Lara Savas

Lara Savas, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health. Her research focuses on behavioral health, cancer prevention, and health equity, with a strong emphasis on community-based interventions targeting underserved populations. She leads multiple evidence-based programs addressing public health challenges such as HPV vaccination, colorectal cancer screening, and maternal-child health.

• Key Projects:
  • Salud en Mis Manos Dissemination and Implementation Assistance (SEMM-DIA): An implementation support system for breast and cervical cancer education among Latinas.
  • For Our Children (Por Nuestros Hijos): A bilingual HPV vaccination education program for parents.
  • All for Them (AFT): A multilevel strategy to increase HPV vaccine uptake in underserved areas.
  • Harris SAVES: A study on SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in Harris County, Texas.
• Research Interests: Behavioral interventions, community health worker models, health disparities, and program evaluation.

Dr. Savas collaborates with Federally Qualified Health Centers and social services networks to design scalable solutions for public health challenges. Her work bridges clinical and community settings, emphasizing culturally tailored health promotion strategies.