Program of Research
Dr. Higinio Fernández-Sánchez’s program of research centers on addressing social inequities and health disparities faced by migrants, particularly those navigating complex and often marginalizing experiences. Rooted in an intersectional framework, his work examines how race, gender, socioeconomic status, and migration status shape access to health and social justice. As a multicultural researcher and activist, he integrates his lived experiences as an immigrant and professional expertise to influence equity in migration and health policies and practices. His research focuses on global health, human trafficking prevention, HIV prevention, and the unique health needs of diverse migrant populations, including LGBTQ+ migrants, seasonal farmworkers, and migrants in transit. His efforts are deeply committed to dismantling systemic barriers, amplifying marginalized voices, and advocating for transformative policies that promote equity and inclusivity.
Meet The Team
Higino Fernández-Sánchez, Ph.D., M.N., B.S.N., RN
Dr. Higinio Fernández-Sánchez is an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston Cizik School of Nursing. He graduated with an A.S. from Tyler Junior College (2008), then earned a B.S.N. (2013) and an M.N. (2016) from the Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico, and most recently received a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta (2023). Dr. Fernández-Sánchez specializes in addressing social inequities and injustices, particularly in-migrant communities. As both a researcher and activist, he confronts discrimination and oppression, acknowledging the deep roots of these issues in race, gender, and immigration status. He advocates for migrant rights and works to dismantle systemic barriers to inclusivity and justice. Guided by an intersectional perspective, Dr. Fernández-Sánchez’s work provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by migrants in accessing healthcare. His research emphasizes equity in migration and health policies and practices, with a focus on global health, policy, social justice, and equity. With over 30 peer-reviewed articles in nursing and non-nursing journals, Dr. Fernández-Sánchez is also a reviewer for esteemed journals such as The Lancet Regional Health – Americas and the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. His dedication has earned him several awards, including the 2024 Emerging Researcher Award by Sigma Theta Tau International, recognition as a Top 200 Nurse by the Houston Chronicle in 2023, and the Bronze Good Samaritan Award.
Ana Laura Quintero Crispín
Ana Laura Quintero Crispín, doctoral candidate, is a faculty researcher at Universidad Central de Querétaro and Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (1985) and a Master’s Degree in Nursing with a specialization in Community Health (1996) from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León. In 2023, she completed a Doctorate in Public Policy for the Health Sector at Universidad Virtual de Michoacán (UNIVIM).
With over twenty years of experience in nursing education, she also works as an educational coach and researcher in public health and education. She serves as a reviewer for the IMSS Nursing Journal and the Mexican Nursing Journal. She is a member of the State Interinstitutional Health Research Committee, the Mexican Society of Public Health, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Currently, she volunteers in the Equity in Migration and Health Policies and Practices research program.
Elsy Lorena Rosero Ceballos, M.Sc, Spec, B.Sc
M.Sc. Elsy Lorena Rosero Ceballos is an Assistant Professor in the Economics program at the University of Cauca. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Cauca (2017) and a master’s in applied economics from El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (El Colef), Mexico (2020). In 2024, she completed a specialization in International Migration, also at El Colef.
She is an active member of the research group Entropía, which focuses on development, economic growth, migration, gender, and labor economics. Her expertise lies in labor economics, particularly in analyzing the economic integration of migrants in destination countries. In 2024, she joined the research program Equity in Migration and Health Policies and Practices as a volunteer, furthering her commitment to studying migration dynamics and their socioeconomic implications.
Javier Salazar-Alberto, MCSSyR., LES., TEG.
He is currently a student in the fifth semester of the Law Degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM. He is also a volunteer assistant for the Equity in Migration and Health Policies and Practices Research Program with Dr. Higinio Fernández-Sánchez. He studied a Master's Degree in Health Sciences in Sexual and Reproductive Health at the National Institute of Public Health of Mexico (2012). He studied a Bachelor's Degree in Health Education, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (2011). He is a general nurse from the National College of Public Education (2006). He participated in the article Quality of Reproductive Healthcare for Adolescents: A Nationally Representative Survey of Providers in Mexico, Mexico (2014). He worked as a project assistant at Colectivo Sol A.C, carrying out strengthening activities for CBOs/CSOs that work on HIV-AIDS issues and in other projects on the same subject at the INSP.
