Professor to examine Latino/Hispanic health disparities









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Kyriakos Markides, Ph.D.

The Center for Reducing Health Disparities will be hosting a presentation by Kyriakos Markides, Ph.D., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, at the College of Public Health, Room 1003.

Dr. Markides will discuss the “Hispanic/Latino Paradox in Mortality, Health and Aging in the United States.”

Dr. Markides is the editor of the Journal of Aging and Health, as well as “The Encyclopedia of Health and Aging.” He is the director of the division of sociomedical sciences, department of preventive medicine and community health, University of Texas Medical Branch. He is currently the Annie and John Gnitzinger Distinguished Professor of Aging Studies.

The University of Texas Medical Branch website notes that Dr. Markides is the author or co-author of more than 325 publications, most on aging and health issues in the Mexican American population as well as minority aging issues in general. His research has been funded continuously by the National Institutes of Health since 1980. Dr. Markides is credited with coining the term ‘Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox’ (with J. Coreil) which is currently the leading theme in Hispanic health, the website states.

Dejun Su, Ph.D., director of the Center for Reducing Health Disparities, said Dr. Markides is widely regarded as one of the leading experts in health and aging associated with the Hispanic population in the U.S.

“During his visit, he will review accumulative evidence on the Hispanic paradox in mortality and update UNMC scholars about the most recent research findings on this much debated topic in the field,” Dr. Su said. “The topic is very relevant to health disparities in Nebraska where the Hispanic population is growing at a faster pace than other major ethnic groups.”

Lunch will be offered to the first 50 attendees.