Ester Villalonga Olives

Ester Villalonga Olives is an Associate Professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. She holds a PhD in Biomedicine with specialties in Epidemiology and Public Health and is a tenured social epidemiologist. Her academic affiliations include adjunct appointments at New York University, a joint appointment at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and visiting roles at Harvard, Yale, and currently as a Visiting Professor at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris.

• PhD in Biomedicine, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (with International Doctor Distinction)
• MsC in Sociology and Health, University of Barcelona
• BsC in Sociology, University of Barcelona
• International training at Università degli Studi di Trieste, London School of Economics, and University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Dr. Villalonga-Olives’ research centers on the social determinants of health, particularly social capital, structural racism, health inequalities, and the development of measurement instruments. She employs mixed methods, structural equation modeling, multilevel modeling, and item response theory to study underserved populations, including immigrants and racial minorities. Her work emphasizes intervention design and psychometric validation in public health contexts.

Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on health equity, measurement bias (especially differential item functioning), social capital interventions, health literacy adaptation for Hispanic/Latino populations, and mental health among refugees. The trend shows consistent use of advanced statistical techniques to address structural inequities and improve health outcomes through culturally appropriate instruments and interventions.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Award from the Spanish Society of Epidemiology for training in Florence
• GLOBALtimore Teaching Fellowship (University of Maryland)
• Member of the NIH Early Investigators Advancement Program
• Elected board member, International Epidemiology Association (10 years)
• Multiple international conference awards for her publications

Dr. Villalonga-Olives has secured over $4 million in extramural funding, including an NIH R01 grant to develop a multidimensional measure of structural racism. She serves as Principal Investigator on projects funded by the Prevent Cancer Foundation and Merck Investigator Studies Program, focusing on cancer screening and health literacy among Hispanic/Latino immigrants. She is also a co-investigator on two NIH R01 grants related to social connectedness and shared decision-making in maternity care. She advises students and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams. She serves as an associate editor for Frontiers in Public Health and has reviewed for NIH and the French National Cancer Institute.

She is actively involved in research teams focusing on psychometrics, social epidemiology, and health outcomes. Her lab integrates item response theory and measurement development with public health interventions, particularly in vulnerable populations. She leads a research program that bridges methodological rigor with real-world impact, including collaborations with United Nations agencies on social capital in forced displacement contexts.