About SAHRC - The Social and Health Research Center

About The Social and Health Research Center (SAHRC)

Mission

The Social & Health Research Center is committed to improving the social and health well-being of populations at-risk.

Vision

The Social and Health Research Center expects to improve health behaviors with innovative and evidence-based health programs to control chronic disease such as obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes and to design better instruments to evaluate program effectiveness.

History

The Social and Health Research Center (SAHRC) was founded in 1991 by Dr. Roberto P. Treviño, a San Antonio physician interested in early age health interventions. To address the rising rates of childhood obesity, youth-onset type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease occurring in children, the SAHRC incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1995 with 501 (c) (3) status focusing on populations at risk.

Bienestar/NEEMA

In 1997, the SAHRC in collaboration with medical doctors, university professors, teachers, and parents developed Bienestar/NEEMA, a bilingual coordinated school health program (CSHP) comprising of four components that most influence children’s health: Health Class (health literacy), P.E. (physical activity), Cafeteria (Child Nutrition Services), and Home (Family Engagement).

Evolution:

"Bienestar/NEEMA's current curriculum evolved from a textbook based school health program that was bilingual, and culturally appropriate to meet the needs of South Texas students to what has now become a dynamic interactive online health program filled with identifiable characters delivering health concepts through animated stories."

Ramrio

Maria

Emma

Published Scientific Research

In 1997, to better understand the effectiveness of Bienestar/NEEMA within the school population, the SAHRC entered a phase of program evaluation and piloted a randomized controlled study in San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD). The study produced remarkable results showing intervention students decreased blood glucose and insulin levels, decreased obesity rates and dietary fat intake, and increased dietary fiber intake and fitness levels. The success of the program to make a positive health change in students led other school districts in Texas to adopt the program as part of their wellness policy. In 2004, the Texas Education Agency designated Bienestar/NEEMA as an approved coordinated school health program. The success in two subsequent studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, NIDDK has shown the health program to be an effective and sustainable health intervention to control chronic disease in youth.

Arch Pediat Adolsec Med. 2004;15:911-917

Science and Technology for the 21st Century

The SAHRC continues to innovate Bienestar/NEEMA by integrating modern technology to improve student engagement, and scientific data capture for program evaluation. Fully animated health stories and interactive lesson activities are new features to the program that establishes Bienestar/NEEMA’s digital footprint as a powerful tool in the school-based curriculum environment.

Adults can benefit too!

Soon after establishing Bienestar/NEEMA CSHP, the SAHRC developed the BieneStar Adult Healthy Lifestyle Program (BAHLP) an Intensive Behavior Therapy to prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The Future

The SAHRC future is bright with the Center growing in both size and in stature as it continues to innovate and deliver new evidence-based health programs. For the foreseeable future, increasing reliance on chronic disease, and mental health prevention programming, like those designed by the SAHRC, will be needed to address the rising rates of childhood obesity. Expanding Bienestar/NEEMA’s online bilingual CSHP to other regions of the US and Mexico is a focus allowing more schools an affordable health solution to a global crisis.

A Cautionary Tale: The Covid 19 pandemic forced the world to quickly adapt to online learning and working. Scientists believe this is not the last of Epidemiological events that we will face. SAHRC aims to continue to learn and adapt to the educational, psychological, and sociological challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Meet The Team

Roberto P. Treviño, M.D. Executive Director

Karla E. Cortez, MPH Deputy Director

Maria Chapa, M.S.Ed. PE/Health Coordinator

DAVID SALDAÑA, M.Ed. Director of Business Development

Gabriela Cantu Adult Health Programs

Gabriel Canez IT Manager

Meet The Board of Directors

DIANA SANCHEZ CHAIRMAN

Diana Sanchez, Chairman

Diane is a proven c-suite executive with extensive senior management experience as an entrepreneur, intrapreneur, and social entrepreneur. Her experience in developing strategic partnerships, P&L, change management, transformation, acquisitions, and market entry leading corporations who have been recognized as market leaders in transformational technology and innovation have helped drive a successful career.

