Sanchez Named Outstanding Doctoral Graduate at UNT Health Science Center’s School of Public Health
Mary-Katherine Sanchez, DrPH, received the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Award from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.Sanchez earned her bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University in three years, and on the advice of a professor at A&M, she enrolled in its School of Rural Public Health, where she earned her master’s of public health degree.
Sanchez, an Aledo High School graduate, came back to the Fort Worth area to complete her doctorate in public health after her stint at Texas A&M. Her dissertation topic drew on her knowledge of Fort Worth and the Hispanic community.
Sanchez’s research for her dissertation, “Factors that Motivate Hispanics to Participate in Church-Based Health Interventions,” took place at parishes in Fort Worth. She used focus group sessions conducted in Spanish to discover the social and behavioral factors that make Hispanics want to become involved in health interventions at their parish.
Sanchez comes from a diverse background. Her father was born in Mexico, and her mother is of Native American and Hispanic descent. Her older sister practices law in Fort Worth and Weatherford. Sanchez is a graduate of Aledo High School, and currently lives in Aledo.
Dr. Sanchez received the award at the School of Public Health’s annual awards banquet on May 5.
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