Luis Chavez, MPH

Ph.D. Candidate - Social and Behavioral Health
Luis Chavez headshot

Summary

Luis Chavez’s research focuses on mental health disparities among underserved populations, with an emphasis on the Latinx community. His primary research examines how housing instability impacts mental health, and he aims to develop culturally responsive strategies to address these disparities.

While housing instability remains his main focus, Chavez also investigates health disparities affecting other underserved groups in Nevada, including the opioid crisis and its impact on health. He has contributed to statewide reports on unintentional drug overdose deaths and has presented his findings at national conferences, including the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting.

His recent publications include studies on the influence of economic stability on obesity through the National School Lunch Program, published in the Journal of School Health, and on factors associated with self-reported abuse among transgender and gender-diverse young adults, published in Transgender Health.

Chavez’s research is driven by a commitment to advancing health through evidence-based research and community engagement. He is expected to earn his doctorate in public health from the University of Nevada, Reno, in summer 2025.

Professional affiliations

  • American Public Health Association
  • Society for Public Health Education

Faculty mentor

Awards

  • Graduate Student Association Travel Award (October 2024), University of Nevada, Reno
  • Ph.D. Student of the Year Award in Public Health (June 2024), University of Nevada, Reno 
  • School of Public Health Student Development Award (September 2024), University of Nevada, Reno
  • School of Public Health Student Development Award (September 2023), University of Nevada, Reno
  • Graduate Student Association Travel Award (September 2023), University of Nevada, Reno 
  • Future Leaders Program (August 2023), Western Region Public Health Training Center 
  • National Science Foundation GAIN Program (July 2021 to July 2023), University of Nevada, Reno 
  • Nevada Drive Scholar (August 2021 to July 2022), University of Nevada Reno 
  • School of Public Health’s Student Development Award (November 2022), University of Nevada, Reno 
  • Graduate Student Association Travel Award (November 2022), University of Nevada, Reno

Publications

Presentations

  • Scavacini, V., Chavez, L., Lensch, T. & Dermid, G. (2024, November). Factors associated with naloxone administration by emergency medical services among overdose decedents in Nevada [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Howard, L., Clements-Nolle, K., Powers, M., Zhang, F., Yang, W. & Chavez, L. (2024, November). Disparities in suicide risk factors among transgender-questioning middle school students: The protective role of parent-child communication and school connectedness [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Hoeper, S., Chavez, L. & Granner, M. (2024, March). The relationship between sense of belonging and physical and social environments [Poster presentation]. American Academy of Health Behavior Scientific Meeting, Savannah, GA.
  • Chavez, L. & Devereux, P. (2023, November). Neighborhood support as a moderating variable between bullying and mental health care [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
  • Lensch, T., Scavacini, V., Etiler, N., Chavez, L. & Dermid, G. (2023, November). The impact of perceived social and emotional support on health behaviors for gender expansive adults in urban and rural communities [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
  • Chavez, L. (2023, November). Neighborhood support as a moderator between bullying and needing mental health treatment [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, Atlanta, GA.
  • Chavez, L. & Devereux, P. (2023, September). A descriptive analysis of the lingering impact COVID-19 continues to have on Nevada college students [Conference presentation]. Nevada Public Health Association Annual Conference, Reno, NV.
  • Chavez, L. (2023, September). Unmet social needs and stress: Study on Nevadans [Conference presentation]. Western Region Public Health Training Center: Future Leaders, Virtual Conference.
  • Chavez, L. (2022, November). Hispanic sexual minorities and bullying: An intersectional look [Conference presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo, Boston, MA.
  • Chavez, L. (2022, March). Are school lunches contributing to the obesity epidemic among children? [Oral presentation]. SOPHE Annual Conference, Virtual.

Education

  • B.S. in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside (2018)
  • MPH in Public Health from California State University, San Bernardino (2021)
  • Ph.D. in Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno (In-Progress)