Michelle Lopez, Senior Manager, Research Operations

Michelle Lopez

Senior Manager, Research Operations

Michelle Lopez is a San Antonio Native and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Texas A&M San Antonio in 2020. She started at UT Health San Antonio in July 2008. Lopez exhibits a strong sense of devotion to the research operations at UT Heath San Antonio and this experience gave her a deep appreciation for how the university’s research enterprise has improved the quality of life in our region, one project at a time.


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Rachael Langey

Senior Project Manager


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Sarah Zieminski

Senior Research Coordinator


Shadia Lahlou, MSSW, MPH, Senior Research Project Coordinator

Shadia Lahlou, MSSW, MPH

Senior Research Project Coordinator

Shadia Lahlou, MSSW, MPH is a Senior Research Project Coordinator at the Study Coordinating Center for the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal (RURAL) Study. She holds a MSSW degree from The University of Texas at Austin and an MPH degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She is passionate about research projects and programs focused on chronic disease prevention and management in communities that are underserved.


Sara Platz, MPH, Research Area Specialist

Sara Platz, MPH

Research Area Specialist

Sara Platz, MPH, is a Research Area Specialist at the Study Coordinating Center. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Health Policy & Management from Providence College and a Master of Public Health degree from the Boston University School of Public Health. Platz feels that the RURAL study aligns with her passions for health equity, health policy, and increasing the delivery of primary care to underserved populations.


Marissa Mexquitic, BA,MS, Research Coordinator – Senior

Marissa Mexquitic

Research Coordinator – Senior

Marissa Mexquitic, MS, is a Senior Research Coordinator. She holds a BA and MS in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Though her education was primarily in psychology, she has implemented her experience in research to apply across multiple disciplines. She believes in researching health from a holistic approach and is passionate about bridging the gap between research and the community.