Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, MPH/MSPH

Visiting Professor, Family Medicine

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Graduate Schools
  • MPH, San Diego State University (1991)
  • PhD, University of California, San Diego (1998)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, University of California–Berkeley (CA) (1989)
Languages
Spanish
Department
Family Medicine

Professional Titles

  • Executive Director, Center for Health Equity
  • Visiting Professor, Department of Family Medicine

Recognitions

  • President’s Award for Global Learning, Texas Global, University of Texas at Austin (2020)
    The President’s Award empowers students and faculty to examine real-world interdisciplinary topics while incorporating in-country learning into the classroom experience.
  • Latino Scholars Bridging the Gap, Actions that Promote Community Transformation (ACT) Award, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, (2021)
    Actions that Promote Community Transformation Award supports and enables members to transform their local communities on campus. ACT recipients receive awards — ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 — to support projects that promote a sense of belonging at the university.
  • Endowed Chair in Mexican American Studies, College of Liberal Arts, The University of Texas at Austin (2021)
    A five year renewable appointment in recognition of distinguished scholarly contributions to the field.

Publications

  • Mojica CM, Vargas N, Bradley S, Parra-Medina D. Barriers and Facilitators of Colonoscopy Screening Among Latino Men in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Promotion Program. Am J Mens Health. 2023 May-Jun;17(3):15579883231179325. PubMed PMID: 37287187
  • Wilmoth S, Wilhite B, Highwood K, Palacios C, Carrillo-McCracken L, Parra-Medina D, Sosa E, He M. Participants' Perspectives on Diabetes Self-Management Programming at Church: Faith-Placed Versus Faith-Based Approach. Sci Diabetes Self Manag Care. 2024 Dec;50(6):469-483. PubMed PMID: 39425574
  • Yin Z, Liang Y, Howard JT, Errisuriz V, Estrada VM, Martinez C, Li S, Ullevig SL, Sosa E, Olmstead T, Small S, Ward DS, Parra-Medina D. ¡Míranos! a comprehensive preschool obesity prevention programme in low-income Latino children: 1-year results of a clustered randomised controlled trial. Public Health Nutr. 2023 Feb;26(2):476-487. PubMed PMID: 36357340
  • Yan J, Sim L, Schwartz SJ, Shen Y, Parra-Medina D, Kim SY. Longitudinal profiles of acculturation and developmental outcomes among Mexican-origin adolescents from immigrant families. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev. 2021 Mar;2021(176):205-225. PubMed PMID: 33616288
  • Enid Zambrana R, Amaro G, Butler C, DuPont-Reyes M, Parra-Medina D. Analysis of Latina/o Sociodemographic and Health Data Sets in the United States From 1960 to 2019: Findings Suggest Improvements to Future Data Collection Efforts. Health Educ Behav. 2021 Jun;48(3):320-331. PubMed PMID: 34080472
  • Zambrana RE, Valdez RB, Pittman CT, Bartko T, Weber L, Parra-Medina D. Workplace stress and discrimination effects on the physical and depressive symptoms of underrepresented minority faculty. Stress Health. 2021 Feb;37(1):175-185. PubMed PMID: 32926523
  • Wilmoth S, Carrillo L, Correa L, Pan M, Parra-Medina D, Sosa E, Reyes R, Sass DA, He M. Building a Healthy Temple diabetes self-management education support program in Hispanic faith community settings: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 Dec;99:106192. PubMed PMID: 33191209
  • Mojica CM, Liang Y, Foster BA, Parra-Medina D. The Association Between Acculturation and Parental Feeding Practices in Families With Overweight and Obese Hispanic/Latino Children. Fam Community Health. 2019 Jul Sep;42(3):180-188. PubMed PMID: 31107728
  • Morales J, Inupakutika D, Kaghyan S, Akopian D, Yin Z, Evans M, Parra-Medina D. Technology-based health promotion: Current state and perspectives in emerging gig economy. Biocybern Biomed Eng. 2019 Jul-Sep;39(3):825-842. PubMed PMID: 32313347
