ANGELA SAUAIA, MD, PhD

CURRICULUM VITAE

Current Position

  • Associate Professor of Health Services, Management and Policy, Medicine and Surgery

University of Colorado Denver, Colorado School of Public Health and School of Medicine

  • Address: 13011 E. 17th Place Room E-3360-CAurora, CO 80045
  • Phone: 303-7242498
  • Email:

Education

  • 1983: M.D. degree from the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil
  • 1984-85: PGY 1 and 2 - Internal Medicine, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine
  • 1986: PGY 3 - Critical Care Medicine, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine
  • 1991-97: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Trauma Research at the Department of Surgery of the Denver Health Medical Center
  • 1997: PhD in Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dissertation: Predicting Postinjury Multiple Organ Failure

Academic appointments and positions

  • 1987-1991: Instructor of residents, Internal Medicine, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine (USPSM) and Attending physician, Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room, University Hospital, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine
  • 2002-2006: Assistant Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine & Biometrics, Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the Department of Medicine and the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Denver (UCD) School of Medicine
  • 2006-present: Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the Department of Medicine
  • 2006-present: Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, UCD, School of Medicine
  • 2009- present: Associate Professor of Health Services, Management and Policy, UCD, Colorado School of Public Health

Professional positions

  • 1987-1991: Attending physician, Intensive Care Unit of the School Hospital and Maternity of V.N. Cachoeirinha, Sao Paulo, Brazil (critical care in pregnancy)
  • 1987-1991: Instructor of residents, Internal Medicine, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine (USPSM) and Attending physician, Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room, University Hospital, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine
  • 1991-1997: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Trauma Research at the Department of Surgery of the Denver General Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
  • 1997-2002: Medical Epidemiologist, Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC), the largest health care quality improvement organization in Colorado.
  • 2002-2006: Assistant Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine & Biometrics, Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the Department of Medicine and the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado Denver (UCD) School of Medicine
  • 2006-present: Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Health Care Policy and Research at the Department of Medicine, UCD School of Medicine
  • 2006-present: Associate Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, UCD School of Medicine
  • 2009- present: Associate Professor of Health Services, Management and Policy, UCD Colorado School of Public Health
  • 2011-present: Biostatistician, Editorial Board Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Honors and awards

  • 2010: University of Colorado Denver- Anschutz Medical Campus Chancellor’s Diversity Recognition Award for Faculty Leadership
  • 2012: Delta Omega National Honorary Society in Public Health

Professional Affiliations

  • 2007-2010: Founding member and Executive Committee member: Academy for Health Equity, a national organization aimed at eliminating health disparities

Professional Service and Committees

  • 2001-2002: Appointed Member of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly Health Care Financing Administration) National Intervention Peer Review Panel for projects directed at reducing disparities in care for minorities and persons with low income.
  • 2002-2004: National Hispanic/Latina Task Force of the Susan G. Komen Foundation
  • 2003-2005: University of Colorado Annual Diversity Research Exchange Organizing Committee
  • 2004-2005: Steering Committee, “Healthy Impact!” A collaborative project between the Anti-Defamation League, the local PBS and the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care to increase awareness of the importance of culturally competent care among communities of color
  • 2007-2010: Founding member and Executive Committee member: Academy for Health Equity, a national organization aimed at eliminating health disparities (
  • 2009-present: UCD Health Disparities Steering Committee
  • 2009-2010: Scientific Advisory Board, Hampton University Skin of Color Research Institute
  • 2009-present: P-20 Advisory Council, Aurora Public Schools
  • 2011-2012: Nominated member of the Colorado State Cancer, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Disease (CCPD) Amendment 35 Grant Program Committee
  • 2012-present: Nominated member, Colorado Public Health Standards Committee

Licensure and board certification

  • 1983-present: Brazilian Medical License by the Brazil Federal and Sao Paulo Regional Medicine Councils (the medical licensure agencies in Brazil)
  • 1991-present: Board certified in Critical Care Medicine, Brazilian Society of Critical Care Medicine

Review, Referee and Editorial Activities

  • 2011-present: Biostatistician, Editorial Board Journal of Trauma
  • Invited to participate as a member of a special emphasis panel (SEP) in the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (declined due to time conflict)
  • 1997-present: invited to be a reviewer for multiple articles in multiple journals to include Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved, Journal of General Internal Medicine, Journal of the American Geriatric Society, Health Services Research and other journals in the areas of trauma and health disparities.

