Athena Ramos, PhD, MBA, MS, CPM

Associate Professor

Center for Reducing Health Disparities
College of Public Health
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Professional Summary

• 2022-Present, Associate Professor, Department of Health Promotion, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• 2018-2022, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• 2014-2018, Community Health Program Manager, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• 2007-2014, Program Coordinator, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, University of Nebraska Medical Center 
• 2005-2007, Health Educator, The Cardiac Center of Creighton University
• 2001-2005, Tobacco Control Outreach Specialist, Latino Center of the Midlands
• 2000, Nebraska Coordinator, Latino Vote 2000, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute

Education

• 2017, PhD, International Family and Community Studies, Clemson University
• 2015, Appreciative Inquiry Certificate in Positive Business and Society Change, Case Western Reserve University
• 2014, LGBT Health C3 Certificate: Basic & Advanced Skills, University of Nebraska Medical Center
• 2009, Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), University of Nebraska at Omaha
• 2008, Certified Public Manager (CPM), University of Nebraska at Omaha
• 2004, Master’s in Urban Studies (MS), University of Nebraska at Omaha
• 2004, Certificate in Working with Youth, University of Nebraska at Omaha
• 2002, Bachelor’s in Public Administration (BS), University of Nebraska at Omaha
• 1999, Certificate in Fundraising Management, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Research Interests

• Agricultural and occupational health and safety
• Immigrant integration
• Community well-being
• Tobacco control and prevention
• Latino and LGBT health disparities
• Intercultural communication and cultural competency
• Coalition-building and policy advocacy

