Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health
University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR
Email: cdiaz@cccupr.org
Dr. Cynthia M. Pérez Cardona is a tenured professor of epidemiology in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Public Health, with a track record of NIH-funded research focused on addressing health disparities in underserved Puerto Rican populations. As an interdisciplinary collaborator, she has worked across and beyond the UPR Medical Sciences Campus to generate actionable data that has provided critical insights for guiding preventive measures throughout Puerto Rico’s healthcare landscape.
Throughout her career, my research has tackled urgent public health challenges. Dr. Pérez has led Puerto Rico’s first island-wide seroepidemiologic study on viral hepatitis, HIV, and herpes simplex type 2. She co-directed the first longitudinal study investigating the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and glucose homeostasis, expanding our understanding of chronic disease interactions. Collaborating with Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz and Dr. Filipa Godoy, they examined anogenital HPV infection prevalence and correlates among women and explored associations between oral HPV infection, the oral microbiome, and periodontitis.
Currently, she serves as the Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) of Puerto Rico’s first NIH-funded study examining the impact of psychosocial stressors and resilience factors on cardiovascular health (CVH) among young adults aged 18–29 (PR-OUTLOOK Study, 2019–2024, no-cost extension). She is also MPI of the NIH-supported Puerto Rico Community Engagement Alliance (PR-CEAL, 2021–present), leading a multi-level intervention to increase mammography screening rates among women aged 40–74 overdue for breast cancer screening. Her contributions to these studies have resulted in over 125 peer-reviewed publications, where she has served as lead, co-author, or senior author. Beyond research, she is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of Puerto Rican scientists. Dr. Pérez has mentored over 100 master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral students and junior faculty, with many securing significant research positions and NIH funding, highlighting her commitment to developing future scientific leaders. As Co-Leader of the Professional Development Core of the NIGMS-funded Hispanic Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research, she remains dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and professional development in epidemiology and public health.