Invited Lectures, Presentations, Workshops

  • The Tepeyac Project: a Church-based approach to increase breast cancer screening among Latinas in Colorado. Colorado Public Health Association Annual Meeting. Colorado Springs CO, 2001.
  • Faith-based Research. National Hispanic Medical Association's Seventh Annual Conference, Washington D.C., March 2003.
  • Health Disparities: Latinos. Keynote Speaker, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Diversity Week Research Exchange. Denver CO, 2003.
  • 5th Annual Rocky Mountain Evidence-Based Health Care Workshop. Invited tutor. Keystone CO, 2003.
  • Evidence-based Medicine. Introductory course to State Legislators. Promoted by the Milbank Memorial Fund. Invited tutor. Dallas TX, 2003.
  • Breast Cancer among Latinas. National Hispanic Medical Association's Eighth Annual Conference, Washington D.C., March 2004
  • Health Disparities: Latinos. Keynote Speaker, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Diversity Week Research Exchange. Denver CO, April 2004.
  • Culture of Data. What is Evidence-Based Practice in a Community Setting? (Participatory Action Research principles). Panel Member. October 2004.
  • Annual Health Disparities meeting. National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators/ National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Moderator. Boston MA, August 2004.
  • Colorado Health Disparities Conference: meeting sponsored by the UCHSC Chancellors's office and the Honorable Peter C. Groff, Colorado State Senator. Moderator and Keynote Speaker. Planning Committee Member. Report editor. Denver CO, October 2004.
  • Health Care Challenges for the Latino Community. Sponsored by the Policy Exchange Foundation and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Keynote Speaker. Scottsdale, Arizona, 2005.
  • The National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL/ WOMEN) Health Symposium. Keynote Speaker: Health disparities among women, Denver CO, 2005.
  • Colorado Legislature. Reducing cancer deaths: No one left behind, Denver, CO, 2005
  • Colorado Health Strategy and Management. Culturally competent health care. Denver CO, 2006.
  • National Hispanic Medical Association Annual Meeting, 2007, San Antonio, Texas. Cultural Competence Training in Medical Schools: the Quest for Health Equity
  • National Physicians Alliance. 2007 Colorado Regional Meeting. Physician Leadership Institute: Strategies for Serving Vulnerable Populations. Invited Speaker, October 2007, Denver, Colorado.
  • Colorado Public Radio: Racial Disparities in Health Care, Part I, Colorado Matters, July 15, 2007 (available at
  • Disparities in Research: sponsored by the UCD Public Health Student SAC, the Diversity & Health Care Student SAC and the UCD Office of Diversity, Feb 21, 2008
  • Translational Research Session: Chair and Speaker. Academy for Health Equity, Denver, Colorado, June 2008
  • Health Disparities among Latinos: Key note Speaker, meeting sponsored by the CDPHE Office of Health Disparities, August 2008.
  • Annual Health Disparities meeting. National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Moderator and Key Note Speaker, Wilmington, Delaware, September 2008.
  • Healthy Child Development and School Readiness: Moving the Agenda Forward. Sponsored by Colorado Trust and Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Organized by the National Center for Children in Poverty and the BUILD initiative, Key Note Speaker, Denver, 2009
  • Health Disparities in Children, the BUILD Initiative, Key Note Speaker, Phoenix, AZ, 2009
  • Easy access to county/regional public health and health disparities data via the web, Public Health in the Rockies Conference, Copper Mountain, Colorado, 2009.
  • Regional Health Disparities Profiles. Culture of Data sponsored by US Public Health Service region VIII and the CDPHE, Denver 2009
  • Regional Health Disparities Data Session: Chair and Speaker. Academy for Health Equity, Denver, Colorado, 2010.
  • Invited panelist, 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Emerging Technologies and Public Health Leadership: Exploring the Interface of Social and Technical Systems. Project TEACH: using technology to empower community-based organizations, Denver Colorado, 2010.

