Former HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre Leader Embraces New Role as Program Manager

For Immediate Release: December 5, 2024, Houston, Texas 

For University of Houston alum, Taylor Jones, public health is a passion that has been shaped by her own personal battle with cancer. When she was only 13, Jones was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.

“Basically, I feel like cancer is the toughest thing I’ve gone through,” Jones said. “It has also been the biggest blessing—in terms of what I want to become, and what I want to contribute to. I just remember thinking--I want to do something that involves cancer--whether it is helping people or doing research.” 

A former HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre team leader, Jones has now assumed the role of Program Manager I for the HEALTH-RCMI's Investigator Development Core.  During her undergraduate studies at UH, Jones balanced her time between her work as a pre-med student and the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre. 

Jones was a member of the inaugural Student Cadre cohort, 2022-2023. Through this experience, the Student Cadre taught her the core tenets of community-based collaboration.

“It is the best of both worlds. You can network with community leaders but also work with wise, intelligent researchers. It makes you a more well-rounded person, a well-rounded doctor.” 

One of the most exciting chapters of the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre was the moment the students received a NEXT G.H.E.N. grant through the City of Houston. For Jones, this achievement was a full-circle moment, and it further sealed her belief in this pioneering group. 

“Everyone here has the same goal,” Jones said. “That’s what I really love about the Student Cadre. What inspired my interest was just community engagement and creating a strong bond with community leaders. I love every aspect of it."

Jones looks forward to her new role as a Program Manager. She is enthusiastic about learning more from principal investigators and her new colleagues with the Community Engagement Core and Investigator Development Core. 

“I’m excited to gain guidance and mentorship from the entire team,” Jones said. “I also want to help ease the process for the principal investigators as they develop their research initiatives.” 

Collaborating with UH researchers will help her hone her professional perspective. Since Jones grappled with a cancer struggle in her teens, her overarching life goal is to become an oncologist.  

Jones’ path in cancer prevention has also been defined by the guidance and wisdom of her mom, Theresa, who recently lost her life to breast cancer. 

Jones said. “My mom would tell me, ‘I want my children to put their best foot forward and make an impact who will make a change in this world.’ Always transform your pain into purpose. Any pain you have had in your life, change it into your purpose in your life.” 

--Alison Medley 

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Alison Medley at 713.320.0933 or email aemedle2@central.uh.edu