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Department of Clinical and Health Informatics

Welcome to the Department of Clinical and Health Informatics, a hub of innovation where healthcare meets the cutting edge of health informatics. We are a dynamic community of educators, researchers, and practitioners committed to leveraging clinical and health informatics to improve patient care, enhance population health, and transform the healthcare landscape. Whether you are a prospective student, a potential collaborator, or a member of the public interested in the future of healthcare, we invite you to explore our work and join us in our mission to improve health for all.

 

Our Department

The Department of Clinical and Health Informatics is a leader in the education, discovery, and application of informatics principles to improve health outcomes. We are a multidisciplinary department that brings together experts in medicine, public health, computer science, and data science. Our work is focused on developing and implementing innovative solutions to complex health problems, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and community engagement.

Vision Statement: To be the leaders in clinical and health informatics education, discovery, and application

MISSION

In the pursuit of improving health, our mission is to combine health expertise with advances in informatics by:

Training

TRAINING

Training the next generation of clinical and health informaticians to help solve pressing challenges.

Collaboration

COLLABORATION

Collaborating with organizations across the healthcare spectrum to design and implement transformative solutions.

Research

RESEARCH

Conducting innovative research that has a tangible impact on the communities we serve.

 

Research Centers and Labs

Our department is home to several state-of-the-art research centers and labs that are at the forefront of informatics research. These initiatives drive innovation and collaboration, translating data-driven discoveries into real-world health solutions.

  • Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research (C-Bear): Led by Dr. James Langabeer, C-Bear brings together a multidisciplinary team to improve health systems and science for vulnerable populations. By applying health data science to challenges in behavioral informatics, cardiovascular and emergency care, and health policy, the center focuses on creating impactful prevention and treatment programs, particularly for individuals interacting with emergency departments and first responders.
  • Center for Quality Health IT Improvement (CQHII): Under the leadership of Dr. Susan Fenton, CQHII provides expert health information technology (HIT) and care transformation consulting. Having successfully guided over 2,200 clinicians to achieve Meaningful Use of electronic health records (EHRs), CQHII now offers fee-for-service consulting to clinicians and hospitals. The center has a proven track record of improving practice workflows, patient care, and safety through the optimized use of EHRs across Southeastern Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.
  • Center for Digital Health and Analytics (DHA): Directed by Dr. Amy Franklin, the DHA leverages research in Human Factors, Cognitive Informatics, and Behavior Science to drive innovation in digital health. In addition to grant collaborations and training, the center offers fee- for-service development and implementation of clinical and patient-centered applications, as well as product development in digital healthcare and analytics.
  • UTHealth Biomedical Informatics Group Analytics Research Center (BIG-Arc): Directed by Dr. Elmer Bernstam, BIG-Arc focuses on leveraging biomedical data for research and clinical care. As part of the national CTSA network, the center excels in obtaining, integrating, and analyzing complex data through the use and creation of advanced tools (e.g., NLP, eMPI), service provision, and pioneering research in areas like precision oncology and clinical decision support.
  • The University of Texas Health Intelligence Platform (UT-HIP): At McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, UT-HIP is led by Dr. Robert Murphy. This system-wide platform integrates and analyzes health data from across the six UT System health institutions. By fostering collaboration and applying health data science, UT-HIP aims to improve the patient experience, advance population health, and reduce healthcare costs.

 

Updated: 06/11/2025