The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work proudly announces Quenette Walton, Ph.D., as the new Humana Endowed Chair in Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). This prestigious appointment highlights her dedication to advancing health equity, innovative research, and impactful education for underserved communities.

Walton brings an impressive body of work to this role, particularly her expertise in exploring how social class, gender, culture, and race intersect to influence mental health disparities. With over two decades of scholarly and clinical practice experience, she is among the few researchers in the U.S. who specifically investigate the mental health and well-being of middle-class Black women. Her work builds critical knowledge and develops culturally relevant, evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing depression and improving well-being.

Interim Dean for the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW), Cynthia Warrick, Ph.D., M.S., praises Walton, saying she “contributes a wealth of health care knowledge to the University of Houston GCSW, with diverse academic and research experiences in Chicago, Los Angeles and Michigan. Her professional practice and research focus on mental health, health disparities and wellness in African American women make her the ideal person to serve as the Humana Endowed Chair in Social Determinants of Health.”

"This appointment comes at the perfect time in my career," says Walton. "I am deeply committed to fostering interprofessional teaching and training that bridges disciplines to improve health equity for marginalized, oppressed, and vulnerable populations. As the Humana endowed chair, I look forward to strengthening ties between the Graduate College of Social Work and the other Humana Chairs to advance this mission."

Walton’s collaboration with Omolola E. Adepoju, Ph.D., M.P.H., Director of the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute, further exemplifies the goals of the Humana Institute. The two scholars are currently working together on a NASEM-funded project studying the impact of successive natural disasters on underserved communities.

Adepoju expressed her excitement about this partnership: "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Walton as the new Humana Endowed Chair of Social Work. Her expertise in health equity and mental health disparities has already been instrumental in our collaborative work. Her leadership and dedication perfectly align with the Humana Institute’s vision of advancing impactful research and creating equitable health care solutions."

The Humana Endowed Chair program is part of a broader initiative by Humana Inc. to foster high-impact research and innovative education across the university’s five health colleges. By designating funding for each college, Humana underscores its commitment to creating diverse, interdisciplinary solutions to health care challenges in underserved communities, including Houston’s Third Ward and East End.

Jonathan McCullers, M.D., Dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine & Vice President for Health Affairs, as well as a fellow Humana Endowed Dean’s Chair in Medicine, says that “the Fertitta College of Medicine is delighted to see Dr. Walton named to this prestigious Humana-backed Chair of Excellence. We look forward to collaborating with her on her important and impactful research.”

When asked about the importance of social workers, Andrew Tang, M.D., M.B.A., CMO Houston of Centerwell, responded that “for our senior patients at Centerwell, social determinants of health often negatively impact their ability to engage with the health care team which can result in worse health outcomes. Here, our social workers play a crucial role in connecting patients to necessary resources and social services to address these SDOH. When we are able to care for patients holistically by also addressing their SDOH, we can drive better health outcomes for our patients.”