  • Salinas JJ, McDaniel M, Parra-Medina D. The Role of Social Support and the Neighborhood Environment on Physical Activity in Low-income, Mexican-American Women in South Texas. J Prev Med Public Health. 2018 Sep;51(5):234-241. PubMed PMID: 30286595
  • Kim SY, Hou Y, Song J, Schwartz SJ, Chen S, Zhang M, Perreira KM, Parra-Medina D. Profiles of Language Brokering Experiences and Contextual Stressors: Implications for Adolescent Outcomes in Mexican Immigrant Families. J Youth Adolesc. 2018 Aug;47(8):1629-1648. PubMed PMID: 29603049
  • Inupakutika D, Natarajan G, Kaghyan S, Akopian D, Evans M, Zenong Y, Parra-Medina D. An Integration of Health Tracking Sensor Applications and eLearning Environments for Cloud-Based Health Promotion Campaigns. IS&T Int Symp Electron Imaging. 2018;2018:1141-1148. PubMed PMID: 34164588
  • Hilfinger Messias DK, Sharpe PA, Del Castillo-González L, Treviño L, Parra-Medina D. Living in Limbo: Latinas' Assessment of Lower Rio Grande Valley Colonias Communities. Public Health Nurs. 2017 May;34(3):267-275. PubMed PMID: 27921331
  • Morales-Campos DY, Parra-Medina D. Predictors of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Initiation and Completion Among Latino Mothers of 11- to 17-Year-Old Daughters Living Along the Texas-Mexico Border. Fam Community Health. 2017 Apr Jun;40(2):139-149. PubMed PMID: 28207677
  • Sosa ET, Parra-Medina D, He M, Trummer V, Yin Z. ¡Miranos! (Look at Us! We Are Healthy!): Home-Based and Parent Peer-Led Childhood Obesity Prevention. Health Promot Pract. 2016 Sep;17(5):675-81. PubMed PMID: 26895848
  • Salinas JJ, Shropshire W, Nino A, Parra-Medina D. Food Insecurity, Not Stress is Associated with Three Measures of Obesity in Low-Income, Mexican-American Women in South Texas. Food Public Health. 2016;6(6):149-156. PubMed PMID: 29644147
  • Parra-Medina D, Morales-Campos DY, Mojica C, Ramirez AG. Promotora Outreach, Education and Navigation Support for HPV Vaccination to Hispanic Women with Unvaccinated Daughters. J Cancer Educ. 2015 Jun;30(2):353-9. PubMed PMID: 24898942
  • Morales-Campos DY, Parra-Medina D, Esparza LA. Picture this!: using participatory photo mapping with Hispanic girls. Fam Community Health. 2015 Jan-Mar;38(1):44-54. PubMed PMID: 25423243
  • Parra-Medina D, Mojica C, Liang Y, Ouyang Y, Ramos AI, Gomez I. Promoting Weight Maintenance among Overweight and Obese Hispanic Children in a Rural Practice. Child Obes. 2015 Aug;11(4):355-63. PubMed PMID: 25950140
  • Ahlers-Schmidt CR, Ablah E, Rogers N, Cupertino P, Parra-Medina D, Dong F, Collins T. Low-income urban Latino parents' perceptions of immunization text reminders. Ethn Dis. 2014 Spring;24(2):229-35. PubMed PMID: 24804372
  • Mojica CM, Parra-Medina D, Yin Z, Akopian D, Esparza LA. Assessing media access and use among Latina adolescents to inform development of a physical activity promotion intervention incorporating text messaging. Health Promot Pract. 2014 Jul;15(4):548-55. PubMed PMID: 24357863
  • Salinas JJ, Hilfinger Messias DK, Morales-Campos D, Parra-Medina D. English language proficiency and physical activity among Mexican-origin women in South Texas and South Carolina. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2014 Feb;25(1):357-75. PubMed PMID: 24509031
  • Baruth M, Sharpe PA, Parra-Medina D, Wilcox S. Perceived barriers to exercise and healthy eating among women from disadvantaged neighborhoods: results from a focus groups assessment. Women Health. 2014;54(4):336-53. PubMed PMID: 24617795
  • Escobar RD, Akopian D, Parra-Medina D, Esparza L. MessageSpace: a Messaging System for Health Research. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2013 Feb;8667. PubMed PMID: 31741551
  • Messias DK, Parra-Medina D, Sharpe PA, Treviño L, Koskan AM, Morales-Campos D. Promotoras de Salud: roles, responsibilities, and contributions in a multisite community-based randomized controlled trial. Hisp Health Care Int. 2013;11(2):62-71. PubMed PMID: 24695944
