Volume 1, Issue 1July 2007
El Faro Staff
Nelson Tiburcio, Ph.D., Editor
Sheila Kaupert,
Newsletter Coordinator
National Office
Jane Brooks, M.Sc., C.M.P.
Website Coordinator
This Month's Contributors
Melissa Alvarado, M.A.
Jason Burrow-Sánchez, Ph.D.
José Cañive, M.D.
Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Ph.D.
Evelio Escamilla
J. Bryan Page, Ph.D.
Juan Peña, Ph.D.
Ulises M. Ricoy, M.A.
Avelardo Valdez, Ph.D.
Liliane C. Windsor, M.S.W.
María Luisa Zúñiga, Ph.D.
National Steering Committee
José Szapocznik, Ph.D., NHSN Chair
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, M.D., Ph.D.
Hortensia Amaro, Ph.D.
Ana Mari Cauce, Ph.D.
Joe Martínez, Ph.D.
Patricia Molina, M.D., Ph.D.
Humberto Nicolini-Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D.
Bryan Page, Ph.D.
Rafaela Robles, Ed.D.
Avelardo Valdez, Ph.D.
Bill Vega, Ph.D.
Volume 1, Issue 1
New Member Interviews
Melissa Alvarado, M.A.
Graduate Student Member
Ms. Alvarado is a doctoral student at Texas A & M University , pursuing her degree in Counselor Education and Educational Pyschology
Why did you decide to join the NHSN?
My decision to join the NHSN was an easy one. Any opportunity that will foster success in my professional career is a plus. The NHSN provides this and I look forward to establishing working relationships with other professionals who share my research interests.
When and why did you become interested in drug abuse research?
One of my mentors introduced me to the NHSN about 3 years ago; she strongly encouraged me to join. I was impressed with all the work being done by the members, and was excited about the many opportunities the NHSN had to offer.
Briefly describe your current line of research.
Currently, I am proposing a study to explore social competence among Hispanic adolescent populations; the goal is to develop a culturally appropriate prevention program for at-risk behaviors (i.e., drug use). Also, I am working on a project examining motivational experiences and self-regulating behaviors among adolescents. A better understanding of such behaviors can provide information to aid youth who are at-risk for problem behaviors and understand protective factors and ways to promote them.
What is your ultimate dream in terms of your career? Have you already accomplished this?
My ultimate dream is to be a counselor educator specifically focusing on training counselors in working with adolescent minority populations. I also wish to pursue my research interests and program development. This may sound like too much, but I never want to stop working directly with children, so if I can find a way, I will do this too. I have yet to accomplish my ultimate dream, but I am doing bits and pieces of it right now.
What advice would you give to a fellow graduate student on how to handle stress?
Only do what you can do, don't overload yourself. Take some time out for yourself and have fun. Graduate studies are a time of growth and change, and this can be stressful, but don't forget to breathe!
What do you do for fun?
I somehow never forget to have this. I enjoy spending time outside; I absolutely love the sun and any body of water. So summer is my favorite season and all year round you can find me having fun fishing or at least watching people close to me fish. I spend a lot of time with friends, family, and my cat.
José Cañive, M.D.
Research Scientist Member
Dr. Cañive is a Professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience.
Why did you decide to join the NHSN?
I had heard a lot about the NHSN and its accomplishments over the years and felt overjoyed when a colleague nominated me. I have been involved in other initiatives to foster the involvement of Hispanics in research on mental illness and consider that the NHSN offers a golden opportunity to relate to other colleagues with a similar agenda in the area of substance abuse research.
When and why did you become interested in drug abuse research?
In 1987 I became involved in NIMH’s Community Support Program and led a psychosocial intervention program obtained by the New Mexico Health and Environment Department to provide joined mental health and substance abuse services to young adults with serious mental illness and comorbid substance abuse. Soon thereafter, I was called to review grants for NIMH’s Community Support Program IRG and for the Office of Treatment Improvement of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Around that time, I submitted an ill-fated application to NIMH to implement a dual diagnosis program based on the model that we had developed in New Mexico. I soon realized that I had to become better versed in grant writing. Although I moved away from the field of substance abuse then, I have been successful in obtaining federal and private funds since then. I want to share my experiences and current research with Hispanic colleagues and to mentor new investigators of Hispanic background.
Briefly describe your current line of research.
My research has mostly focused on schizophrenia and PTSD, but also on co-morbid substance abuse. The focus of my research has changed over the years from psychosocial interventions in schizophrenia to pharmacological treatments. My current NIH R01 and VA Merit Award explore sensory gating in schizophrenia using MEG. We have observed that patients with a history of alcohol abuse also have sensory gating deficits. I plan to expand my research focus to investigate the neural circuitry of sensory gating in schizophrenia patients and their unaffected relatives. I am interested in how specific genes affect the auditory gating phenomenon and hope to expand my research to substance abuse. I am also Co-PI in a project to establish the prevalence of pathological gambling among veterans.
What is your ultimate dream in terms of your career? Have you already accomplished this?
My next step is to apply for a Senior Career Mentor Award and devote my time to strengthening the research infrastructure that I have already created. This will allow me to have an impact on the careers of new investigators.
What advice would you give to a graduate student who wants to pursue a career as an academic scientist?
The most important step is to find a mentor you are able to work with. Be aware of opportunities that come along. Develop short and long term goals as your career unfolds. Be ambitious, but also patient.
What do you do for fun?
I love the Fine Arts, especially music! I play the piano by ear and love to sing. It gives me great joy to listen to a classical concert or to an opera. I enjoy looking at works of art, allowing my soul to roam around and feel the rush of emotions that a particular painting or sculpture brings on.
