Past Awardees Gallery
Past Awardees Gallery
2004 National Award Recipients
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Student
Guillermo Prado, M.S., Ph.D., University of Miami School of Medicine
National Award of Excellence in Research by a New Investigator
Juan Carlos Reyes Pulliza, Ed.D., Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator
Glorisa Canino, Ph.D.,, University of Puerto Rico
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator
Israel Cuellar, Ph.D., Michigan State University
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator
Joe L. Martínez, Jr., Ph.D., University of Texas at San Antonio
National Award of Excellence in Mentorship
Alberto Mata, Ph.D., Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
National Award of Excellence in Public Service
Hortensia Amaro, Ph.D., Northeastern University
National Award of Excellence in Service by a Community Organization
Latino Behavioral Health Institute (LBHI)
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Student
Guillermo Prado
Mr. Guillermo Prado is a graduate student in the doctoral program in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. During his six years at the Center for Family Studies at the University of Miami, he has contributed to the development and implementation of several research studies, including a substance abuse and HIV prevention study with Hispanic adolescents and their families, and a behavioral treatment study with HIV+ African American mothers. His research has led to 13 peer-reviewed publications, five of which he is the first author. He is Co-Principal Investigator on an NIMH grant: "Families Preventing HIV in Hispanic Adolescents." In 2004, Mr. Prado was awarded his first NIH grant as Principal Investigator. This R award entitled "Ecodevelopmental Classes of Youth Drug Use and Risky Sex" aims to answer the question "For which subgroups of Hispanic adolescents are specific drug use and HIV preventive interventions efficacious and for whom are they not?" Mr. Prado has received several awards for his accomplishments, which include the University of Miami's Medical School Graduate Tuition Scholarship (2003-2005), the Summer Institute on Longitudinal Methods Scholarship (2004), and the University of Miami Graduate Fellowship (2003-2004). In addition to his research contributions and accomplishments, Mr. Prado is a faculty part-time lecturer in the departments of psychology and mathematics at the University of Miami. "He shows to be a tremendous promise as a researcher and, will make significant contributions to the field."
National Award of Excellence in Research by a New Investigator
Dr. Juan Carlos Reyes Pulliza
Dr. Juan Carlos Reyes Pulliza holds a master's degree in epidemiology and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Puerto Rico. Currently at Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, he acts as an instructor for the Substance Abuse Program at the Center for Addiction Studies and a consultant for the Family Support Project in the Department of the Family. Dr. Reyes Pulliza's research demonstrates "he is a talented young man who loves to do research and think deeply about important questions affecting Latino Health." He is Project Director of an R01 NIDA grant titled, "Risky Families Embedded in Risky Environments," and Co-Investigator for an NIDA grant titled, "Puerto Rico Drug Abuse Research Development Program." His research has led to several publications in peer-reviewed journals.
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator
Dr. Glorisa Canino
Dr. Glorisa Canino holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Temple University. Currently she is Director of the Behavioral Sciences Research Institute at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, as well as a consultant for the Administration of Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services of Puerto Rico. "She has demonstrated an outstanding and continued record of contributing to research focusing on the impact that culture has on the development, prevalence, and course of psychiatric disorders." Her most recent projects include the Latino Research Program Project and the National Latino and Asian American Study. She served as Principal Investigator for the projects "Service Use, Need, and Outcomes in Puerto Rican Children" and "Translation and Adaptation into Spanish of the CAPA." Dr. Canino's research has led to multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals, and she has presented her work at numerous national and international scientific meetings. Dr. Canino is a member of several organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the American Psychopathology Association, and the Hispanic Psychological Association, as well as a Board member of the Robert Stolberg Acosta Foundation for Cultural Affairs and the Violeta Martinez Foundation and a reviewer for the Journal of Mental Health Services and the Journal of Addictions. "Her work in Puerto Rico and the United States has increased the understanding of the prevalence of substance abuse disorder in the Hispanic population and has highlighted the impact that culture has on the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders."
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator
Dr. Israel Cuellar
Dr. Israel Cuellar holds a Ph.D. in community psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree in clinical psychology from North Texas State University. Dr. Cuellar is a professor of psychology in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University. He is also Director of the Julian Samora Research Institute, which aims at understanding the role of culture and acculturation, especially as related to lifestyle and behaviors associated with substance abuse, chemical dependency, obesity, criminal behavior, educational dropout rates, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, and other similar problems that plague Latinos in the United States. One of the most essential concepts Dr. Cuellar has developed—and which has led to vast recognition among his colleagues—is the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II, "a paradigmatic measure for assigning the degree of multicultural integration in persons living in multicultural concepts." Dr. Cuellar's research has led to an extensive list of peer-reviewed publications, and he has been recognized with several honors and awards, including Outstanding Contribution to Science by the Texas Psychological Association (2000); Outstanding Faculty Award from the University of Texas (1998); Award in Appreciation Foretime, Effort, and Mentoring (1997); Appointed Consulting Editor to the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences (1997); and Appointed Scientist Associate of the Texas/World Health Organization (1995).