Jessica James
Jessica James is a graduate student pursuing her master's degree in public health in the Community Health Practice program at The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston School of Public Health. She obtained her B.S. degrees in Biological Sciences for Health Professions (2017) and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (2017), minoring in Global Health at Pennsylvania State University. She is passionate about issues of intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence (DV). She is mainly focused on understanding how the traumas impact the mental health of victims/survivors and how the perceived quality of relationships, social support, and social connection can additionally harm or promote their health, healing, and recovery. She aims to explore and wield IPV peer support, community mobilization, and integrated, trauma-informed social service systems to foster individual and collective healing, growth, and empowerment among IPV victims/survivors and communities of color. In addition, her interests, background, advocacy, and community involvement and engagement span across the areas of interpersonal and gender-based violence, human trafficking, reproductive justice, sexual health, sexuality, and the mental and social health of sexual minority populations and the African diaspora population in America.
Jhan Carlos Manuel Fernández-Delgado
Jhan Carlos Manuel Fernández-Delgado has a Bachelor of Nursing, graduated from theNational University of Cajamarca (Peru), where he distinguished himself by ranking firstthroughout his entire professional career. He was awarded the Academic ContinuityScholarship (PRONABEC - Peru) for his high academic performance, participated in coursesfunded by Santander Scholarships, and was part of the Pacific Alliance Youth InternationalProgram. He also completed academic exchanges at Uniremington (Colombia) and theUniversidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (Peru), where he broadened his health knowledge.Passionate about research, he focuses on topics such as the history of nursing, publichealth, and education. He has completed research internships at the University of Santiagode Chile (USACH) and the University of Guanajuato (UGTO), Mexico. Currently, hevolunteers in the "Equity in Migration and Health Policies" program at The University ofTexas Health Science Center.
Luke Ging
Luke Ging is an undergraduate student at the University of Houston working to complete his major in Human Nutrition and Foods on the ACEND track. He is a part of the HOUSTON Academy 2.0 program with Dr. Daphne Hernandez at The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston Cizik School of Nursing. Through that program, he has done research with Dr. Diane Santa Maria’s team and Dr. Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez. With Dr. Diane Santa Maria’s team, Luke helped with research working to prevent HIV/STDs and substance abuse among youth experiencing homelessness. With Dr. Higinio Fernandez-Sanchez, Luke helped with research that is investigating trends and solutions for inequities and injustices, specifically among migrant communities.
Diana Patricia Arroyo-Espinoza M.E.I.P, L.E
Diana Patricia Arroyo-Espinoza is a professor at the University of Professional Development (UNIDEP) in health sciences, and a high school teacher at Colegio Valladolid in Saltillo Coahuila. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from the Ma.Josefa Medina de Valle Arizpe school (Cruz Roja) (2019), later obtaining a master's degree in Education with a Field in Pedagogical Innovation from the National Pedagogical University. Obtaining her degree with honorable mentions for her research in “Brain Plasticity”. (2024) She is an active member of the Mexican Association of Nursing Students A.C., and current state president of the Coahuila headquarters, she is also co-author of the book “Teachers Who Leave a Mark” (2023). She is a volunteer assistant for the Equity in Migration and Health Policies and Practices Research Program with Dr. Higinio Fernández-Sánchez. And she is a student of Industrial Process Engineering at Carolina University.
L.E. Flor Guadalupe Cruz García
Flor Guadalupe Cruz-García is a graduate in Nursing from the Universidad Veracruzana,
Poza Rica-Tuxpan campus. Since 2019, she has worked as an assistant to Dr. Higinio
Fernández-Sánchez on various research projects, as well as in research groups and
programs on migration and health that the doctor oversees. Currently, she works as a
General Clinic Nurse at the Mexican Social Security Institute, in the area of continuous
medical care. She is also a volunteer assistant for the Research Program on Equity in
Migration and Health Policies and Practices with Dr. Higinio Fernández.
Dra. en CSP. Nancy Evelyn Navarro Ruiz.
Bachelor of Nursing and Doctor of Public Health Sciences from the University Center for
Health Sciences (CUCS) at the University of Guadalajara (UDG) in Jalisco, Mexico. She
participated as a collaborator for the international network 'United States Latin America Cancer Research Network (US-LACRN)' Continued developing her research line on breast
cancer screening from a public health perspective. Carried out collaborative work for the international organization' Joanna Briggs Institute,' now JBI, and founded the Evidence- Based Nursing group at CUCS. Currently she collaborates as a Spanish-language editor for
evidence synthesis and official social media of the JBI_EI site. Part-time professor for the Nursing Undergraduate Program at the Tlajomulco University Center of UDG. Member of the National System of Researchers in the 'candidate' modality and is part of the international
nursing organization ' Sigma Nursing' and the Jalisco College of Public Health.