María Luisa Zúñiga, Ph.D.
Research Scientist Member
Dr. Zúñiga is an Assistant Professor at UCSD in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. She is also Co-Director of the UCSD Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools Scholarship Program.
Why did you decide to join the NHSN?
At the recommendation of one of my fantastic mentors, Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, I explored joining the NHSN and realized that being a part of the NHSN was a great opportunity to learn from experts in the field of addictions, particularly from researchers devoted to improving health in Latino communities. Given the role of drug abuse behavior in HIV, I felt that this would also help me to become a better researcher in HIV/AIDS.
When and why did you become interested in drug abuse research?
The field of addictions and drug addiction behavior has been an area of personal and professional interest since young adulthood. More recently through my development as a researcher in HIV/AIDS in Latino communities, however, I started to learn about the role of drug abuse and related risk behaviors as factors in transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases. Data from our California Department of Health Services, for example, indicate that injection drug use among Latinas and Latinos is an important mode of exposure to HIV. Although my research focus has been on border populations living with HIV, drug use behaviors and HIV in other Latino populations--including populations who migrate to California and other areas of the United States--make it imperative for us to work together to better understand how to address drug addiction behavior in a wide variety of Latino communities. A deeper appreciation of drug abuse research as it relates to stemming HIV transmission and the transmission of other infectious diseases has also come through my work with Dr. Strathdee and colleagues in our Division of International Health and Cross-Cultural Medicine, who are conducting ground-breaking work in drug abuse research in Tijuana and other US-Mexico border cities.
Briefly describe your current line of research.
My passion has become to understand the dynamics of health behavior and health care access in the US-Mexico border region. I have had the privilege of working closely with several community-based clinics that serve patients living with HIV, and have until now focused my research on Latino populations living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. Through community-academic partnerships we have begun to learn together about Latino populations living with HIV/AIDS and also to document risk behavior, barriers to care, and bi-national care-seeking behavior in our border region. The border region fascinates me. I myself very much live a bi-national life and am impacted by the uniqueness of our shared border region between the U.S. and Mexico.
What is your ultimate dream in terms of your career? Have you already accomplished this?
My ultimate career dream is to serve as Dean of Community and Bi-national Research at our wonderful University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. This position does not currently exist, but to dream big, well that is part of life’s adventure.
What advice would you give to a graduate student who wants to pursue a career as an academic scientist?
Find a research area that you can call your own, about which you feel tremendous passion—keep a professional journal with your ideas and how you can add something meaningful to an area that needs improved understanding. Have a timeline for whatever goal you have in mind, and stick to this. Strive for excellence in whatever endeavor you undertake, and don’t be shy about asking for advice on how to go about doing new things. Treat every single person you meet with dignity and approach new relationships and situations with humility. This, I feel, allows us to maintain strong and vibrant relationships with our mentors, colleagues and the communities we serve.
What is your cultural background and how did it influence your choice of career and/or research area?
As a Latinoamericana, I am of diverse Latin American roots, Chilena (from my mother) and Hondureña (from my father). My ties to both countries remain very strong, with trips to see family as often as time and resources allow. A third country to which I have developed a close kinship is México, which after 20 years of exploration with my best friend/husband, who is Mexicano, remains one of the most exquisite countries I’ve ever known. These three unique cultures have shaped who I am as an individual and as a researcher, contributing profoundly to my appreciation of and interest in the intersection and dynamics of health and culture.
Juan Peña, Ph.D.
Research Scientist Member
Dr. Peña is a Senior Instructor /Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Why did you decide to Join the NHSN?
I have come to appreciate the challenges of finding colleagues and mentors that have similar interests as I do and share my passion for improving outcomes for Latinos. Since I heard many positive comments about the National Hispanic Science Network over the past couple of years I was very pleased to be nominated for membership.
When and why did you become interested in drug abuse research?
Growing up in an urban area with high levels of drug abuse I have felt fortunate for my successes and feel indebted to those who helped me avoid the pitfall of addiction and drug abuse that many Latino youth get trapped into. During college I made a promise to myself that I would use my successes as a way to help youth growing up with limited life opportunities avoid these pitfalls as well.
Briefly describe your current line of research
Recently my research has focused on the relationship between acculturation and risk behaviors such as substance use, suicide attempts, and HIV sexual risk among Latino adolescents. I am also examining some of the mediating factors that account for the relationship between acculturation and risk behaviors amongLatino youth.
What is your ultimate dream in terms of your career? Have you already accomplished this?
Ultimately my goal is to inform the development of integrated public health approaches within systems (e.g. schools, community agencies etc.) for at risk Latino youth that both prevent poor health outcomes and promote well being, academic success, and health. I have not accomplished this goal yet.
What is the most important lesson you learned as a graduate student?
The importance of working with colleagues and mentors that are supportive and take an interest in my work.
What advice would you give to a graduate student who wants to pursue acareer as an academic scientist?
My advice is to study and copy the trajectories of those who have been successful.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Being a tenure faculty member with NIH funding conducting research on Latino adolescents.
What is your cultural background and how did it influence your choice of career and/or research area?
My parents are from the Dominican Republic and I was born and raised in New York City. My personal experience as a child of immigrants has made me curious about the socio-cultural factors that influence the success or development of social problems among Latino youth.
What advice would you give to a colleague and/or graduate student on how to handle stress?
Zen mediation and being a Zen practitioner has been how I have handled stress. Having balance in life including spending time with friends and family is also very important.
What do you do for fun?
I enjoy going to the movies, listening to music (e.g. John Trudell), watching the UFC, and spending together time with family and friends.