Wagner sees progress in her drive to promote health literacy

By Jan Jarvis

Wag Web
Teresa Wagner, DrPH, RD/LD

As a registered dietician, Teresa Wagner, DrPH, RD/LD, was frustrated by how often adults failed to follow instructions regarding their health.

“It never occurred to me that there were barriers that made it hard for them to understand,” said Dr. Wagner, Assistant Professor in the School of Health Professions.

A decade later, she has become a champion for health literacy and the push to help Americans better understand how to manage their health. When Governor Gregg Abbott proclaimed October as Health Literacy Month in Texas, Dr. Wagner felt like she was really getting somewhere in her efforts to raise awareness.

“It shows acknowledgement that health literacy is an important issue that the State of Texas needs to address,” said Dr. Wagner, who also serves as Clinical Executive over Health Literacy for SaferCare Texas. “We’re making headway, but there’s still a huge need.”

When Dr. Wagner first decided she wanted to make health literacy the focus of her research, there was little talk of the difficulty patients face understanding prescriptions, brochures or their doctor’s directions. As she was earning her doctorate at the UNT Health Science Center in 2015, she began looking for ways to expand her mission to improve health literacy.

“A residency program did not exist in Texas or even the nation at that time, so I made my own,” she said.

After working on the issue in Austin, she came back to UNTHSC in 2016 and began addressing health literacy with SaferCare Texas.

Health literacy is difficult for some people to understand, but it has a big impact on the health of Texas residents and the nation. Up to 90 percent of Americans might be affected by health literacy. It costs the nation up to $236 billion annually in wasted healthcare services.

“Making October Health Literacy Month shows a commitment from the governor to address this important issue.” Dr. Wagner said.

Recent News

Doctor.
  • Education
|Apr 3, 2025

UNTHSC launches microcredential to empower change-makers in health care and life sciences

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, through HSC Next, is now offering a microcredential called Cultivating an Innovative Mindset in Healthcare. Designed to equip professionals with the skills needed to drive innovation in health care and life sciences, the six-week ...
Performing Arts Medicine Dr. Sajid Surve
  • Community
|Apr 1, 2025

TCOM names new senior associate dean for educational programs

The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s dean, Lisa R. Nash, DO, MS-HPEd, FAAFP, has announced the appointment of Sajid Surve, DO, FAOCPMR, FAAO, as the new senior associate dean for educational programs. He has been serving in that role as the interim since September after being the assistant ...
SteadFAST Academic Journal
  • Research
|Mar 26, 2025

UNTHSC launches SteadFAST academic journal

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s physician assistant studies program has launched SteadFAST, an academic journal dedicated to exclusively publishing articles written by students. It is the first such journal in Texas and one of the few in the nation. The i...
Processed 70f6dbfb 4950 4dc5 B479 5d64110840c9
  • Community
|Mar 25, 2025

Third-year student represents COP at ASHP Midyear

Attending the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting in New Orleans was a milestone moment in Mariana Lopez's journey toward becoming a pharmacist. The experience not only provided invaluable learning opportunities but also allowed her to connect with peers and professionals from across the country. As a...