  • Yin Z, Parra-Medina D, Cordova A, He M, Trummer V, Sosa E, Gallion KJ, Sintes-Yallen A, Huang Y, Wu X, Acosta D, Kibbe D, Ramirez A. Míranos! Look at us, we are healthy! An environmental approach to early childhood obesity prevention. Child Obes. 2012 Oct;8(5):429-39. PubMed PMID: 23061498
  • Taber DR, Stevens J, Lytle LA, Foreman RD, Moody J, Parra-Medina D, Pratt CA. Association between school- and nonschool-based activity programs and physical activity in adolescent girls. J Phys Act Health. 2011 Sep;8(7):971-7. PubMed PMID: 21885888
  • Parra-Medina D, Wilcox S, Salinas J, Addy C, Fore E, Poston M, Wilson DK. Results of the Heart Healthy and Ethnically Relevant Lifestyle trial: a cardiovascular risk reduction intervention for African American women attending community health centers. Am J Public Health. 2011 Oct;101(10):1914-21. PubMed PMID: 21852629
  • Wilcox S, Sharpe PA, Parra-Medina D, Granner M, Hutto B. A randomized trial of a diet and exercise intervention for overweight and obese women from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods: Sisters Taking Action for Real Success (STARS). Contemp Clin Trials. 2011 Nov;32(6):931-45. PubMed PMID: 21864718
  • Sharpe PA, Wilcox S, Rooney LJ, Strong D, Hopkins-Campbell R, Butel J, Ainsworth B, Parra-Medina D. Adherence to accelerometer protocols among women from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. J Phys Act Health. 2011 Jul;8(5):699-706. PubMed PMID: 21734316
  • Parra-Medina D, Hilfinger Messias DK. Promotion of Physical Activity Among Mexican-Origin Women in Texas and South Carolina: An Examination of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Environmental Factors. Quest. 2011 Feb;63(1):100-117. PubMed PMID: 21731409
  • Wilcox S, Parra-Medina D, Felton GM, Poston MB, McClain A. Adoption and implementation of physical activity and dietary counseling by community health center providers and nurses. J Phys Act Health. 2010 Sep;7(5):602-12. PubMed PMID: 20864755
  • Kelly EB, Parra-Medina D, Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Conway TL, Webber LS, Jobe JB, Going S, Pate RR. Correlates of physical activity in black, Hispanic, and white middle school girls. J Phys Act Health. 2010 Mar;7(2):184-93. PubMed PMID: 20484757
  • Parra-Medina D, Wilcox S, Wilson DK, Addy CL, Felton G, Poston MB. Heart Healthy and Ethnically Relevant (HHER) Lifestyle trial for improving diet and physical activity in underserved African American women. Contemp Clin Trials. 2010 Jan;31(1):92-104. PubMed PMID: 19781665
  • Bopp M, Wilcox S, Laken M, Hooker SP, Parra-Medina D, Saunders R, Butler K, Fallon EA, McClorin L. 8 Steps to Fitness: a faith-based, behavior change physical activity intervention for African Americans. J Phys Act Health. 2009 Sep;6(5):568-77. PubMed PMID: 19953833
  • Lytle LA, Murray DM, Evenson KR, Moody J, Pratt CA, Metcalfe L, Parra-Medina D. Mediators affecting girls' levels of physical activity outside of school: findings from the trial of activity in adolescent girls. Ann Behav Med. 2009 Oct;38(2):124-36. PubMed PMID: 20012810
  • Parra-Medina D, Messias DK, Fore E, Rachel M, Petry D, Das IP. The partnership for cancer prevention: addressing access to cervical cancer screening among Latinas in South Carolina. J S C Med Assoc. 2009 Dec;105(7):297-305. PubMed PMID: 20108722
  • Das IP, Messias DK, Parra-Medina D, Luchok K, Richter DL. Making it happen: low-income African American women's follow-up to abnormal pap tests. J S C Med Assoc. 2009 Dec;105(7):254-9. PubMed PMID: 20108713
  • Elder JP, Ayala GX, Parra-Medina D, Talavera GA. Health communication in the Latino community: issues and approaches. Annu Rev Public Health. 2009;30:227-51. PubMed PMID: 19296776
  • Torres M, Parra-Medina D, Bellinger J, Johnson AO, Probst JC. Rural hospitals and Spanish-speaking patients with limited English proficiency. J Healthc Manag. 2008 Mar-Apr;53(2):107-19; discussion 119-20. PubMed PMID: 18421995
  • Bopp M, Wilcox S, Laken M, Hooker SP, Saunders R, Parra-Medina D, Butler K, McClorin L. Using the RE-AIM framework to evaluate a physical activity intervention in churches. Prev Chronic Dis. 2007 Oct;4(4):A87. PubMed PMID: 17875262
