About me

I was born and raised in the Region of Murcia, Spain, where I spent my first twenty-five years. I completed my first degree in Education at the University of Murcia, an experience that sparked an early and lasting interest in how language shapes understanding, trust, and human interaction. Even at this early stage, I was drawn to the ways communication influences wellbeing, access, and care—an interest that would later anchor my work at the intersection of language and medicine.

To deepen my understanding of language across clinical, cultural, and institutional contexts, I pursued a second degree through an international academic pathway spanning four countries: the United States (Millikin University, Illinois), England (Newcastle University), Canada (University of Regina), and Spain (University of Murcia). This global training provided a comparative perspective on communication practices and reinforced my commitment to language as a determinant of health and equity.

I earned my Master’s degree at West Virginia University in 2018, and began my doctoral studies in Santa Barbara, California. I graduated in 2022 and, following my doctorate, I joined the California University of Science and Medicine, where I currently serve as Assistant Professor of Medical Education and Director of the Medical Spanish Program.

In this role, I lead a longitudinal, systems-based Medical Spanish curriculum embedded within the core medical education program. My work emphasizes clinical communication, standardized patient–based instruction, formative assessment, and language concordance as a structural component of patient safety and health equity. To complement this work, in 2024, I completed a Master of Public Health at Claremont Graduate University and am currently completing my Doctor of Public Health degree, with a focus on advancing equitable healthcare systems.

Outside of my professional work, I enjoy time with family and friends, sports and outdoor activities, music, and relaxing at home with my dog, Teddy.