About this role
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence — advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture.
Benefits Overview
UT Health San Antonio offers an excellent benefits package for its employees. Employees who work at least 20 hours a week, with an appointment of at least 4.5 months, are eligible for benefits.
Medical - UT SELECT Medical insurance is offered free for employees and administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Family members can be added to the plan through payroll deduction. Employees and their dependents can also receive discounted copays and coinsurance when using UT Health Physicians, a network of 800 premier physicians including more than 100 specialists. Employees receive $50,000 of group term life insurance and $50,000 of basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance for free, with options to purchase additional employee and dependent coverage for both at group rates.
Dental - Three dental insurance plan options are available for employees and their families through Delta Dental Insurance Company, two PPOs and one dental HMO plan. Both PPO plans allow employees to choose any licensed dentist.
Vision - Fully insured Vision Care benefits are offered by Superior Vision Services. Two vision plan options that offer either standard or enhanced vision benefits.
Disability - Employees can enroll in the Disability Insurance which provides income if a non-work related illness or injury prevents you from working.
FSAs - Employees can enroll in flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to set aside money from earnings before taxes for qualifying dependent day care expenses or out-of-pocket health care expenses.
Retirement - Employees are eligible for either the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) or the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP). TRS is a defined benefit retirement plan which UT Health matches employee contributions. ORP is for eligible faculty staff employees. Voluntary retirement programs are also available to invest before- or after-tax dollars with the choice of five quality retirement plan providers.
Time Off - A generous leave program offers multiple paid leave options:
- Front-loaded Paid Time Off: 128 to 208 hours (16 to 26 days) of Paid Time Off based on years of service, given at the start of each fiscal year. PTO may be prorated in year one based on date of hire.
- Extended Illness Bank: 8 hours (1 day) accrued per month which can be used for illness or injury after one day of Paid Time Off is taken.
- Paid Family Leave: Up to 240 hours (6 weeks) to care for a spouse, child, or parent after 6 months of consecutive employment.
- Holidays: 12 set paid holidays each year.
Discounts - Employees enjoy a range of discounts on services, tickets, and gym membership.
EEO Statement
UT Health San Antonio is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is our policy to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
This position is based at UT Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, within the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases. The Community Health Worker (CHW) will serve a vital role in building, maintaining, and protecting trust between participants of the San Antonio Heart and Mind Study (SAHMS), an observational study examining cardiovascular risk factors affecting brain health in our San Antonio community.
The CHW will act as a liaison between the community and the research team, ensuring participants are informed, supported, and empowered to engage in clinical research. By understanding the personal, interpersonal, and social contexts of each participant, the CHW helps to reduce barriers to participation, supports self-care, and ensures the study team maintains cultural and contextual awareness.
Education and Experience Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED.
- One (1) years of related experience.
- Basic computer knowledge (Word/Excel/Outlook/Internet browsing, etc.).
Duties and Responsibilities
- Community Engagement & Outreach
- Collaborate with the Principal Investigator, Dr. Claudia Satizabal, and the SAHMS team to identify social and structural factors affecting participation.
- Conduct outreach and recruitment, including home visits to provide study information.
- Participate in the preparation of home assessment visits, obtain informed consent, and conduct core questionnaires as needed.
- Establish trusting relationships with community members and study participants.
- Participant Support & Health Education
- Provide culturally sensitive counseling and education, particularly for individuals newly diagnosed with health conditions relevant to the study.
- Identify individual or community health concerns and connect participants with appropriate social or health resources.
- Help participants improve health literacy, self-care practices, and study engagement.
- Navigation & Advocacy
- Assist participants in accessing healthcare and social services and help overcome logistical or structural barriers to care and participation.
- Provide appointment reminders and follow up on next steps in the research process.
- Serve as a consistent point of contact and advocate for participants throughout the study.
- Communication & Team Collaboration
- Offer insights to the research team about participants’ lived experiences and contextual factors affecting health and engagement.
- Attend regular team meetings and contribute to study planning and progress discussions.
- Uphold participant confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, and ethical standards in all communications.
- Other Duties as Assigned
- Support additional research-related tasks or community initiatives as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- English and Spanish language proficiency (spoken and written).
- Reliable personal transportation for community visits.
- Successful completion of a formal Community Health Worker training program from a college or other educational institution.
- State of Texas Promotor(a)/ Community Health Worker certification, with renewal as needed.
Supervisory Requirements
- None
Licenses/Certification
- Successful completion of a Community Health Worker formal training program such as from a college or other education institution is preferred.