Shannon Guillot-Wright, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Dept of Environmental and Occupational Health at UTHealth's School of Public Health and Director of the PEOPLE Centered Lab. Her program of research focuses on occupational health equity, environmental justice, and the use of evidence in policymaking, with an emphasis on structural violence and social justice. Her research is grounded in ethnographic and participatory methods, including photovoice and digital storytelling.

Bibiana Toro Figueira, MPH is the research manager at UTHealth’s PEOPLE Centered Lab. Her roles include coordinating and managing the Docside Clinic with Gulf Coast communities, establishing and developing community partnerships, and leading research analysis. Her areas of interest include social and environmental determinants of health, especially among low-income and im/migrant workers, with a focus on precarious labor. Before joining UTHealth, Bibiana earned her BSA from the University of Texas at Austin and her MPH with a specialization in Epidemiology from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

CucHuyen Roberts is a certified Community Health Worker in TX and has been a Vietnamese Interpreter for over 17 years. She has participated in local, national, and international governmental organizations and has worked with the PEOPLE Centered Lab since 2021, interpreting interviews and translating documents to ensure our populations have access to resources in their native languages.

Cuc Hoa Trieu is a graduate from Texas Chiropractic College in Houston and is a certified Community Health Worker in TX. She has worked as an interpreter for Vietnamese populations for over 15 years. Using her fluency in both English and Vietnamese, Cuc Hoa has dedicated her skills to helping the many Vietnamese speaking people of her community.

Leonard Wang is an MD-MPH student at the University of Texas Medical Branch studying the intersection of healthcare management and health disparities. He is also a Fulbright Scholar in London and will be attending Cambridge for his MBA in the fall of 2026. He leads the funding & coordination of yearly flu kits for our Docside Clinic(TM).

My name is Thu Le, and I am an MPH student at UTHealth Houston with a background in PharmD. I am passionate about providing appropriate medical care and addressing the social determinants of health affecting Texas fishermen and shrimpers.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in Biology with minors in Health Psychology, Neuroscience, and Chemistry. I am board certified in Pharmacy Technology, Behavior Therapy, and Polysomnographic Technology. My interdisciplinary background reflects a strong commitment to understanding the biological and behavioral sciences through both clinical and research lenses. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my cats and shopping with friends.

Saami Baig is a student and youth advocate from Houston, Texas, dedicated to advancing public policy around school safety and gun violence prevention. As Chair of the Harris County Safe Schools Commission, Saami represents the safety interests of over 850,000 students, crafting data-driven policy recommendations on firearm storage, mental health, and education access. Having served as a National Spokesperson for March for Our Lives, he has spoken at both state and national forums to advocate for gun violence prevention. A Giffords Courage Fellow and published policy contributor, Saami is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Policy Analysis and Political Science at Rice.

I am a rising senior at Tulane University. I have a major in public health, a minor in SLAM, and a minor in Environmental Studies. I am still exploring a specific field of study, but I am particularly interested in the areas of workplace health and safety, maternal-child health, and infectious diseases.

Dhriti Kumar is a rising senior at Ridge Point High School with a deep commitment to health equity and environmental justice. As the founder of the youth-led nonprofit EnvironMedicine, she has spent over two years raising awareness about the intersection of environmental factors and healthcare access. At the PEOPLE Centered Lab, Dhriti leads social media and digital outreach efforts, amplifying the voices of waterfront workers, such as commercial fishermen and dockworkers, who face hazardous conditions and limited healthcare access. Through her passion for digital storytelling and community engagement, she aims to spotlight the challenges these essential workers face and advocate for systemic change. Dhriti aspires to become a physician dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health and ensuring equitable care for all.

Each year, our Lab hosts one Visiting Scholar and a postdoc dependent on funding. If you’re interested, please fill out an application and someone from our team will be in touch: Application.