  • Morrison KE, Luchok KJ, Richter DL, Parra-Medina D. Factors influencing help-seeking from informal networks among African American victims of intimate partner violence. J Interpers Violence. 2006 Nov;21(11):1493-511. PubMed PMID: 17057164
  • Messias DK, Fore EM, McLoughlin K, Parra-Medina D. Adult roles in community-based youth empowerment programs: implications for best practices. Fam Community Health. 2005 Oct-Dec;28(4):320-37. PubMed PMID: 16166860
  • Griffin SF, Reininger BM, Parra-Medina D, Evans AE, Sanderson M, Vincent ML. Development of multidimensional scales to measure key leaders' perceptions of community capacity and organizational capacity for teen pregnancy prevention. Fam Community Health. 2005 Oct-Dec;28(4):307-19. PubMed PMID: 16166859
  • Reininger BM, Evans AE, Griffin SF, Sanderson M, Vincent ML, Valois RF, Parra-Medina D. Predicting adolescent risk behaviors based on an ecological framework and assets. Am J Health Behav. 2005 Mar-Apr;29(2):150-61. PubMed PMID: 15698982
  • Mayer-Davis EJ, D'Antonio AM, Smith SM, Kirkner G, Levin Martin S, Parra-Medina D, Schultz R. Pounds off with empowerment (POWER): a clinical trial of weight management strategies for black and white adults with diabetes who live in medically underserved rural communities. Am J Public Health. 2004 Oct;94(10):1736-42. PubMed PMID: 15451743
  • Evans AE, Sanderson M, Griffin SF, Reininger B, Vincent ML, Parra-Medina D, Valois RF, Taylor D. An exploration of the relationship between youth assets and engagement in risky sexual behaviors. J Adolesc Health. 2004 Nov;35(5):424.e21-30. PubMed PMID: 15488436
  • Parra-Medina D, Wilcox S, Thompson-Robinson M, Sargent R, Will JC. A replicable process for redesigning ethnically relevant educational materials. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2004 Jun;13(5):579-88. PubMed PMID: 15257849
  • Parra-Medina D, D'antonio A, Smith SM, Levin S, Kirkner G, Mayer-Davis E. Successful recruitment and retention strategies for a randomized weight management trial for people with diabetes living in rural, medically underserved counties of South Carolina: the POWER study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004 Jan;104(1):70-5. PubMed PMID: 14702587
  • Parra-Medina D, Taylor D, Valois RF, Rousseau M, Vincent ML, Reininger BM. The Program Plan Index: an evaluation tool for assessing the quality of adolescent pregnancy prevention program plans. Health Promot Pract. 2003 Oct;4(4):375-84. PubMed PMID: 14611022
  • Reininger BM, Vincent M, Griffin SF, Valois RF, Taylor D, Parra-Medina D, Evans A, Rousseau M. Evaluation of statewide teen pregnancy prevention initiatives: challenges, methods, and lessons learned. Health Promot Pract. 2003 Jul;4(3):323-35. PubMed PMID: 14611003
  • Rafiroiu C, Sargent RG, Parra-Medina D, Drane WJ, Valois RF. Covariations of adolescent weight-control, health-risk and health-promoting behaviors. Am J Health Behav. 2003 Jan-Feb;27(1):3-14. PubMed PMID: 12500947
  • Reininger B, Evans AE, Griffin SF, Valois RF, Vincen ML, Parra-Medina D, Taylor DJ, Zullig KJ. Development of a youth survey to measure risk behaviors, attitudes and assets: examining multiple influences. Health Educ Res. 2003 Aug;18(4):461-76. PubMed PMID: 12939128
  • Elder JP, Litrownik AJ, Slymen DJ, Campbell NR, Parra-Medina D, Choe S, Lee V, Ayala GX. Tobacco and alcohol use-prevention program for Hispanic migrant adolescents. Am J Prev Med. 2002 Nov;23(4):269-75. PubMed PMID: 12406481
  • Wilcox S, Parra-Medina D, Thompson-Robinson M, Will J. Nutrition and physical activity interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease risk in health care settings: a quantitative review with a focus on women. Nutr Rev. 2001 Jul;59(7):197-214. PubMed PMID: 11475446
  • Parra-Medina D, Kenney E, Elder J. The California excise tax on cigarettes: the tobacco industry profits from this too. JAMA. 1993 Mar 17;269(11):1387-8. PubMed PMID: 8441212
  • Parra-Medina DM, Talavera G, Elder JP, Woodruff SI. Role of cigarette smoking as a gateway drug to alcohol use in Hispanic junior high school students. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 1995;(18):83-6. PubMed PMID: 8562226