National Award of Excellence in Research by a Senior Investigator
Dr. Joe L. Martinez
The Latino Behavioral Health Institute (LBHI) is a not-for-profit corporation incorporated in 1995 with the purpose of increasing the Latino community's access to behavioral health services and assuring that behavioral health services are compassionate and effective. LBHI is a national leader in bringing science-based practice to community providers. It serves the Los Angeles and California-provider communities, where Latinos are overwhelmingly disenfranchised, by conducting annual conferences that encompass the idea that the behavioral health of Latinos must move from the margin of political discourse to a mainstream concern; providing a forum for networking opportunities by bringing local, state, and Federal organizations together with Latino researchers and providers to address access and quality of care; holding numerous one-day conferences in areas such as San Francisco, Oakland, San Antonio, and Denver (including working closely with the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry in organizing a full-day, Spanish-language meeting during the annual American Psychiatry Association conference); providing technical assistance to communities with large Hispanic populations (e.g., San Joaquin Valley, California) by analyzing the behavioral health needs of Latinos living in the area and making recommendations for service locations and nature of services; and working to promote translations of science into service by linking researchers and service providers. The award was accepted by Dr. Alex Kopelowicz, co-founder of LBHI.
National Award of Excellence in Mentorship
Dr. Alberto Mata
Dr. Alberto Mata received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Notre Dame. Currently he is a tenured professor in human relations at the University of Oklahoma, a visiting Research Scientist in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Houston, and an advisor for the PAHO El Paso Field Office. His research explores and describes the involvement of Mexican-American youth with "street life-gang and drug use patterns in Midwestern blue collar communities." Dr. Mata's "efforts to promote cooperative and collaborative research and service demonstration projects are reflected in his research, teaching, consulting, and appointments." However, his CV does not convey this effort or the powerful force that he has played at NIDA and within the Federal Government in general on behalf of Latino researchers and on promoting Latino drug abuse research. "Dr. Mata has served in a number of planning groups, grants, and workshops with the Office of the Surgeon General, National Institute for Mental Health, and Nation Institute on Drug Abuse, to only mention some. He has also served on the Governor's Drug Abuse Policy Board, the Secretary of State Volunteerism Committee, and the Ryan White HIV Advisory Committee." Dr. Mata has mentored dozens of Latino and non-Latino students at each level of undergraduate and graduate education. He is an outstanding teacher, mentor, and advisor. His classroom demeanor is one of respect, and he always shows a deep understanding of students' ethnic, racial, and sociological backgrounds. He is a demanding yet thoughtful instructor who provides students with scientific information and learning techniques. "Dr. Mata's mentoring has successfully trained and generated dozen of Latino academicians and scholar who themselves have gone on to become leaders."
National Award of Excellence in Public Service
Dr. Hortensia Amaro
Dr. Hortensia Amaro holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a Distinguished Professor at the Bouve College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University, as well as Director of the university's Institute on Urban Health Research. Dr. Amaro has served as Principal Investigator on several grants that investigate emerging public health domains, including HIV/AIDS prevention, women's health, and alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment. Her research has led to several presentations and multiple peer-reviewed publications. "Dr. Amaro's vision, passion, and knowledge have led her to serve on numerous community, professional, and national boards and committees, where she has provided invaluable leadership and scientific expertise to national and local efforts to address public health concerns." Her professional and community-based public service commitments include being founding member of the National Hispanic Psychological Association, Chair for NIDA's National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse, and member of the American Psychological Association's Committee on Women in Psychology and the APA Membership Committee Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Issues. She has served as an advisor to NIH on research on HIV/AIDS among women; U.S. Surgeon General's National Hispanic/Latino Health Planning Group; Office of Minority Health; Massachusetts Department of Public Health; and Massachusetts Coalition on Addiction, Parenting, and Pregnancy. She is a founding member of the Latino Health Network of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Multicultural AIDS Coalition. Dr. Amaro has played an important leadership role in the National Hispanic Science Network on drug abuse research. She is a founding member of its Steering Committee, and for two and a half years she acted as the first chair of the Membership Subcommittee. Dr. Amaro currently serves the NHSN in two leadership capacities: chairing its 2004 Conference Planning Subcommittee and chairing the National Strategic Plan Subcommittee.
National Award of Excellence in Service by a Community Organization/Agency
Latino Behavioral Health Institute (LBHI)
The Latino Behavioral Health Institute (LBHI) is a not-for-profit corporation incorporated in 1995 with the purpose of increasing the Latino community's access to behavioral health services and assuring that behavioral health services are compassionate and effective. LBHI is a national leader in bringing science-based practice to community providers. It serves the Los Angeles and California-provider communities, where Latinos are overwhelmingly disenfranchised, by conducting annual conferences that encompass the idea that the behavioral health of Latinos must move from the margin of political discourse to a mainstream concern; providing a forum for networking opportunities by bringing local, state, and Federal organizations together with Latino researchers and providers to address access and quality of care; holding numerous one-day conferences in areas such as San Francisco, Oakland, San Antonio, and Denver (including working closely with the American Society of Hispanic Psychiatry in organizing a full-day, Spanish-language meeting during the annual American Psychiatry Association conference); providing technical assistance to communities with large Hispanic populations (e.g., San Joaquin Valley, California) by analyzing the behavioral health needs of Latinos living in the area and making recommendations for service locations and nature of services; and working to promote translations of science into service by linking researchers and service providers. The award was accepted by Dr. Alex Kopelowicz, co-founder of LBHI.