Alexander Ortega
Titles
Member, CTSI
Community Engagement and Research Program (CERP)
Contact Information
Email
aortega@ucla.edu Phone
Fax Number:
310-206-4453
Work Phone Number: 310-825-0712
Work Phone Number: 310-825-0712
Address
Office Address:
345 Portola PlazaRolfe Hall 2134
Los Angeles, CA 90095
UNITED STATES
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.Publications
A selected list of publications:
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, RamÃrez 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, AlegrÃa 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, AlegrÃa 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, AlegrÃa 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.
AlegrÃa Margarita, Canino Glorisa, RÃos 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, AlegrÃa 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, AlegrÃa 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.