Distinguished for her consensus building, she is instrumental in working with the public/private sector and taught leaders in the Americas, Europe, and Asia to formulate strategic alliances and collaborative business strategies. Diane has been recognized for her leadership in directly contributing to successful market entry and rapid market growth for strategic corporate subsidiaries, mitigating risk, and the value creation of growth-stage and mid-cap companies. She has directed business in over twenty countries in the Americas Region and Europe with pan-regional experience in business development, sales, operations, and P&L spanning a full range of public, private, and not-for-profit companies.

She has also played several key leadership roles in transforming Information, Communication, and Telecommunications (ICT) infrastructure in the Americas Region and has held senior leadership positions in some of the world's leading global technology companies to include: President and CEO, Telefonica USA; President and CEO, Global Crossing Latin America; President, Terremark; President, Global Operations, Mozido; SVP Sales and Operations - Caribbean and Latin America, and Regional Vice President, Alcatel Lucent.

Diane continues to participate in the expansion and investment in infrastructure, working directly with Private Equity Firms and financial institutions operating in advisory and independent director roles. Active in the community, her activities center on education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and the disenfranchised. Diane also serves on the board of directors of several for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and has an extensive background in board governance. Advocating for the disenfranchised and aligning her leadership and business skills to serve the community, she serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director for Micro: SA, a social enterprise impact-driven organization promoting economic prosperity through the resurgence of the micro business in disadvantaged communities.

Dr. Nora Garza Secretary

Dr. Nora Garza

Nora was born in Brownsville, Texas, to parents that believed in education and healthy living. She is a first-generation American on her mother's side and has Mexican citizenship because of her ancestry. Nora was raised in the South Texas Rio Grande Valley, graduated from the University of Texas Medical school in Houston, and completed the Baylor College of Medicine family practice residency program. She eventually returned to the Valley as medical director of one of the largest community health centers in the state.
After serving nine years as medical director in the Valley, Nora moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she has been working as a primary care physician for over twenty-two years. She was elected to the Bexar County Board of Directors and served for three years as chairperson of the Medical Ethics committee. Her career has been focused on preventive medicine and healthy lifestyle changes. She is committed to moving the community of San Antonio toward healthier living with a strong emphasis on health prevention and an increase in access to health care. Dr. Nora Garza has two offices in San Antonio and office hours expanded to late nights to allow working children to bring in their elderly parents to the doctor without missing work. Nora believes that with the research and education from The Social and Health Research Center, our community's nutritional education will improve, and more people will make healthy food choices that will improve the health outcomes of all family members. Dr. Garza looks forward to helping her community in this capacity.

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Adam Avila, MS, LPC

Adam Avila, MS, PLC

Adam Avila is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Radius Psychotherapy, PLLC. The practice focuses on providing mental health services to adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Adam’s experience comes from more than 20 years of working with at-risk populations through residential treatment facilities, Bexar County Juvenile Probation, and private practice.
Adam is a graduate of Brackenridge High School. He completed a Bachelor’s program at Texas State University studying Psychology and Fine Art. Adam earned a Master’s degree, in Counseling-Marriage and Family Therapy, from Our Lady of the Lake University. While in college he played football and participated on the Triathlon team. With athletics playing a vital role in Adam’s development of character and community, he continues to stay active and enjoys walks, runs, and bike rides throughout the city.
Adam is certified in Low and High Elements using experiential/adventure-based techniques for team building and leadership development. He also volunteers as a Ropes Course Facilitator for Vision Works Camp Discovery. Adam’s goal is to continue providing services in the inner-city where he was born, raised and continues to live with his family. Through Radius Psychotherapy Adam hopes to educate individuals about the consideration of mental health as a pillar of overall health.

