Kyriakos S. Markides

Kyriakos S. Markides holds dual academic roles as Professor at the University of Nicosia Medical School and Annie and John Gnitzinger Distinguished Professor of Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He specializes in aging and health disparities, particularly among Mexican American populations, and has authored over 400 publications. His research focuses on the Hispanic Epidemiological Paradox, a concept he co-developed with J. Coreil.

Dr. Markides earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from Louisiana State University in 1976. He founded the Journal of Aging and Health in 1989 and currently serves as its Editor. His work has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1980.

He leads the Hispanic EPESE study (longitudinal analysis of Mexican American aging health) and directs the National Institute on Aging-funded Texas Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR). His research has been recognized globally, including the Robert W. Kleemeier Award and ISI’s citation as a top social scientist.

Key contributions include advancing minority aging research frameworks and identifying health patterns in underserved populations. Grants and collaborations focus on epidemiological trends in aging, with interdisciplinary teams addressing demographic and health policy challenges.