Teresia O'Connor

Dr. Teresia O’Connor is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine, affiliated with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center (CNRC). She is also an Adjunct Member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research focuses on childhood obesity prevention, parenting practices, and technology-driven behavioral measurement, particularly among Hispanic populations.

• Education: MD from the University of Wisconsin Medical School, MPH from the University of Texas School of Public Health, and fellowship training in Children's Nutrition at CNRC.

Dr. O’Connor’s work explores how parents influence children’s obesity-related behaviors through culturally adapted interventions like Papás Saludables, Niños Saludables and innovative tools such as FLASH-TV for passive screen time tracking. Her recent publications emphasize cross-sectional studies, longitudinal analyses, and mixed-methods approaches in parenting practices and health equity.

Her research trends highlight technology integration in behavioral assessment, disparities in Hispanic youth health outcomes, and family-centered obesity prevention strategies. Scientific awards include being a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP).

• Scientific Awards:
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP)

Dr. O’Connor mentors postdoctoral fellows, medical trainees, and graduate students, offering opportunities in her lab. She collaborates with institutions like Rice University and receives funding from NIH agencies (NIDDK, NICHD, NHLBI). The CNRC provides state-of-the-art facilities, including metabolic kitchens and observation labs, supporting her team’s work on childhood obesity and parenting dynamics.