health at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Social Psychology from the University of Houston, her M.S. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of the Incarnate Word. Broadly, her research encompasses immigration/enculturation, cultural values, gender, social relationships, and other sociocultural determinants of health.