David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, MSc, PhD
is thrilled to announce the appointment of David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, MSc, PhD, as the Founding Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. With a distinguished career spanning academia, research and leadership, Gimeno brings a wealth of expertise to this pivotal role.
Gimeno, currently a Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in San Antonio in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences and serves as the Director of the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SWCOEH), a U.S. CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Center, and also directs one of the SWCOEH doctoral training programs, the Total Worker Health© program.
In his new role as Chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, his responsibilities will encompass a wide array of disciplines, including environmental and occupational health, environmental justice, industrial/occupational hygiene and safety, water and air quality, climate change and health, food safety, agricultural health, environmental risk assessment, environmental engineering and closely related fields.
Together with founding dean, , they will work in alignment with a common vision to create a School of Public Health that serves as a regional steward of both human and planetary health and well-being. Their mission is to eliminate health inequities through excellence in research, instruction, and community engagement.
Gimeno holds a Master of Science in Occupational Hazards Prevention from the University of Barcelona and the University Pompeu Fabra in Catalonia, Spain, and a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University Pompeu Fabra. Additionally, he has completed an Advanced Technical Degree in Occupational Risk Prevention, specializing in Applied Ergonomics and Psychosociology, from the Employment and Industry Department of the Government of Catalonia, Spain.
In addition to his roles in Texas, since 2003, Gimeno has been an adjunct Senior Researcher at the Center for Research in Occupational Health in the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences of University Pompeu Fabra, and part of the Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health in the Institute of Health Carlos III at the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain.
Gimeno's appointment marks a significant step towards advancing the mission of UT School of Public Health San Antonio and underscores the institution's commitment to addressing critical public health challenges. His expertise and leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping the .
We are grateful to Helen Hazuda, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus in the Department of Medicine at 91PORN’s Long School of Medicine for chairing the search for the School of Public Health’s inaugural department chairs, and the members of the search advisory committee for conducting a thoughtful and comprehensive search for this pivotal position in the School of Public Health.