Staff
Ariel Gomez, M.P.H, C.H.E.S.
South Central AHEC Manager of Academic Programs
E-mail: gomeza6@uthscsa.edu | Phone: 210-562-5568
Address: 7411 John Smith Road, Suite 1050, San Antonio, Texas 78229
Ariel Gomez, MPH, CHES, is the recently appointed lead of the South Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC) but has been with the center since 2014. She has a decade of experience connecting with communities and other community-based organizations to evidence-based health promotion initiatives. She has also served as a mentor and now leads rotating students of all levels. Coming from a rural background, she is dedicated to cultivating the next wave of healthcare professionals by working with students to understand the varying needs of the communities in South Texas and working with academic and community partners to improve health outcomes for vulnerable and underrepresented communities. She received her Master’s in Public Health in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science with a health disparities certificate from the UTHealth School of Public Health San Antonio.
Alvin Estacio, M.S.
Research Area Specialist
E-mail: estacioa@uthscsa.edu | Phone: 210-562-5568
Alvin Estacio is a Research Area Specialist for South Central AHEC. A graduate of Florida Institute of Technology with a BS in Biomedical Engineering, he started as an AHEC intern in 2016 before transitioning to a Graduate Research Assistant in the Fall of 2017. Since then, he has received his Master of Science in Epidemiology degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where his thesis focused on the Persons Living with HIV/AIDS population. Following his graduation, Alvin has now joined AHEC full time where he works with the AHEC Scholars and the family medicine residents on statistical analysis for projects during their community rotation with AHEC. He also manages and analyzes data for South Central AHEC and the community partners we collaborate with. Alvin grew up in Tyler, TX (The Rose Capital of the world). He enjoys running and consuming copious amounts of coffee.
Ludivina (Ludy) Hernandez, C.H.W.I., C.H.W., Promotora
Community Outreach Coordinator
E-mail: Hernandezlv@uthscsa.edu | Phone: 210-562-5575
Ludivina Hernandez is a CHW, Promotora, CHW Instructor, and Community Outreach Coordinator serving the Edgewood community in San Antonio and South Texas. Ludy uses her extensive background to serve as a liaison between community groups and the South Texas Area Health Education Center. She works on projects to improve physical, social, and mental health in the community. She collaborates with UT Health and University Hospital residents to bring presentations on health topics that the community has identified as a concern. Ludy is a delegate for the CEAL (Community Engaged Alliance- Against COVID) Project which disseminates material that combats misinformation and disinformation on chronic illnesses and COVID-19 messaging, and is a member of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group.
Sophia R. Martinez, B.S., C.H.W.
Community Outreach Coordinator
E-mail: Martinezs31@uthscsa.edu | Phone: 210-562-5568
Sophia R. Martinez serves as a Community Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Research to Advance Community Health (REACH) and South Central AHEC. A graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio with a BS in Public Health (Epidemiology and Disease Control) and a minor in Sociology. She is also a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) fueled by a passion for addressing health disparities, promoting equality, public health education, and advocacy. Sophia plays a pivotal role in training aspiring individuals in the impactful realm of CHWs.