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Leonard Rodriguez

Leonard Rodriguez

From an award-winning publisher to White House Advisor to small business owner, Leonard B. Rodriguez has excelled as an entrepreneur, government official, and community developer.
Named as one of the country's "Most Influential Hispanics" by both Hispanic Business and Poder Magazine, Rodriguez is best known for his work as a regional advisor to the President of the United States.
Rodriguez is also known in publishing circles for his 1999 publication, "Celebrating Outstanding Hispanics – 500 Years of Latino Pride," a colossal calendar-book profiling the accomplishments of more than 300 Latinos in the U.S. His publication won the Gold Award for Most Educational and Bronze Award for Most Original Calendar from the Calendar Marketing Association in 1999. Rodriguez credits his publishing venture for helping launch him into national politics.
While working for the President of the United States, Rodriguez served as the president's liaison to members of the Cabinet, Congress, governors, state and local officials in the Southwest, Midwest, and U.S. Territories, where he handled policy and outreach. Among his many responsibilities, Rodriguez was responsible for coordinating the President's agenda through all Federal agencies into more than 30 states, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands.
Rodriguez received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. He is a tenth-generation Texan with roots in San Antonio's Westside. He is married to his high school sweetheart and has two children, and currently serves as the Director of Development for the Center for Health Care Services.

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Roger Rodriguez, MA

Roger Rodriguez

Roger Rodriguez started teaching at Storm Elementary School in 1971 after graduating from the University of North Texas with his BS. Roger then got his MA in Education Management from UTSA and moved into administration. During his 47 years of teaching health and physical education with SAISD, Roger aided in implementing various health and fitness programs to better the lives of the children he served.
Roger aided in creating 35 youth soccer teams with support from the San Antonio Thunder, as well as coordinated the building of a new natatorium with the City and then-Mayor Henry Cisneros. Those projects led to the development of new curriculums and grants to promote physical education and health in the SAISD district. His teaching excellence led him to be invited to assist with the development of new UIL and TEKS competencies.
Committed to health and wellness education, Roger created new curriculums for HIV/AIDS prevention, CPR, and AED training and started the SAISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC). He also directed grant projects within the district to reduce teen pregnancy and was awarded over $2.5 million in grants by the US Department of Education.
Retiring in 2018 from the role of Senior Coordinator for Health/PE with SAISD has not slowed Roger down. He is still committed to children’s health and physical education through working with the SAHRC team and serving on the board.

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Get To Know Dr. Treviño

Scroll through to watch the video and read articles in which SAHRC founder and executive director, Dr. Roberto P. Treviño, has been featured.

Uploaded on Dec 27, 2010

Speaker: Robert Treviño, M.D.

Title of talk:

SAVE UP TO

Preventing Diabetes: Targeting High-Risk Children Living in Poverty

Children of the Revolution:

The Story of Dr. Roberto Trevino

Aired 09/30/2010

Dr. Robert Trevino lost a great grandfather and a grandfather to the Mexican Revolution. His father was in his mother’s womb when his father, Dr. Treviño’s grandfather, was killed in the revolution. The family struggled and eventually prospered. Trevino became a doctor and made a discovery that changed the way the medical profession treats cardiac arrest and ultimately has saved countless lives.

'Forgotten Children' Exposes Healthcare Injustices

by Jason P. Olivarri Published August 26, 2009

Robert Treviño, a prominent physician and researcher, has fought an uphill battle against the healthcare industry's ugly side. He tries to expose it in his new book, "Forgotten Children: A True Story of How Politicians Endanger Children."

Treviño, 58, is president of the South Alamo Medical Group, which operates five clinics in some of San Antonio's poorest communities.

Treviño said he felt compelled to write "Forgotten Children" to expose the greed, corruption, and favoritism he witnessed at the state and federal levels of the healthcare industry.

Read Article

Fight Against Childhood Obesity Begins at Home

by Roberto P. Trevino Updated March 1, 2014

SAN ANTONIO — While I am sitting at restaurants or standing at grocery store lines, I observe the health behaviors of adult caretakers and children with them.

Two weekends ago, my wife and I were at a restaurant sitting next to a heavyset couple with two heavyset children. The children may have been between the ages of 3 and 6.

The woman was conversing with the man and, at the same time, pouring sugar into one of the children's tea. The conversation and the downpour of sugar went on and on and on until the brown tea turned white and my face turned red.

Read Article

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