  • Elder JP, Campbell NR, Litrownik AJ, Ayala GX, Slymen DJ, Parra-Medina D, Lovato CY. Predictors of cigarette and alcohol susceptibility and use among Hispanic migrant adolescents. Prev Med. 2000 Aug;31(2 Pt 1):115-23. PubMed PMID: 10938211
  • Litrownik AJ, Elder JP, Campbell NR, Ayala GX, Slymen DJ, Parra-Medina D, Zavala FB, Lovato CY. Evaluation of a tobacco and alcohol use prevention program for Hispanic migrant adolescents: promoting the protective factor of parent-child communication. Prev Med. 2000 Aug;31(2 Pt 1):124-33. PubMed PMID: 10938212
  • Mayer-Davis EJ, D'Antonio A, Martin M, Wandersman A, Parra-Medina D, Schulz R. Pilot study of strategies for effective weight management in type 2 diabetes: Pounds Off with Empowerment (POWER). Fam Community Health. 2001 Jul;24(2):27-35. PubMed PMID: 11373164
  • Wilmoth S, Wilhite B, Highwood K, Palacios C, Carrillo-McCracken L, Parra-Medina D, Sosa E, He M. Participants' Perspectives on Diabetes Self-Management Programming at Church: Faith-Placed Versus Faith-Based Approach. Sci Diabetes Self Manag Care. 2024 Dec;50(6):469-483. PubMed PMID: 39425574
  • Errisuriz VL, Zambrana RE, Parra-Medina D. Critical analyses of Latina mortality: disentangling the heterogeneity of ethnic origin, place, nativity, race, and socioeconomic status. BMC Public Health. 2024 Jan 16;24(1):190. PubMed PMID: 38229037
  • Errisuriz VL, Parra-Medina D, Liang Y, Howard JT, Li S, Sosa E, Ullevig SL, Estrada-Coats VM, Yin Z. ¡Miranos! An 8-Month Comprehensive Preschool Obesity Prevention Program in Low-Income Latino Children: Effects on Children's Gross Motor Development. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Oct 25;20(21). PubMed PMID: 37947532
  • Magaña S, Errisuriz VL, Yu AP, Heydaria N, Zeng W, Mirza M, Vanegas S, Brown S, Parra-Medina D, Suarez-Balcazar Y. Associations between parenting strategies and BMI percentile among Latino children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1189686. PubMed PMID: 37576140
  • Mojica CM, Vargas N, Bradley S, Parra-Medina D. Barriers and Facilitators of Colonoscopy Screening Among Latino Men in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Promotion Program. Am J Mens Health. 2023 May-Jun;17(3):15579883231179325. PubMed PMID: 37287187
  • Ullevig SL, Parra-Medina D, Liang Y, Howard J, Sosa E, Estrada-Coats VM, Errisuriz V, Li S, Yin Z. Impact of ¡Míranos! on parent-reported home-based healthy energy balance-related behaviors in low-income Latino preschool children: a clustered randomized controlled trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2023 Mar 21;20(1):33. PubMed PMID: 36944986
  • Yin Z, Liang Y, Howard JT, Errisuriz V, Estrada VM, Martinez C, Li S, Ullevig SL, Sosa E, Olmstead T, Small S, Ward DS, Parra-Medina D. ¡Míranos! a comprehensive preschool obesity prevention programme in low-income Latino children: 1-year results of a clustered randomised controlled trial. Public Health Nutr. 2023 Feb;26(2):476-487. PubMed PMID: 36357340
  • Petruzzi, L.J., Errisuriz, V.L., Valdez, C.R., & Parra-Medina, D. (in press) The role of perceived neighborhood factors and the built environment on depression and stress among Latinas on U.S.-Mexico border. Journal of Community Psychology.
  • Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Pei-Lung Yu, A., Brown-Hollie, J., Brown, S., Crostley, A., Mirza, M., Saenz, M., Velasquez, A., Vanegas, S., Parra-Medina, D., & Magana, S. (in press) A conceptual model for co-developing a culturally tailored intervention for Latina immigrant caregivers of children with disabilities, American Journal of Community Psychology

Professional Memberships

  • American Academy of Health Behavior, Member
  • American Public Health Association, Member
  • The Obesity Society, Member
  • International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Member
  • Society for Behavioral Medicine, Member

School of Medicine

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