UTEP Faculty Member Recognized as Pillar of Public Health

Last Updated on February 07, 2018 at 3:30 PM

Originally published February 07, 2018

By UC Staff

UTEP Communications

UTEP Public Health Sciences Associate Professor Oralia Loza, Ph.D., has been recognized as one of the 2018 Pillars of Public Health by the City of El Paso’s Department of Public Health.

Loza received the Path Builder award for her service and research on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning) health in the El Paso community. As a member of the health department’s HIV Prevention Program‘s Community Mobilization LGBT Core Team, Loza led efforts to create the Purple Pages of El Paso, an online resource directory of LGBTQ-friendly health care and social service providers.

Loza joined the faculty in UTEP’s College of Health Sciences in 2010. Her research interests include substance abuse and risk factors for HIV/STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and Hepatitis C Virus among high-risk populations, including sexual and gender minorities, transgender women, migrants and other marginalized individuals.  Her work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and abstracts.

Loza holds a joint doctoral degree in public health and epidemiology from the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University.

The Department of Public Health’s Pillars of Public Health awards are presented annually to members of the El Paso community who reflect the strength and momentum that is created when individuals and organizations commit themselves to the core principles of public health.

Loza received the award at the health department’s County Fair Open House on Feb. 1.