Curriculum Vitae

Academic record and professional history

A PDF version of my full CV is available here. The summary below is current as of 2026.

Education

  • Doctor of Medicine — withdrawn 2026

    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

    2022–2026 · Presidential Scholarship (full-ride, merit-based) · Completed preclinical curriculum and clinical clerkships before withdrawing to pursue a research-first career and relocate to San Diego

  • PhD, Biological and Biomedical Sciences

    Harvard University · Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA

    2010–2016 · Dissertation: Harvard Medical School / Joslin Diabetes Center, Kulkarni lab

  • BS, Biology, Summa Cum Laude

    University of Texas at Brownsville / Texas Southmost College, Brownsville, TX

    2007–2010 · University Scorpion Scholar Scholarship (full-ride, merit-based)

Research positions

  • Independent Research Program — Quantitative Framework for the Early Detection, Risk Stratification, and Staging of Type 2 Diabetes

    Self-directed, San Diego, CA

    2026–present · Five-manuscript series, three U.S. provisional patents, NHANES validation

  • Medical Researcher — Philipp E. Scherer, PhD

    UT Southwestern Medical Center, Touchstone Diabetes Center, Dallas, TX

    2022–2026 · Adipose–islet crosstalk in metabolic disease

  • Postdoctoral Fellow — Ralph A. DeFronzo, MD

    UT Health San Antonio, Texas Diabetes Institute, San Antonio, TX

    2019–2022 · β-cell dysfunction in T2D; persistent inflammatory lipotoxicity

  • Doctoral Researcher — Rohit N. Kulkarni, MD, PhD

    Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA

    2010–2016 · Inflammatory signaling, β-cell identity, ductal-to-endocrine reprogramming

  • Summer Research Intern — Randi B. Silver, PhD

    Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY

    Summer 2009 · Mast cell – cardiac fibroblast interactions in collagen deposition

  • Undergraduate Researcher — Luis V. Colom, MD, PhD

    University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, TX

    2008–2010 · Amyloid-β neurotoxicity in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Industry experience

  • Senior Analyst — Healthcare & Medical Device Strategy Consulting

    Fletcher Spaght Inc., Boston, MA

    2016–2019 · C-suite advisory at biotech, medtech, and diagnostics companies; bilingual (EN/ES) Latin American KOL engagements

Awards & honors

Research fellowships

  • American Diabetes Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (PI), 2019–2021
  • NIH F31 Predoctoral Fellowship (PI), F31 DK098931, 2013–2015
  • NIH-Joslin Training Grant T32 DK007260, 2013
  • Harvard Stem Cell Institute Sternlicht Director's Fund Award, 2011–2012

Scholarships

  • Presidential Scholarship, UT Southwestern Medical Center (full-ride, merit-based)
  • University Scorpion Scholar Scholarship, UT Brownsville (full-ride, merit-based)

Professional recognition

  • Brownsville Independent School District Hall of Fame, Lopez High School, 2016
  • Lopez High School Alumnus of the Year, 2016
  • Harvard Business School Online CORe — Pass with Honors, 2016
  • Southwest Airlines Lánzate Education Travel Award, 2013
  • ABRCMS Travel Award, 2010

Pre-college honors

  • Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) — Texas State Champion & 2nd Place National, 2007
  • Texas All-State Musician (Choir), 2007
  • All-Region Jazz Band Lead Trumpet Player, 2007

Intellectual property

  • U.S. Provisional Patent (Serial No. 64/006,516): Methods for quantifying pancreatic islet network coordination.
  • U.S. Provisional Patent (Integrated Continuation): Expanded embodiments including a bihormonal glucagon framework.
  • U.S. Provisional Patent (Third Filing): Five-axis instantiation, dedifferentiation mechanism, and NHANES III validation.

Teaching, leadership & community service

  • College Admissions Interviewer, Harvard College (2021–present)
  • Premed Advisor, independent (2022–present)
  • Science Mentor, HPREP — Health Professions Recruitment & Exposure Program (2014, 2023)
  • Research Mentor, UT Health San Antonio (2019–2021) — undergraduate, PhD, and MD/PhD trainees
  • Science Communication, "Next Generation" radio (UT RGV community), 2018–2019
  • Co-director of Communications, Harvard Biotechnology Club (2015–2016)
  • Admissions Committee, Harvard Stem Cell Institute Summer Research Program (2012)
  • Steering Committee, Minority Biomedical Students of Harvard, 2010–2015

For peer-reviewed publications, see Publications. Conference presentations and grant details are in the full PDF.