Research Division

Professor
Assistant Dean for Faculty Development
Dr. Mulla completed his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa.
Dr. Mulla completed his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of South Florida College of Public Health in Tampa. Prior to joining the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2006, Dr. Mulla was a faculty member at the El Paso Regional Campus of the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston (UT-Houston). He has worked over 20 years as an epidemiologist and authored over 95 papers in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Mulla’s honors include the Outstanding Teacher Award from UT-Houston, and the Professional Achievement Award from the University of Arizona Alumni Association in Tucson. Dr. Mulla is certified by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

Associate Director
Dr. Sanchez completed her Ph.D. at the University of Texas at El Paso in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.
She obtained her undergraduate degree from Arizona State University in microbiology (2005) and then earned an M.P.H. in maternal and child health from the University of Arizona (2009). Throughout her career, Dr. Sanchez has held research positions at NIH/NIDDK and in the private sector as a clinical research coordinator. She has worked with Native American communities in the Southwest to address health promotion, especially on chronic diseases, obesity and nutritional issues. Her research focuses on understanding high-risk behaviors and mental health and their relationships with social-ecological factors.

Program Coordinator
Kate Olivas-Cardiel, a native El Pasoan, received her undergraduate degree in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso.
During Kate’s undergrad, she spearheaded research work at an R1 institution for the study of HIV and West Nile disease. Kate’s primary focus was on the expression and detection of (Slfn) a family of proteins primarily found as an inhibitor of viral protein synthesis in HIV. Kate’s in-depth background in clinical research has allowed her to utilize these skills to aid the field of OB/GYN to help women receive improved health care.

Research Assistant
Madison is a native El Pasoan who obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and attained her Master’s in Public Health soon after at the University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston (El Paso Regional Campus).
During her undergrad, Madison had conducted research that aided the El Paso county commissioners and El Paso Parks and recreation to improve the environmental quality of lakes and agriculture through homeopathic remedies. She later conducted research for the EPA’s Border 2020 Project that provides clean water to rural communities along the El Paso and C.D Juarez border. This project led her to pursue her Master’s in Public Health, where she continued to strengthen her background in research by aiding the CDC with data collecting regarding Mask usage during the COVID-19 pandemic and partook in data analysis for the NSF funded RAIN Program that Promotes STEM education to Rural communities along Arizona. Madison strives to continue utilizing her research skills and help improve women’s health here at Texas Tech and on the southwest border.