Overview
Impact
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Children and Families Impact by the Center's Research
Around 80 percent of a person’s health is influenced by factors beyond just medical care—things like access to health information, nutritious food, exercise, and compassionate healthcare providers. Recognizing this, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living was established in 2006 to bridge the gap between research and practical solutions, providing valuable insights to policymakers and healthcare decision-makers.
Rooted in the knowledge that a local public health entity would be crucial to promoting wellness, preventing diseases, and ensuring Austin families had opportunities to be healthy, the foundation’s support led to establishing a new branch of the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin.
A critical partner in the local medical community, the Center tackles issues affecting Greater Austin residents, such as food insecurity, physical activity, and maternal care. Since its inception, the Center has supported community health by:
The Center has secured over $90 million in research grants and educated more than 650 Masters of Public Health and doctoral students, and provided research opportunities for 10 undergraduates through the Dell Health Undergraduate Scholar (DHUS) program.
Driven by a team of global experts, their research has been pivotal in:
Aaron’s experiences with sports injuries sparked his interest in nutrition, biomechanics, and how one’s whole health could affect their ability to heal. As the 2022 DHUS, Aaron assisted the Center with research and writing on topics like how the COVID-19 pandemic affected adolescents’ everyday experiences and the overlap with their mental health outcomes. “For me, public health is helping people improve quality of life, whether through cultural experiences, fitness, or making sure everyone feels respected and heard,” Aaron explains.” Aaron is currently studying how physical literacy – one’s ability and desire to be physically active – overlaps with their mental health.
