Research Areas
- Maternal and Child Environmental Health Literacy
- Community Engagement in Health Disparities Research
- Return of Results for Environmental Exposure Research
- Public Policy Analysis on Social Determinants of Health
- Emergency Preparedness and Response and Chronic Disease
Scientific Achievements
- Created the first mobile platform for returning maternal and child environmental health research results.
- Used Community Engagement Studios to enhance collaboration between the community and researchers.
- Appointed to the Children’s Environmental Health Advisory Committee at the EPA in 2020.
- Recognized by the National Library of Medicine in 2023 for contributions to health disparities and equity research.
- Received the Helen Rodríguez-Trias Social Justice Award in 2019 for leadership and efforts to eliminate health disparities related to the PROTECT/CRECE initiatives and responses to Zika and Hurricane Maria.
Funding
RCMI Funding:
- NIH/NIMHD U54MD007600
Other funding obtained with RCMI support:
- P42 ES017198, NIH Origin: NIEHS, PROTECT Community Engagement Core
- 5R01 ES0320302, NIEHS, Pregnancy Exposures to Chemical Mixtures and Later Metabolic Health and Endocrine Function Among Women in the Puerto Rico PROTECT Cohort (MOMS)
- P42 ES017198, NIEHS, PROTECT Human Subjects and Sampling Core
Scientific Advance
The Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health: Quantitative Data Related to Risk and Protective Factors Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Puerto Rico
Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 22, 2025, PMCID: PMC11855153.
Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 22, 2025, PMCID: PMC11855153.
This research looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected pregnant and postpartum women in Puerto Rico, focusing on stress, isolation, and access to care. Using both surveys (184 participants) and interviews (10 participants), they found that many women gave birth without support present or were separated from their babies; many also felt worried about infecting their baby and avoided going out or getting social support. Key sources of stress included health concerns, work, and childcare. Coping methods varied: staying connected with loved ones, using social media, etc. The findings show that in a crisis like a pandemic, pregnant and new mothers need better access to social support and mental health resources.
U54 MD007600 / NIMHD (RCMI), P42 ES017198 / NIEHS NIH HHS , UG3 OD02351 / ECHO