Selected Publications

• Rowland, S.A., Ramos, A.K., Trinidad, N., Quintero, S., Johnson-Beller, R., Struwe, L. & Pozehl, B. (2022). mHealth intervention to improve cardiometabolic health in rural Hispanic adults: A pilot study. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. DOI: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000882
• Ramos, A.K., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Trinidad, N., Quintero, S., Molina, D., & Rowland, S. (2021). “No somos maquinas” (We’re not machines): Worker perspectives of safety culture in meatpacking plants in the Midwest. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(2), 84-96. DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23206
• Ramos, A.K., Lowe, A.E., Herstein, J.J., Schwedhelm, S., Dineen, K.K., & Lowe, J.J. (2021). Invisible no more: The impact of COVID-19 on essential food production workers. Journal of Agromedicine, 25(4), 378-382. DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1814925
• Ramos, A.K., Duysen, E., Carvajal-Suarez, M., & Trinidad, N. (2021). Virtual outreach: Using social media to reach Spanish-speaking agricultural workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Agromedicine, 25(4), 353-356. DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1814919
• Ramos, A.K., Carvajal-Suarez-M., Trinidad, N., Quintero, S., Molina, D., Johnson-Beller, R., & Rowland. S.A. (2021). Health and well-being of Hispanic/Latino meatpacking workers in the Midwest: An application of the Health Belief Model. Workplace Health & Safety, 69(12), 564-572. DOI: 10.1177/21650799211016907
• Ramos, A.K., Lowe, A., Herstein, J.J., Trinidad, N., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Quintero, S.A., Molina, D., Schwedhelm, S., & Lowe, J.J. (2021). A rapid-response survey of essential workers in Midwestern meatpacking plants: Perspectives on COVID-19 response in the workplace. Journal of Environmental Health, 84(1), 16-25.
• Ramos, A.K., Adhikari, S., Yoder, A.M., & Rautiainen, R.H. (2021). Occupational injuries among Latino/a immigrant cattle feedyard workers in the central states region of the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 8821. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168821
• Dai, D., Ramos, A.K., Faseru, B., Hill, J., & Sussman, S. (2021). Racial disparities of e-cigarette use among U.S. youth: 2014-2019. American Journal of Public Health, 111(11), 2050-2058. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306448
• Ramos, A.K., Girdžiūtė, L., Starič, J., & Rautiainen, R.H. (2020). Defining “vulnerable agricultural populations” at risk for occupational injuries and illnesses: A European perspective. Journal of Agromedicine, 26(3), 340-345. DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1771498
• Acosta, L.M., Andrews, A.R., Acosta Canchila, N., & Ramos, A.K. (2020). Testing traditional machismo and the gender role strain theory with Mexican migrant farmworkers. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 42(2), 215-234. DOI: 10.1177/0739986320915649
• Andrews, A.R., Haws, J.K., Acosta, L.M., Acosta Canchila, M.N., Carlo, G., Grant, K.M., & Ramos, A.K. (2020). Combinatorial effects of discrimination, legal status fears, adverse childhood experiences, and harsh working conditions among Latino migrant farmworkers: Testing learned helplessness hypotheses. Journal of Latinx Psychology, 8(3), 179–201.
• Ramos, A.K., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Siahpush, M., Robbins, R., Michaud, T.L., Clarke, M.A., & King, K.M. (2020). Predictors of life satisfaction among Hispanic/Latino immigrants in non-metropolitan communities in the Midwest. Rural Society, 29(2), 75-88. DOI: 10.1080/10371656.2020.1782107
• Ramos, A.K., Duysen, E., & Yoder, A.M. (2019). Identifying safety training resource needs in the cattle feeding industry in the Midwest. Safety, 5, 26. DOI: 10.3390/safety5020026
• Ramos, A.K., Trinidad, N., Correa, A., & Carlo, G. (2019). Correlates and predictors of alcohol consumption and negative consequences of alcohol use among Latino migrant farmworkers in Nebraska. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. DOI: 1037/ort0000401
• Ramos, A.K. (2018). A human rights-based approach to farmworker health: An overarching framework to address the social determinants of health. Journal of Agromedicine, 23(1), 25-31. DOI:10.1080/1059924X.2017.1384419
• Ramos, A.K., Su, D., Correa, A., & Trinidad, N. (2017). Association between social capital and self-efficacy among Latinas in Nebraska. Social Work in Public Health, 33(1), 31-42. DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2017.1391149
• Ramos, A.K., Carvajal-Suarez, M., Leon, M., & Trinidad, N. (2017). Sense of community, participation, and life satisfaction among Hispanic immigrants in rural Nebraska. Kontakt, 19, e284-295. DOI:1016/j.kontakt.2017.09.005
• Siahpush, M., Tibbits, M., Soliman, G., Grimm, B., Shaikh, R.A., McCarthy, M., Wan, N., Ramos, A.K., & Correa, A. (2017). Neighborhood exposure to point-of-sale price promotions for cigarette is associated with financial stress among smokers: Results from a population-based study. Tobacco Control. DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053339
• Ramos, A.K., Fuentes, A., & Trinidad, N. (2016). Perception of occupational risks, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and prevention opportunities among Latino immigrant hog CAFO workers in Missouri. Safety, 2(4), 25. DOI:10.3390/safety2040025
• Ramos, A.K. (2016). Welcoming immigrants: An opportunity to strengthen rural communities. Journal of Extension, 54(3). 
• Ramos, A.K., Trinidad, N., Correa, A. & Rivera, R. (2016). Partnering for health with Nebraska’s Latina immigrant community using design thinking process. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 10(2), 311-318.
• Ramos, A.K., Correa, A., & Trinidad, N. (2015). Perspectives on breast health education and services among recent Hispanic immigrant women in the Midwest: A qualitative study in Lancaster county, Nebraska. Journal of Cancer Education. In press. DOI: 10.1007/s13187-015-0886-0
• Ramos, A.K., Su, D., Lander, L., & Rivera, R. (2015). Stress factors contributing to depression among Latino migrant farmworkers in Nebraska. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 17, 1627–1634. DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0201-5.
• Ramos, A.K., Rajaram, S., Gouveia, L., Duko, Y., Toure, D., Zhang, A., & Manske, S. (2013). Health profile of Nebraska’s Latino population.  A collaborative effort of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Office of Latino and Latin American Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Office of Health Disparities and Health Equity at the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services. UNMC Digital Commons

Professional Affiliations

• Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA)
• AgriSafe Network
• Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH)
• International Society for Agricultural Safety & Health (ISASH)
• Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice
• Metro Omaha Tobacco Action Coalition (MOTAC)
• National Alliance for Hispanic Health
• University of California-Irvine, Cultural Resiliency and Learning Center
• University of Nebraska-Omaha, Office of Latino/Latin American Studies
• UNMC Global Center for Health Security