Expanding Access to Movement-Based Interventions for Health

Physical activity itself is a powerful nonpharmacological intervention, and studying the barriers that prevent marginalized communities from engaging in it has deepened my interest in how mind-body and movement-based approaches can address stress and promote health across diverse populations.

Please tell us a bit about yourself; where are you from, and what do you like to do in your spare time?  

I was born and grew up in Ávila, a medieval walled city in the mountains of Spain, with roots in a small village in the nearby Sierra de Gredos. Growing up, I spent a lot of time hiking and swimming in the clear waters of the small mountain rivers—two things I still love. I enjoy being in nature, watching wildlife, walking in the forest, and growing plants, especially orchids. I also love classical music, theater, and the opera—I studied bassoon and classical music, and these are things I am looking forward to enjoying more once my dissertation defense is behind me. Traveling and learning from different cultures is also something deeply important to me—having lived in Spain, the United Kingdom, and now the United States, I find that each place continues to teach me something new. I practice gentle yoga regularly and work with the Alexander Technique, a psychophysical method of which I am also a certified teacher. Both have helped me stay grounded through the long days of doctoral work. 

Why did you decide to pursue nursing, and why did you choose Columbia?  

My journey into nursing began as a teenager, when I volunteered with a local charity that gave me the opportunity to travel to rural communities in Peru, where I supported local health leaders in delivering health education programs. That experience sparked my interest in the health of marginalized communities and led me to nursing. I chose Columbia because it felt like the right place—a truly cosmopolitan environment with extraordinary resources and faculty. I decided to pursue my PhD after meeting Billy Caceres and learning about his work on cardiovascular health disparities in LGBTQ+ communities. The opportunity to work under his mentorship, alongside Walter Bockting, an international leader in gender minority health, and within Columbia Nursing’s Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, made Columbia the clear choice. 

What are you passionate about, and how has being a student at Columbia Nursing allowed you to follow that passion?  

I am passionate about understanding and addressing the social and structural factors that shape health outcomes among populations that have historically been underserved by both health care and research. My dissertation examines how multilevel factors—including stigma, social connectedness, and neighborhood environment—influence physical activity and cardiovascular health among diverse communities. Physical activity itself is a powerful nonpharmacological intervention, and studying the barriers that prevent marginalized communities from engaging in it has deepened my interest in how mind-body and movement-based approaches can address stress and promote health across diverse populations. Being at Columbia has given me the mentorship, resources, and intellectual community to pursue these questions rigorously. It also opened doors I could not have imagined, including being selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar, an experience that strengthened my commitment to reducing health disparities and to conducting research that informs policy and practice. 

Do you have a favorite memory of your time at Columbia Nursing?  

It is hard to choose just one. Some of my most cherished memories are of studying together with my cohort—working through complex statistical concepts that most of us had not encountered before, helping each other, laughing together, and feeling that we were all in this together. Those moments gave me a deep sense of belonging and reminded me that the people around you can make even the hardest challenges feel possible. I will never forget the generosity and warmth of my peers. 

My other favorite memories are from research conferences—traveling with fellow students and faculty, presenting my work, and having colleagues there to support me as I did for them. Meeting researchers from different institutions and hearing ideas that challenged my thinking genuinely broadened my perspective in ways that are hard to describe. 

What are your next steps after graduation?  

After graduation, I will begin a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, under the mentorship of Dr. Gloria Yeh, continuing my journey as a nurse scientist. I am really excited about this next chapter. It brings together things I have been building toward for a long time: my research on physical activity and cardiovascular health, my clinical background as a nurse and health educator, and my personal practice and interest in mind-body approaches, including the Alexander Technique, yoga, and tai chi. I look forward to investigating how mind-body and movement-based approaches can help promote health and prevent chronic disease, particularly among populations that face the greatest barriers to care. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?  

Completing a PhD has been one of the most challenging and, at the same time, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. And that would not have been possible without the support of many people. I am deeply grateful to my advisors, Billy Caceres and Walter Bockting, for their mentorship and dedication to my development as a researcher. I also want to thank Maureen George, Ruben Flores, and Ashley Fonville from the PhD program, who were always willing to help with a smile, and my peers and collaborators who have been there along the way. Most of all, I want to thank my partner, whose encouragement and patience have meant everything to me throughout this journey.