Our Team
Vivian Colón-López, PhD, MPH
Vivian Colón-López, PhD, MPH. Dr. Colón-López is Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Campus of Medical Sciences, and Researcher at the Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Colón-López completed a Doctorate in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. During the past decade, Dr. Colón-López has worked in research areas such as: Epidemiology of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), HIV and Health Disparities in Cancer and Infections, mainly in vulnerable populations. Dr. Colón-López directs the Data Analysis and Publication Core (DAPuC), as well as the Puerto Rico Outreach Program and the HPV-PIVac ‘HPV Policy Implementation Vaccination’ which aims to explore the impact of the recently enacted HPV policy on vaccination. Dr. Colón-López has written several scientific publications on the subject of HPV, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases in vulnerable populations.
Ivony Agudelo Salas, MS
Ivony Agudelo Salas, MS. Ivony works as a study coordinator for the DAPuC team. With a Master of Sciences in Epidemiology from CES University in Colombia, Ms. Agudelo has worked in several research projects with the Colombian Institute of Tropical Medicine in Colombia and has collaborated with researchers at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus (UPR-MSC) Medical School. With a bachelor’s degree in Bacteriology and Laboratory Sciences, she is knowledgeable in both clinical and epidemiological research. As part of DAPuC team since 2015, Ivony has collaborated in the analysis and evaluation of the Puerto Rico National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System for cycles of Heterosexuals at increased risk, Men who have Sex with Men, and Persons Who Inject Drugs. In her personal life, Ivony enjoys various outdoor activities (kayaking, fishing, biking, hiking, and bird watching) with her husband, son, and their three pets (bitches). She is Colombian, a soccer lover and speed skating.
Nadia Centeno-Alvarado, MPH
Nadia Centeno-Alvarado, MPH, BBA works as a data analyst for the DAPuC team and will soon graduate from a Master of Arts in Psychology (graduation 2020) from the UPR Río Piedras Campus. She has worked on several research projects related to cognitive psychology (such as neuropsychological assessment and HIV-Neuro-AIDS), collaborating with researchers at the UPR Río Piedras campus and the Medical Sciences campus, as well as at the Carlos Albizu University , San Juan campus. With her academic training, she has knowledge in quantitative and qualitative research and, in her private life, she enjoys the culture of her country, especially “Bomba Puertorriqueña”.
Active Students
Victor Vidal-López, Voluntary Student
Victor Vidal- López. Student Volunteer. Victor graduated from Saint Francis School in Carolina. He is currently in his second year of undergraduate studies at the Department of Biology of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, with the purpose of completing graduate studies in the medical field. He works as a volunteer at DAPuC since he is interested in expanding his knowledge in the research area. As part of the team, Víctor will be collaborating in different phases of the study “Puerto Rico National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System” and assisting in the creation of educational materials (Infographics) In his free time, Victor enjoys listening to music, photography, drawing, completing puzzles, studying and searching for information on topics of interest to him. He also likes to watch movies and the art of cinematography, as well as sitting down to read in front of his house and spending time with family and acquaintances.
Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico – HIV/AIDS Surveillance Division
Yadira Rolón Colón, MS
Yadira graduated from the Department of Public Health of the Medical Sciences Campus in Puerto Rico. In 2004, she completed her Master of Science in Epidemiology. She has worked since 2003 in the HIV / AIDS Surveillance Program as coordinator of the “National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System” in high-risk populations such as: Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and Heterosexuals at increased risk for HIV infection (HET).
Maria Pabón Martínez, BSW
María has a Social Worker license, granted by the Department of State of PR. Since 2015, she works as a field supervisor for the “National HIV Behavioral Surveillance”, NHBS, in the HIV / AIDS Surveillance Program of the Puerto Rico Department of Health. She has experience in the community offering Social Work services impacting vulnerable communities such as: cases of child abuse, domestic violence, mental health, among others. The NHBS study continues to work for high-risk populations (MSM, PWID / IDU, and HET) where risk behaviors for acquiring HIV are collected, evaluated, and studied.