Our People

The National Hispanic Health Research Institute (NHHRI) is guided by the expertise and vision of some of the nation’s most accomplished and influential leaders. Our National Advisory Board brings together distinguished professionals from medicine, research, policy, technology, and community health to ensure our work is innovative, inclusive, and impactful. Together with our dedicated Board of Directors, they provide strategic direction and oversight to advance equitable health research for all communities.

Woman speaking at a podium during a press conference with a presentation slide in the background. The slide displays the agenda for the event, organized by NHHR (National Hispanic Health Research Institute).

National Leadership Advisory Board

  • Close-up photo of a smiling man with short dark hair, wearing a white shirt and dark blazer, against a light gray background.

    Jose Calderon

    Former Hispanic Federation CEO, National Advisor

  • A man with a beard and short hair, wearing a light-colored, patterned shirt, standing outdoors in a natural setting with trees and a body of water in the background.

    Josh Carter

    Executive Director – Pequot Nation Museum and Research Center

  • A woman with dark hair, wearing a pearl necklace and a white top, smiling at the camera.

    Waleska Crespo, DrPhHSAM

    President – Universidad Central del Caribe

  • A smiling man in a navy suit, white shirt, and yellow patterned tie, posing for a professional portrait indoors.

    Marco Davis

    President and CEO – Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

  • Portrait of a smiling man with a bald head, wearing a dark shirt and a blue blazer, standing in front of a wooden paneled wall.

    Enrique M. De La Cruz, PhD

    Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Yale School of Medicine; Head of Branford College at Yale

  • Dr. Gonzales Vice Chair of the National Hispanic Voter Education Foundation.

    Danielle Nicole Gonzales, M.D.

    Baylor College of Medicine & Texas Children’s Hospital

    Vice Chair of the National Hispanic Voter Education Foundation.

  • A woman with long brown hair, glasses, and a bright smile, wearing a white blazer and a gold chain necklace.

    Bertha Hidalgo, M.D.

    Associate Professor - Dept. of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health.

    President – American College of Epidemiology.

  • A woman with short curly hair, wearing glasses, gold earrings, and a pink blazer, smiling.

    Wendy Lewis

    CEO and Founder – AllySHIFT

    Former EVP Diversity – McDonald’s and MLB

  • A young woman with long, wavy blonde hair and fair skin, smiling gently at the camera, wearing a navy blue blouse and a necklace with a sun pendant against a gray textured background.

    Sofia Lugo

    CEO & Chairman – Radar Therapeutics

  • A man in a blue suit and glasses posing for a portrait in front of a blurred background.

    Jonathan Padilla

    CEO - Snickerdoodle Labs

  • Portrait of a smiling man with dark hair, wearing a navy suit, light pink shirt, and peach tie, arms crossed, in front of a dark background.

    Ilan Shapiro, M.D.

    Chief Health Corespondent & Medical Affairs Officer – AltaMed

  • Close-up portrait of a woman with curly brown hair, wearing a black top and a silver necklace, smiling at the camera against a gray background.

    Linda Sprague Martinez, PhD

    Professor – UCONN Medicine

    Executive Director – UCONN Health Disparities Institute

  • A woman with dark wavy hair wearing a sleeveless black dress with brown trim, standing against a dark background, smiling at the camera.

    Luz Towns-Miranda, PsyD

    Championing mental health and justice for underserved

  • Headshot of a man in a suit and light blue dress shirt, smiling with dark, wavy hair and a neutral gray background.

    José Antonio Tijerino

    President and CEO – Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Our Staff

Our staff brings together a multidisciplinary team of professionals with expertise in health research, communications, policy, platform development, and AI technology. Together, they drive NHHRI’s mission to advance equitable, community-powered research through innovation, collaboration, and data excellence.

Five men dressed in business suits standing together indoors, smiling at the camera, with a large screen showing a tropical landscape behind them.

Our Team

  • A smiling man in a dark suit and pink checkered shirt, standing in front of framed artwork and a cream-colored wall.

    Ken Barela

    Chief Executive Officer

  • Fernanda Durand

    Chief Marketing Consultant

  • Professional headshot of a man in a dark suit, white shirt, and patterned tie, smiling against a dark background.

    Andy Beltran, M.D.

    Chief Medical Officer

  • A man wearing glasses, a blue striped dress shirt, and a patterned tie taking a selfie indoors.

    Hassan Saleheen

    Chief Research Officer

  • Portrait of a smiling man with short hair, wearing a light blue dress shirt, standing against a blue background.

    Larry Wiggins

    Chief Operating Officer

  • A middle-aged woman with shoulder-length gray hair wearing a white turtleneck sweater against an orange background.

    Joan Cruz

    Chief Adminstrative Officer

  • Portrait of a smiling man in a suit and tie against a dark background.

    Melvin Gonzalez

    Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling, seated indoors next to a large green plant.

    Karina Martinez

    Communications Director

  • A woman with dark hair wearing a black and white patterned top, smiling, in front of a blue background.

    Diva Diaz

    Executive Assistant

Hispanic Health Council Board of Directors

  • Portrait of a woman with short curly hair and glasses, smiling, wearing a dark blazer and earrings, with a dark blue background featuring partially visible text.

    Dr. Yvette Martas

    Board Chair

  • A woman with short gray hair and glasses smiling, wearing a pink collared shirt and black blazer, standing in front of a purple background with the text 'Health' and 'Hispanic' visible.

    Jill Davies, JD

    Board Vice-Chair

  • A man in a blue suit and light blue shirt standing in front of a dark background with the logo of the American Heart Association.

    Will Perez

    Board Treasurer

  • A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing glasses and a black sweater, sitting in front of a backdrop with the logo 'Hanic' and a stylized figure.

    Hilary Waldman, MPH

    Board Secretary

  • A man with gray hair wearing a blue jacket standing in front of a backdrop with 'Hemic' and 'Health' written on it.

    Dr. Luis F. Diez-Morales

    Board Member

  • Woman with a ponytail smiling in front of a backdrop featuring the logos for Health Council and Hispanic community.

    Jennifer Doran, MBA-MHA

    Board Member

  • Portrait of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a dark blazer and a pearl necklace, smiling slightly against a dark background.

    Dr. Sheila M. Kearney

    Board Member

  • A man standing in front of a dark backdrop with a logo that reads "Panic Health" and a graphic of a tree with branches.

    David King

    Board Member

  • A woman with long brown hair smiling, standing in front of a dark backdrop with a white logo that includes a stylized figure and text.

    Dr. Lisa Werkmeister Rozas

    Board Member

  • A middle-aged man with a beard and bald head, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, smiling in front of a black background with white text and logo.

    Dr. Charles R. Venator-Santiago

    Board Member

  • Cecilia Kozlowski

    Board Member

  • Dr. Loarte-Rodriguez

    Board Member

  • Heather Jimenez, MS

    Board Member

  • Bill Heiden, MA

    Board Member