American Heart Association

Hispanic Serving Institution Program Mentors

Our dedicated mentors are the backbone of our HSI Scholars Program. Students accepted into the program are awarded opportunities to engage in a virtual leadership and professional development series to enhance critical skills to position them for success beyond graduation. The early exposure to research labs and partnerships with professional mentors will help shape the next generation of Latino biomedical science and health care professionals.

Want to become a volunteer mentor? Email Mitzi Cardona for more information.

Current Mentors

California

Astrid N. Zamora, PhD, MPH	Propel Postdoctoral Scholar Department of Epidemiology and Population Health \| Stanford University School of Medicine
Deborah Feairheller, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology Director, the HEART laboratory \| California State University, San Marcos
Elizabeth Tarling, PhD, FAHA	Associate Professor, Department of Medicine Division of Cardiology \| University of California, Los Angeles

Florida

Dahis Manzanares, PhD	Assistant Professor of Biology School Pathways \| Miami Dade College, West Campus
Maria Monzon, PhD	Assistant Professor of Chemistry School Pathways \| Miami Dade College, West Campus
Michael J. Haas, PhD	Research Associate Professor & Director of Research \| University of Florida, College of Medicine-Jacksonville
Silvia Torices Del Val, PhD	Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology \| University of Miami, School of Medicine
Trinidad Arguelles, PhD	Associate Professor of Psychology and SLS \| Miami Dade College, West Campus

Illinois

José Biller, MD, FACP, FAAN, FANA, FAHA	Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology \| Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center
Paola C. Rosas, MD, PhD, RPh	Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice \| University of Illinois, College of Pharmacy
Rebecca Garcia Sosa, MD	Attending Physician, Division of Neurology, Epilepsy Center, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago; Pediatric Epilepsy Fellowship Site Director; Child Neurology Associate Program Director; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics & Neurology \| Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

New Jersey

Ayana K. April-Sanders, PhD, MPH	Instructor, Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology \| Rutgers School of Public Health
Carlos Molina, PhD	Professor, Department of Biology \| Montclair State University
Scott L. Kight, PhD	Associate Dean, College of Science and Mathematics \| Montclair State University

New York

Christa Hartch, PhD, RN, FNP-C	Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Health Sciences \| Manhattanville University

Puerto Rico

Daiana Negrón Declet, BHS, RT (R) (CT) (MR) (M)	Professor of Radiology Imagining \| Atenas Unviersity, Manati
Elizabeth Padilla-Crespo, PhD	Distinguished Research Professor, Science and Technology Department; Internship and Student Mobility Coordinator, Internationalization Office \| Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla
Keishla M. Rodríguez-Mártir, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Sciences \| University of Puerto Rico, Aguadilla
Luz Silva-Torres, MA-FS, PhD, FAACC	Professor & Chemical Analysis Supervisor, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory \| Institute of Forensic Sciences, San Juan PR
Nancy Cardona, PhD	Assistant Investigator, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences \| UPR Comprehensive Cancer Center

Texas

Adriana Visbal, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Sciences \| University of Houston-Downtown
David Ring, MD, PhD	Associate Dean for Comprehensive Care; Professor and Associate Chair for Faculty Academic Affairs, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care; Courtesy Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences \| The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
Donald R. Lucas, PhD	Professor of Pyschology; Coordinator, Psychology Department \| Northwest Vista College
Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA	Chief Medical Officer of Prevention \| American Heart Association
Gary Harmon	Program Evaluation Lead \| American Heart Association
Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW	Research Investigator and Director, Diversity and Inclusiveness in Research \| Baylor Scott and White Research Institute (BSWRI)
Laura Quiñones Camacho, PhD	Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology \| The University of Texas at Austin, College of Education
Pablo Delclos, PhD	Assistant Professor of Biology \| University of Houston-Downtown
Patrick Dang, BS	Research Coordinator, Humana Integrated Health Systems Sciences Institute, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine \| University of Houston
Rosenda Murillo, PhD	Associate Professor, Department of Psychological, Health & Learning Sciences \| University of Houston