Kate Marmion School of Public Health: Working with South Texas Communities
The heart of our work at the Kate Marmion School of Public Health is community. We collaborate with partners throughout South Texas on research, experiential learning, and community events to improve the health of our region and contribute to the well-being of all.
Public Health Summit
Join the Kate Marmion School of Public Health and Bexar County Public Health for a dynamic, one-day Public Health Summit, held in observance of National Public Health Week 2026.
The Summit is your opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research, discuss local public health challenges, and collaborate on solutions that can make a tangible difference in our community.
Monday, April 6, 2026 | UT San Antonio Downtown Campus
8:00 - 8:45 a.m.
Registration & Poster Setup
9:00 – 9:20 a.m.
Welcome Address featuring Judge Peter Sakai
9:20 - 10:20 a.m.
Keynote Address featuring Hazel James-Tohe
Hazel James-Tohe brings generations of cultural wisdom and a deep commitment to community health to this year’s Public Health Summit. Grounded in the values and teachings of her ancestors, she centers healing, unity, and the well-being of families and future generations. Hazel serves as coordinator for a health collaborative, where she partners with community nonprofits to address environmental health challenges, support community planning, and host youth summits that empower the next generation to design their own solutions.
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Morning Breakout Sessions
Tracks: Youth Systems, Women & Maternal Health, Community Building, Community Investment, Health Access
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch & Poster Session
1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Intersection of Art & Health featuring Mark Menjivar
Mark Menjívar is a San Antonio-based artist and Associate Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His practice centers on participatory projects rooted in photography, oral history, and social action. Mark holds a BA in Social Work from Baylor University and an MFA in Social Practice from Portland State University, and his work has been exhibited at venues including the Rothko Chapel, El Museo del Barrio, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and FOTOFEST. He currently has a mid-career survey exhibition on view at the Contemporary at Blue Star in San Antonio.
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Tracks: Youth Systems, Place-Based Public Health, Behavioral Health, Community Investment, Community Needs & Resources
3:45 – 4:30 p.m.
All Hearts on Deck featuring Nadege Souvenir - Closing
Nadege Souvenir is the CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation. Recently named to the 2026 Texas 100 list of Influential Professionals to Know and recognized as a 2025 South Texas Power Player, Nadege is helping shape the region’s future through bold philanthropic leadership. Nadege serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foundations and advises Catchafire and the Center for Effective Philanthropy, contributing thought leadership on nonprofit capacity building and philanthropic effectiveness. Previously, she was COO at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. A former litigator and arts leader, she has served on regional and national arts boards and received OPERA America’s 2023 National Opera Trustee Recognition Award.
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Networking Reception
Questions? Contact: Shama Tajani, tajani@uthscsa.edu
Thank you for sponsoring Public Health Summit
University Health is the only locally owned health system in San Antonio. For more than 100 years, University Health has been here to heal, improve health, train the next generation of medical professionals and ensure the people of San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas have access to primary and advanced specialty care close to home. Specialized services include the region’s only Level I trauma center for both adults and children, and maternal and neonatal intensive care centers designated at the highest levels by the State of Texas. Our Institute for Public Health addresses barriers that impact health by facilitating community partnerships to find long-term solutions for the community. And as the region’s only academic health system, University Health is a hub of innovation and discovery, committed to delivering patient-centered, culturally competent, high-quality and compassionate care, based on a strong foundation of outcomes‐based research and innovative teaching. Learn more at UniversityHealth.com.
Community First Health Plans is proud to be a member of the University Health family. As the only locally owned and managed non-profit health plan in the area, Community First offers healthcare coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and commercial plans. Community First is committed to providing their Members with great health care benefits backed by outstanding service, delivered by people who live right here in South Texas. Their goal is to help San Antonio and surrounding areas achieve more successful health outcomes by putting community first.