"My heritage has provided me with an additional perspective on the unique needs of disadvantaged communities, which can often become marginalized or disenfranchised during emergencies."
What motivated you to work at ASPR? Following completion of my Pharmacology degree, I wanted to find a career that allowed me to explore the impact of science in society, and few places exemplify such interaction better than ASPR. I was particularly inspired by BARDA’s mission and its unique interaction with the private industry to drive innovation and spearhead the development of medical countermeasures for a wide array of potentially catastrophic health security threats.
Does your heritage shape the way that you serve the public or give you a unique perspective that contributes to public service? I don’t believe my heritage has necessarily shaped the way I serve the public. However, I do believe my heritage has provided me with an additional perspective on the unique needs of disadvantaged communities, which can often become marginalized or disenfranchised during emergencies. Having seen the impact of disparities in health care in the Latino and other minority communities has ensured that I keep awareness of their unique needs at the forefront whenever making decisions that may have an impact to the health security of the US population.
Has your work impacted Hispanic or Latino communities? My greatest career achievements have come from response operations to public health emergencies. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing the fruits of your labor saving the people’s lives in your country and the world. It is particularly rewarding when you see your see your work having a direct impact on members of your own community, as was my experience during the Zika epidemic when ASPR established contracts with The American Red Cross and Blood Centers of America to purchase and deliver blood and blood products from the continental United States to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico with the goal of maintaining blood products supply during the crisis. My role included communicating with many hospitals and blood centers on the island to ensure they received initial deliveries of blood and blood products. This role included travel to Puerto Rico, where I conducted site visits to the 11 blood centers where blood, platelets, and plasma were delivered throughout the island.
