Luz Padilla

Luz Padilla is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She holds a secondary appointment as Assistant Professor in UAB School of Medicine's Department of Surgery, Cardiovascular/Thoracic Division, and serves as Director of Surgical Research for the Joseph S. Bruno Pediatric Heart Center of Alabama. Dr. Padilla also functions as Vice-Chair and board member on the UAB Institutional Review Board.

Her research focuses on Congenital Heart Disease, Pediatric Cardiology, and Xenotransplantation, with particular interest in ethical frameworks for pediatric clinical trials, surgical outcomes evaluation, and public health implications of xenotransplantation. Over the past decade, her publications have explored xenotransplantation acceptance among healthcare professionals, genetic factors in transplant outcomes, and global health disparities in transplant medicine.

Key educational contributions include her role as course master for PUH201 - Introduction to Public Health and EPI699 - Project Research. She has served on graduate thesis committees for students including Michelle Kung and Isabel Cuellar Acker. Current grants examine genetically engineered pig organ transplantation in baboons and pediatric cancer research training programs.

Scientific Awards

• Outstanding Masters Student of the Year (University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2016)