Join us this month to learn about the critical findings on the effects of natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal women in Puerto Rico. Dr. Martinez-Gonzalez also provides policy recommendations for ensuring perinatal people have the social support needed during large-scale events. She also shares exciting information about research opportunities for clinicians interested in working with Latinos in Puerto Rico and the US. You’ll enjoy her Spanish call to research engagement at minute 36:40 of the bilingual interview.

For more information about training opportunities, please contact Dr. Martinez-Gonzalez at Karen.martinez4@upr.edu.

Dr. Karen G. Martinez-Gonzalez, MD, MSc, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Puerto Rico, where she directs the Center for the Study and Treatment of Fear and Anxiety and is the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. She also completed a post-doctoral master’s in clinical and translational research in 2006 and is now the program's Principal Investigator (R25MD007607) and Director. She was also one of the Principal Investigators (R21MD013652) of a grant studying the epigenetic and microbial profile of prenatal stress related to Hurricane María in collaboration with the School of Dental Medicine. She is one of the Principal Investigators of the Puerto Rico Racial & Ethnic Minority Acceleration Consortium for Health Equity (PR-REACH) FDA award U01FD007977. She is an active member of several professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Trauma and Disaster Committee, past president of the Puerto Rico Chapter, and past president of the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS). Her current research work is on stress-related disorders and how to promote wellness among highly traumatized or stressed populations. She is a founding member of the University of Puerto Rico Center for Perinatal Mental Health.