Melawhy Garcia

Melawhy Garcia is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Director of the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training. Her work focuses on addressing health disparities in underserved Latino populations through epidemiological research, community-based interventions, and student training programs.

• Education: B.A. in Psychology (CSULB), M.P.H. in Community Health (CSULB), Ph.D. in Public Health (Health Behavior Research) from the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program, and postdoctoral fellowship at UCSD's Women’s Cardiovascular Research Center.

Her research examines cardiometabolic health risks, diabetes management, and childhood obesity prevention among Latinos, utilizing electronic health records and community engagement strategies. She has led multidisciplinary projects like the LUNA-D study for diabetes care and Comprando Rico y Sano for nutrition education. Her work has been funded by federal and local agencies for chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS, and tobacco cessation.

Scientific Awards:

• Clinical Research Award, NIDDK (2018)
• CSU Doctoral Incentive Program awards (2016)
• Hispanic Center of Excellence Scholarship (2014)
• CSULB Graduate Honors (2010)

She mentors underrepresented students through experiential learning programs and collaborates with institutions including SDSU, UCSD, and the South Bay Latino Research Center. Her publications span journals like Journal of the American Heart Association, Childhood Obesity, and Translational Behavioral Medicine.