Rojelio Mejia

Rojelio Mejia, M.D., is an Associate Professor (Tenured) at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and holds multiple leadership roles, including Director of the Laboratory of Human and Environmental Parasitology, Director of the Molecular Parasitology Testing Unit, and Director of Research Internships. He is affiliated with the National School of Tropical Medicine, Department of Pediatrics (Section of Tropical Medicine), and Department of Medicine (Section of Infectious Diseases). His research focuses on improving diagnostics and understanding parasitic infections, particularly in tropical medicine contexts, with an emphasis on molecular methods and global health equity.

Education: M.D. from Michigan State University (2006), Postdoctoral Fellowship at NIH/NIAID (2012), Infectious Diseases Residency at University of Virginia (2008), and Internal Medicine Internship at University of Virginia (2007).

Research Interests: The laboratory prioritizes defining parasite prevalence in endemic populations, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and affordability, and advancing eradication strategies. Key areas include Strongyloides stercoralis, soil-transmitted helminths, and environmental contamination pathways.

Recent Work Trends: His articles emphasize environmental sampling for parasite detection, molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis and helminths, and epidemiological studies in marginalized communities. Notable projects include surveillance in rural Alabama, Uganda, Argentina, and Ecuador.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Outstanding Infectious Diseases Teaching Faculty of the Year (2012–2013)
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Research Pathway (2008)
  • National Medical Fellowships (2004)
• Grants & Labs:
  • Director of BCM’s Molecular Parasitology Testing Unit
  • Projects funded through collaborations with institutions like the Alabama Center for Rural Enterprise and Universidad Nacional de Salta