Teaching Record

  • Courses developed and taught:
  • 1987-1991: Director, Internal Medicine Internship offered to sixth year medical students of the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine
  • 2002- 2010: Education Coordinator, Division of Health Care Policy and Research. Responsible for biweekly seminars in Health Services Research Methods to Geriatrics’ Fellows.
  • 2004- 2008: Director, Cultural Competency and Diversity Curriculum, UCD School of Medicine: a four-year curriculum developed, delivered and evaluated by Dr. Sauaia; a piece of it was featured in the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2007 Medical School Objectives Report: Prevention and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity: Examples of innovation (Sauaia, A; Michaels R; Bessesen D; Sarapura V. Overweight and Obesity in the Context of Health Inequalities, available at
  • 2007- present: Developed and directed, HSMP 6602 (formerly PRMD 6670) Health Equity. Class sizes varied from 8- 17 students.
  • 2008: Director, HSR 6617 Introduction to Health Services Research. UCD Graduate School
  • 2011-present: Developed and directed, HSMP 6630: Grant Writing for Public Health Professionals. Class size=11 students.
  • Guest lecturer/ Tutor/ Small group facilitator
  • 1997-1998: PRMD 6630 Epidemiology
  • 2002,2003, 2004, 2006: Guest lecturer PRMD 6617 Introduction to Health Services Research
  • 2003: Annual Rocky Mountain Evidence-Based Health Care Workshop, Keystone, CO
  • 2003: Evidence-based Medicine. Introductory course to State Legislators. Promoted by the Milbank Memorial Fund. Dallas, Texas.
  • 2006, 2007: PRMD 6606 Community Health Practice
  • 2006, 2007: UCD School of Medicine Hidden Curriculum Faculty Facilitator
  • 2009: CBHS 6610 Social and Community Factors in Health, UCD CSPH
  • 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012: EPID 6622 (formerly PRMD 6622) Cancer Prevention and Control
  • Advising: MSPH Thesis committees:
  • Jane Brock, MD (Preventive Medicine resident). Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Thesis:Brock, J; Sauaia, A; Ahnen D; Marine W; Schluter WW; Stevens B; Scinto JD; Karp, H; Bratzler D. Process of care and Outcomes for Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Peptic Ulcer Disease: Results of a Quality Improvement Project. JAMA 286:1985-93, 2001. (Senior author). Graduated in 2000, currently the Medical Officer of the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, the healthcare quality improvement organization for the state of Colorado

  • Dan McCall, MD, Endocrinology fellow.Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Thesis: McCall DT, Sauaia A, Hamman RF, Reusch JE, Barton P. Are Low-Income Elderly Patients at Risk for Poor Diabetes Care? Diabetes Care, 27: 1060-1065, 2004. (Senior author).

Graduated in 2002, currently practices Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and has board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine in endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

  • Suzanne Fiorillo. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Thesis: Predicting Depression among Elderly Medicare Patients in the Managed Care Setting: a practical application of the Medicare Health Outcome Survey. (Senior author).

Graduated in 2002, currently holds the positionbe

  • Adrienne Welsh, PhD. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Thesis: Welsh AL, Sauaia A, Jacobellis J, Min S, Byers T. Effect of a Church-Based Approach to Increase Breast Cancer Screening Among Latinas on Medicaid. Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2005 Oct. Available from: URL: (Senior author). Graduated in 2004.

  • Tyler Watlington, MD. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Thesis: Watlington AT; Byers T; Mouchawar J; Sauaia A; Ellis J. Does Having Insurance Affect Differences in Clinical Presentation between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women with Breast Cancer? Cancer, 2007 (replyCancer, 109(10):2093-9.2007). Graduated in 2006.

  • Advising: MPH Masters Project/Capstone experience
  • Margaret Moore. Colorado School of Public Health. Project: regional health disparities profiles, the product can be seen at Graduated in 2009. Study presented in two regional meetings.
  • Katherine Vonrueden. Colorado School of Public Health. Project: GIS maps of regional health profiles, the product can be seen at the project TEACH website at Graduated in 2010. Study presented in two regional meetings and one national meeting.
  • Ian Abeyta Colorado School of Public Health. Project: Abeyta, IM, Tuitt NR, Byers, TE, Sauaia A, Community Affluence and Individual Socioeconomic Status on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors. Preventing Chronic Disease. Volume: 9; Year: 2012 (in press). Expected to graduate in 2012.
  • Joshua Miller: Colorado School of Public Health. Project: Pediatric injuries: the role of violence. Graduated in 2011.
  • Advising: PhD Dissertation Committee
  • Colleen Dingmann, RN, MS. University of Colorado School of Nursing Dissertation: Functional Status: its relationship to pain and its utility as an outcome measure of pain management.

Graduated in 2002. Currently she is an Assistant Professor in the Anesthesiology Department in the UCD School of Medicine, with 5 peer-review publications.

  • Nelda F New, RN: University of Colorado School of Nursing.Dissertation: Effect of a diabetic education modality on adaptation to the disease. Published in the J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2010 Jun;22(6):316-25. Teaching so they hear: using a co-created diabetes self-management education approach.

Graduated in 2007, currently an Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Arkansas State University School of Nursing.

