Alexander Ortega

Member, CTSI

Community Engagement and Research Program (CERP)

Biography

Alex Ortega, Ph.D., is Director of the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) in the UCLA College of Arts and Sciences, and is Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry & Bio-behavioral Sciences at UCLA. He is also the Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Eliminating Health Disparities and a faculty affiliate in the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities. Professor Ortega is an internationally recognized expert on the application of epidemiological methods in health services research, and his work focuses on the physical, medical, and mental health needs of Latino children and their families both in the United States and in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He has also published health research on the homeless, military veterans, and undocumented immigrants. He is the 2008 recipient of the Distinguished Nationally Known Public Health Professional Award by the Latino Caucus of the American Public Health Association. Before joining the UCLA faculty, Professor Ortega held appointments in Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University and Public Health at Ohio State University. He has also been a Senior Research Associate at the W.M. Krogman Center for Research in Child Growth and Development at the University of Pennsylvania and a Senior Scholar in Residence in the Center for Primary Care Research at the Agency for Health Care Research & Quality. Professor Ortega holds a B.A. in economics from the University of New Mexico, an M.P.H. in epidemiology and biostatistics from Boston University, and a Ph.D. in epidemiologic science from the University of Michigan.

Chen Jie, Vargas-Bustamante Arturo, Ortega Alexander N   Health care expenditures among asian american subgroups Medical care research and review : MCRR, 2013; 70(3): 310-29.

Goodwin Renee D, Bandiera Frank C, Steinberg Dara, Ortega Alexander N, Feldman Jonathan M   Asthma and mental health among youth: etiology, current knowledge and future directions Expert review of respiratory medicine, 2012; 6(4): 397-406.

Goodwin Renee D, Demmer Ryan T, Galea Sandro, Lemeshow Adina R, Ortega Alexander N, Beautrais Annette   Asthma and suicide behaviors: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) Journal of psychiatric research, 2012; 46(8): 1002-7.

Acosta-Pérez Edna, Canino Glorisa, Ramírez Rafael, Prelip Michael, Martin Molly, Ortega Alexander N   Do Puerto Rican youth with asthma and obesity have higher odds for mental health disorders? Psychosomatics, 2012; 53(2): 162-71.

Canino Glorisa, Garro Aris, Alvarez Maria M, Colón-Semidey Angel, Esteban Cynthia, Fritz Gregory, Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Kopel Sheryl J, Ortega Alexander N, Seifer Ronald, McQuaid Elizabeth L   Factors associated with disparities in emergency department use among Latino children with asthma Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 2012; 108(4): 266-70.

Langellier Brent A, Garza Jeremiah R, Glik Deborah, Prelip Michael L, Brookmeyer Ron, Roberts Christian K, Peters Anne, Ortega Alexander N   Immigration disparities in cardiovascular disease risk factor awareness Journal of immigrant and minority health / Center for Minority Public Health, 2012; 14(6): 918-25.

Langellier Brent A, Martin Molly A, Canino Glorisa, Garza Jeremiah R, Ortega Alexander N   The health status of youth in Puerto Rico Clinical pediatrics, 2012; 51(6): 569-73.

Jandasek Barbara, Ortega Alexander N, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Fritz Gregory K, Kopel Sheryl J, Seifer Ronald, Klein Robert B, Canino Glorisa   Access to and use of asthma health services among Latino children: the Rhode Island-Puerto Rico asthma center study Medical care research and review : MCRR, 2011; 68(6): 683-98.

Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Sato Amy F, Kopel Sheryl J, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Seifer Ronald, Klein Robert, Esteban Cynthia, Lobato Debra, Ortega Alexander N, Canino Glorisa, Fritz Gregory K   Immigration and acculturation-related factors and asthma morbidity in Latino children Journal of pediatric psychology, 2011; 36(10): 1130-43.

Garza Jeremiah R, Pérez Edna Acosta, Prelip Michael, McCarthy William J, Feldman Jonathan M, Canino Glorisa, Ortega Alexander N   Occurrence and correlates of overweight and obesity among island Puerto Rican youth Ethnicity & disease, 2011; 21(2): 163-9.

Chen Jie, Rizzo John A, Ortega Alexander N   Racial and ethnic differences in drug expenditures and access under Medicare Part D Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 2011; 22(3): 1059-74.

Feldman Jonathan M, Acosta Pérez Edna, Canino Glorisa, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Goodwin Renee D, Ortega Alexander N   The role of caregiver major depression in the relationship between anxiety disorders and asthma attacks in island Puerto Rican youth and young adults The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 2011; 199(5): 313-8.

Feldman Jonathan M, Ortega Alexander N, Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Kuo Alice A, Canino Glorisa   Child and family psychiatric and psychological factors associated with child physical health problems: results from the Boricua youth study The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 2010; 198(4): 272-9.

Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Kopel Sheryl J, Esteban Cynthia A, Ortega Alexander N, Seifer Ronald, Garcia-Coll Cynthia, Klein Robert, Cespedes Elizabeth, Canino Glorisa, Fritz Gregory K   Cultural-related, contextual, and asthma-specific risks associated with asthma morbidity in urban children Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings, 2010; 17(1): 38-48.

Chen Jie, Fang Hai, Vargas-Bustamante Arturo, Rizzo John A, Ortega Alexander N   Latino disparities in prescription drug use and expenditures: a nationally representative analysis The Annals of pharmacotherapy, 2010; 44(1): 57-69.

Guerrero Alma D, Chen Jie, Inkelas Moira, Rodriguez Hector P, Ortega Alexander N   Racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric experiences of family-centered care Medical care, 2010; 48(4): 388-93.

Chung Judith H, Phibbs Ciaran S, Boscardin W John, Kominski Gerald F, Ortega Alexander N, Needleman Jack   The effect of neonatal intensive care level and hospital volume on mortality of very low birth weight infants Medical care, 2010; 48(7): 635-44.

Vargas Bustamante Arturo, Chen Jie, Rodriguez Hector P, Rizzo John A, Ortega Alexander N   Use of preventive care services among Latino subgroups American journal of preventive medicine, 2010; 38(6): 610-9.

Vargas Bustamante Arturo, Fang Hai, Garza Jeremiah, Carter-Pokras Olivia, Wallace Steven P, Rizzo John A, Ortega Alexander N   Variations in Healthcare Access and Utilization Among Mexican Immigrants: The Role of Documentation Status Journal of immigrant and minority health / Center for Minority Public Health, 2010; .

Perez Victor H, Fang Hai, Inkelas Moira, Kuo Alice A, Ortega Alexander N   Access to and utilization of health care by subgroups of Latino children Medical care, 2009; 47(6): 695-9.

McQuaid Elizabeth L, Vasquez Juan, Canino Glorisa, Fritz Gregory K, Ortega Alexander N, Colon Angel, Klein Robert B, Kopel Sheryl J, Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Esteban Cynthia A, Seifer Ronald   Beliefs and barriers to medication use in parents of Latino children with asthma Pediatric pulmonology, 2009; 44(9): 892-8.

Esteban Cynthia A, Klein Robert B, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Fritz Gregory K, Seifer Ronald, Kopel Sheryl J, Santana Jose Rodriguez, Colon Angel, Alvarez Maria, Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Ortega Alexander N, Martinez-Nieves Brenda, Canino Glorisa   Conundrums in childhood asthma severity, control, and health care use: Puerto Rico versus Rhode Island The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 2009; 124(2): 238-44, 244.e1-5.

Ortega Alexander N, Horwitz Sarah M, Fang Hai, Kuo Alice A, Wallace Steven P, Inkelas Moira   Documentation status and parental concerns about development in young US children of Mexican origin Academic pediatrics, 2009; 9(4): 278-82.

Bustamante Arturo Vargas, Fang Hai, Rizzo John A, Ortega Alexander N   Heterogeneity in health insurance coverage among US Latino adults Journal of general internal medicine, 2009; 24 Suppl 3(1): 561-6.

Canino Glorisa, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Alvarez Maria, Colon Angel, Esteban Cynthia, Febo Vivian, Klein Robert B, Mitchell Daphne Koinis, Kopel Sheryl J, Montealegre Federico, Ortega Alexander N, Rodriguez-Santana Jose, Seifer Ronald, Fritz Gregory K   Issues and methods in disparities research: the Rhode Island-Puerto Rico asthma center Pediatric pulmonology, 2009; 44(9): 899-908.

Goodwin Renee D, Canino Glorisa, Ortega Alexander N, Bird Hector R   Maternal mental health and childhood asthma among Puerto Rican youth: the role of prenatal smoking The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma, 2009; 46(7): 726-30.

Vargas Bustamante Arturo, Fang Hai, Rizzo John A, Ortega Alexander N   Understanding observed and unobserved health care access and utilization disparities among US Latino adults Medical care research and review : MCRR, 2009; 66(5): 561-77.

Carter-Pokras Olivia, Zambrana Ruth E, Yankelvich Gillermina, Estrada Maria, Castillo-Salgado Carlos, Ortega Alexander N   Health status of Mexican-origin persons: do proxy measures of acculturation advance our understanding of health disparities? Journal of immigrant and minority health / Center for Minority Public Health, 2008; 10(6): 475-88.

Ortega Alexander N, Canino Glorisa, Alegria Margarita   Lifetime and 12-month intermittent explosive disorder in Latinos The American journal of orthopsychiatry, 2008; 78(1): 133-9.

Inkelas Moira, Garro Nicole, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Ortega Alexander N   Race/ethnicity, language, and asthma care: findings from a 4-state survey Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 2008; 100(2): 120-7.

Inkelas Moira, Raghavan Ramesh, Larson Kandyce, Kuo Alice A, Ortega Alexander N   Unmet mental health need and access to services for children with special health care needs and their families Ambulatory pediatrics : the official journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, 2008; 7(6): 431-8.

