María Lourdes Alarcón Fortepiani

Dr. María Lourdes Alarcón Fortepiani is an Associate Professor at the Rosenberg School of Optometry (RSO) at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) in the Department of Physiology. She earned her M.D. and Ph.D. in Physiology from Universidad de Murcia, Spain, with a dissertation on renal dysfunction mechanisms. Her work focuses on postmenopausal hypertension, diabetes mechanisms, and adapting patient education for underserved communities. She teaches Human/Ocular Physiology, Immunology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine, and Vision Science at RSO.

Her research is funded by NIH, AHA, and AFAR, with collaborations in diabetes studies at UTHSCSA's Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. Fortepiani is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and actively involved in STEM outreach, including PhUn Week and science fairs. She serves on UIW committees (Red Dress, Earth Day, Faculty Senate) and chairs the SRC committee for STEM Academy-Lee High School. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates sociodemographic factors into patient care education.

Dr. Fortepiani’s professional service includes roles on the Women in Physiology committee (American Physiological Society) and judging at regional science fairs. Her academic journey includes postdoctoral training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and prior roles as Research Assistant Professor at UTHSCSA.