  • Stacy Fisher, MD: University of Colorado at Denver, Health and Behavioral Sciences.Dissertation: End of life care in ethnic minorities (in progress) Awarded a 2006 Paul Beeson Career Development Award Aging Research Program on “Improving Care at the End of Life for Latinos: A Cultural Navigator Intervention”, currently holds solid research grant and publication records and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, UCD
  • Advising: MS- HSMP concentration, faculty advisor
  • 2011 SumEblovi, Darren
  • 2012 FallEichenberger, Erika
  • 2012 FallEhler, Erin
  • 2011 SumElwell, David
  • 2011 FallJackson, Jay
  • 2012 FallLozano, Rosa
  • 2011 FallMouton, Melissa
  • 2012 SpringSippl, Rachel
  • 2012 SpringRecktenwall-Work, Sara
  • Advising Junior Faculty/ Fellowship mentoring
  • 2002- 2011: Stacy Fisher, MD. Awarded a 2006 Paul Beeson Career Development Award Aging Research Program on “Improving Care at the End of Life for Latinos: A Cultural Navigator Intervention”
  • Advising: Medical Students at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine
  • 2006-2010: Katherine Kenerson, MD. CU medical student in the Global Health Track. Project: Trauma care in urban settings in Brazil and USA.
  • Advising: MS-HSMP Concentration Director beginning August 22, 2012
  • Other Advising: Independent study advisor for several MS and PhD students

Research Record

  • Grants: current funding
  1. US Department of Defense. Control of Major Bleeding in Acute Trauma (COMBAT Study)

($6.5 millions). (PI: E. Moore). This is a RCT to determine the role of FFP in early resuscitation of injury patients.

Role: Co-investigator (15% FTE)

Period: June 2012-May 2014

  1. HRSA. Colorado Public Health Training Center (PI: T. Byers). It funds a training center for the state public health workforce.

Role: Co-investigator (15%FTE)

Period: Sept 2010-Aug 2014

  1. Colorado Health Foundation, Project TEACH. (Teaching Equity to Advance Community Health)”. ($379,000) (PI: A Sauaia) This 2-year grant, in partnership with the Colorado AHEC system builds capacity among community-based organization across Colorado to empower them to obtain financial funding and to scientifically evaluate programs aiming at improving healthy living and access to healthcare.

Role: PI (30% FTE)

Period: Sept 2010-Oct 2012

  1. NIH Trauma Center Grant 2P50GM049222-12A1 "Trauma Primes For Multiple Organ Failure”. (PI: A. Banerjee). This is the 5th cycle of this 5-year center grant. I am a co-investigator in its clinical core, since its first cycle, conducting health outcomes and health services research in postinjury care.

Role: Co-investigator (50% FTE)

Period: April 2011- March 2016

  1. Contract with the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Role: Biostatistician, Editorial Board (20% FTE)

Period: Oct 2011-Sept 2014

  • Grants: past funding (in chronological order)
  1. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Contract 500-99-CO01: The Tepeyac Project: Decreasing disparity in breast cancer screening between Latinas and non-Latinas. (PI: A. Sauaia). A partnership with the Catholic Church in Colorado and La Clínica Tepeyac, the project involved engaging Promotoras in four pilot churches.

Role: PI (30% FTE)

Period: 1999-2002.

  1. CMS, Special study added to Contract 500-99-CO01: Antibiotic Resistance-Related Projects in Alternative Settings: "Improving physician prescribing behavior for acute respiratory infections in the ambulatory setting" (PIs: A. Sauaia, R. Gonzales). This special study was funded in January of 2001 through July 2002. It involved a partnership with the group who developed the CDC guidelines for antibiotic prescription in acute respiratory infections (Gonzales R. et al.) to undertake two major tasks: 1. to validate administrative data driven quality indicators for antibiotic prescription; 2) evaluate a novel intervention targeting households in decreasing antibiotic prescription rates.

Role: Co-PI (20% FTE)

Period: 2001-2002

  1. CMS, Special study added to Contract 500-99-CO01. Performance Measures for Adequacy of Pain Management in the Acute Care Hospital Setting. (PI: A. Sauaia). This special study was funded in January of 2001 through July 2002. It involved the development and psychometric testing of a medical record abstracted score that accurately reflects patient satisfaction with postoperative pain management.

Role: PI (30% FTE)

Period: 2001-2002

  1. CMS,Contract 500-02-CO01 Subcontract from the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care. ($518,000)The Tepeyac Project: Reducing disparities in breast cancer screening between Latinas and the general population. (PI: A. Sauaia). This project aimed at improving breast cancer screening among Latinas using the Church as a vehicle for health education and behavior modification.

Role: PI (34% FTE)