Ortega Alexander N, Fang Hai, Perez Victor H, Rizzo John A, Carter-Pokras Olivia, Wallace Steven P, Gelberg Lillian   Health care access, use of services, and experiences among undocumented Mexicans and other Latinos Archives of internal medicine, 2007; 167(21): 2354-60.

Cochran Susan D, Mays Vickie M, Alegria Margarita, Ortega Alexander N, Takeuchi David   Mental health and substance use disorders among Latino and Asian American lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 2007; 75(5): 785-94.

Ortega Alexander N, Chavez Ligia, Inkelas Moira, Canino Glorisa   Persistence of mental health service use among Latino children: a clinical and community study Administration and policy in mental health, 2007; 34(4): 353-62.

Canino Glorisa, Koinis-Mitchell Daphne, Ortega Alexander N, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Fritz Gregory K, Alegría Margarita   Asthma disparities in the prevalence, morbidity, and treatment of Latino children Social science & medicine (1982), 2006; 63(11): 2926-37.

Ortega Alexander N, Feldman Jonathan M, Canino Glorisa, Steinman Kenneth, Alegría Margarita   Co-occurrence of mental and physical illness in US Latinos Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2006; 41(12): 927-34.

Feldman Jonathan M, Ortega Alexander N, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Canino Glorisa   Comorbidity between asthma attacks and internalizing disorders among Puerto Rican children at one-year follow-up Psychosomatics, 2006; 47(4): 333-9.

Ortega Alexander N, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Canino Glorisa, Goodwin Renee D, Fritz Gregory K   Comorbidity of asthma and anxiety and depression in Puerto Rican children Psychosomatics, 2006; 45(2): 93-9.

Ortega Alexander N, Alegría Margarita   Denial and its association with mental health care use: a study of island Puerto Ricans The journal of behavioral health services & research, 2006; 32(3): 320-31.

Yancey Antronette K, Ortega Alexander N, Kumanyika Shiriki K   Effective recruitment and retention of minority research participants Annual review of public health, 2006; 27(4): 1-28.

Ortega Alexander N, Goodwin Renee D, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Canino Glorisa   Parental mental health, childhood psychiatric disorders, and asthma attacks in island Puerto Rican youth Ambulatory pediatrics : the official journal of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association, 2006; 4(4): 308-15.

Weinick Robin M, Jacobs Elizabeth A, Stone Lisa Cacari, Ortega Alexander N, Burstin Helen   Hispanic healthcare disparities: challenging the myth of a monolithic Hispanic population Medical care, 2004; 42(4): 313-20.

Ortega Alexander N, McQuaid Elizabeth L, Canino Glorisa, Ramirez Rafael, Fritz Gregory K, Klein Robert B   Association of psychiatric disorders and different indicators of asthma in island Puerto Rican children Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2003; 38(4): 220-6.

Ortega Alexander N   Having issues with parental psychopathology and children's mental health risk and service use Medical care, 2003; 41(6): 702-5.

Ortega Alexander N, Huertas Sarah E, Canino Glorisa, Ramirez Rafael, Rubio-Stipec Maritza   Childhood asthma, chronic illness, and psychiatric disorders The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 2002; 190(5): 275-81.

Ortega Alexander N, Rosenheck Robert   Hispanic client-case manager matching: differences in outcomes and service use in a program for homeless persons with severe mental illness The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 2002; 190(5): 315-23.

Ortega Alexander N, Gergen Peter J, Paltiel A David, Bauchner Howard, Belanger Kathleen D, Leaderer Brian P   Impact of site of care, race, and Hispanic ethnicity on medication use for childhood asthma Pediatrics, 2002; 109(1): E1.

Alegría Margarita, Canino Glorisa, Ríos Ruth, Vera Mildred, Calderón José, Rusch Dana, Ortega Alexander N   Inequalities in use of specialty mental health services among Latinos, African Americans, and non-Latino whites Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 2002; 53(12): 1547-55.

Stewart Denice C L, Ortega Alexander N, Dausey David, Rosenheck Robert   Oral health and use of dental services among Hispanics Journal of public health dentistry, 2002; 62(2): 84-91.

Ortega Alexander N, Alegría Margarita   Self-reliance, mental health need, and the use of mental healthcare among island Puerto Ricans Mental health services research, 2002; 4(3): 131-40.

Ortega AN, Belanger KD, Paltiel AD, Horwitz SM, Bracken MB, Leaderer BP.   Use of health services by insurance status among children with asthma, Medical Care, 2001; 39: 1065-1074.

Ortega A N, Rosenheck R, Alegría M, Desai R A   Acculturation and the lifetime risk of psychiatric and substance use disorders among Hispanics The Journal of nervous and mental disease, 2000; 188(11): 728-35.

Ortega A N, Rosenheck R   Posttraumatic stress disorder among Hispanic Vietnam veterans The American journal of psychiatry, 2000; 157(4): 615-9.