Dr. María Luisa Zúñiga, PhD

Dr. María Luisa Zúñiga is a distinguished epidemiologist and Professor in the School of Social Work at San Diego State University. She also holds a joint appointment as an Associate Adjunct Professor in the Division of Global Public Health at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Dr. Zúñiga’s career is deeply rooted in Community-Based Participatory Research, where she focuses on the complex intersections of substance use, mental health, and sexual risk behaviors, particularly within Latino communities. Her work is instrumental in improving healthcare engagement, enhancing patient-clinician communication, and ensuring continuity of care for underserved and marginalized populations, including individuals living with HIV.

Dr. Zúñiga has extensive experience working closely with communities along the U.S.-Mexico border and with Mexican transnational and domestic migrants. Her commitment to advancing public health is further demonstrated by her ongoing interdisciplinary collaborations, both nationally and internationally, aimed at addressing pressing health issues related to HIV and substance use.