Collegiate Affiliation
Spanish & Portuguese Studies

My academic work deals with intersections of medical humanities, sexuality, bioethics and literature. Interested in topics related to health disparities and the historiography of LGBTI movements in Latin America, I completed a doctoral dissertation titled "Building a Community of Affects: A Cartography of HIV/AIDS Narratives in Latin America (1982-2018)." I currently teach the  Medical Spanish and Community Health Learning course at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies. This courses aims to provide students interested in healthcare professions a better understanding of health disparities in Latinx communities in the US. We also analyze the challenges and opportunities of equitable health access and preventive medicine in Latin America and migrant communities in the United States. Students delve into the fascinating study of alternative manifestations of healing, medicine and disease in Hispanic cultures such as curanderismo and culture-bound syndromes. We partner with many local organizations in the Twin Cities such as Phillips Neighborhood Clinic, St Mary's Clinic, Ventanilla de Salud at the Consulate of Mexico in St. Paul, among others.

Educational Background & Specialties
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Educational Background

  • Ph.D.: Latin American Literature and Culture, University of Pittsburgh, 2020 -

Specialties

  • Medical Humanities
  • Literary and visual cultures of HIV/AIDS
  • Queer Literary Studies in Latin America