Tortolero Named 'Community Angel'

Susan Tortolero, Ph.D.

Recognizing the importance of preventing disease, the YWCA Houston has named Susan Tortolero, Ph.D., interim director of the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, as the Community Angel in Medicine.

Tortolero also is director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Texas Prevention Research Center, located at The University of Texas School of Public Health, where she is assistant professor, behavioral science and health promotion.

Community Angels in several professional fields were honored at the YWCA's Nov. 3 Outstanding Women's Luncheon. The annual luncheon celebrates the accomplishments and service of Houston women making a difference.

Recognized as a role model and example for future generations, Tortolero has more than 16 years of experience conducting research on risk behaviors, chronic disease and mental health among children, adolescents and minority women. A central focus of her research concerns ethnic and cultural differences in health behaviors among youth and women.

Tortolero is principal investigator for several studies: HIV/STI Prevention Program for Middle School Students, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health; HIV, STI, and Pregnancy Prevention Among Alternative School Youth (Safer Choices 2), funded by CDC; and Healthy Passages: A Community-Based Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, funded by CDC.

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