As a physician-researcher and academic leader at the University of Texas at El Paso, my work focuses on occupational health disparities, environmental exposures, and musculoskeletal injury prevention in vulnerable populations. With multidisciplinary expertise as an MD, an MS in Ergonomics, and a PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering, I bridge clinical practice with industrial, manufacturing, and environmental engineering principles to address critical public health challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border.My research investigates three interconnected areas: 1) Occupational ergonomic risks in construction and manufacturing workforces, 2) Environmental health impacts of air pollution (PM2.5 and BTEX compounds) in border communities, and 3) Respiratory/cardiovascular outcomes associated with dust events and the physiological strains of extreme heat exposure.I lead interdisciplinary teams through NIH, CDC, and EPA-funded projects such as the $200K environmental health impact assessment of communities near the Bridge of the Americas and $190K funding to study PM2.5 exposure at international border crossings. Local contracts with local city infrastructure and transportation planning enhance this scope. My work employs multi-method approaches, from biomechanical modeling and biomarker analysis to community-engaged participatory research, to develop culturally appropriate interventions. Recent collaborations with Texas Tech, UC Berkeley, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories have expanded my focus on climate-related health disparities, including valley fever trends and heat stress in outdoor workers.Passionate about health equity, I prioritize research that empowers Hispanic/Latino populations and migrant workers through bilingual health literacy initiatives and ergonomic training programs. My 85+ peer-reviewed publications and leadership roles in ASTM International, the Human Factors Society, the International Society for Occupational Ergonomics and Safety, the American Society for Safety Professionals, and my newest appointment to the National Safety Council's International Panel on Non-Physical Musculoskeletal Risk Factors reflect a career dedicated to translating scientific evidence into practical workplace health, safety, and well-being solutions, as well as spearheading research in environmental exposure risk assessment and community health justice advocacy.