Ernesto Moralez

Ernesto Moralez
Moralez_2.jpg Moralez_2.jpg
Born
🏳️ Nationality	American
💼 Occupation	Professor, researcher, health professional
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Ernesto Andres Moralez, an American scholar and researcher, is renowned for his significant contributions in the sphere of public health.

Early Life and Education

Hailing from New Mexico, Ernesto Moralez's roots trace back to his Mexican ancestry, including his mother who emigrated to the US with his grandmother.

Commencing his academic journey at Albuquerque Technical Institute (now Central New Mexico Community College), he later transitioned to Hunter College to pursue sociology. Subsequently, he shifted his academic focus to community and public health at New Mexico State University, culminating in a Bachelor's degree in Human and Community Services in 2007. In 2009, he furthered his education, earning a Master's degree in Public Health from the same institution. During this period, he gained valuable experience through an internship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington.

In 2015, he attained his Ph.D. in Health and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Colorado Denver. His doctoral field work included clinical-based public health and he learned his approach to qualitative research while working in Ecuador.

Career

Ernesto Moralez's career has encompassed roles as the former co-coordinator of the Public Health program at St. Lawrence University and faculty positions at the University of Colorado Denver, New Mexico State University, and the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Notably, he co-developed the Health Disparities Field Experience (HDFE) in collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and New Mexico State University, providing students with opportunities to observe community responses to health challenges and engage with public health experts.

His involvement in the NMSU's Diversity Council, the College of Health and Social Services Dean's Advisory Council, and its Student Appeal Committee from 2014 to 2017 demonstrates his dedication to various aspects of university governance.

Ernesto Moralez, along with two additional authors, was hired to revise the textbook Introduction to Public Health, which was originally authored by Mary-Jane Schneider.

Research

Ernesto Moralez's research focus spans cancer research, the social determinants of health, developing and evaluating supplemental health-related learning experiences, and depression/mental health.

In 2019 and 2020, he spearheaded a three-week field experience, bringing together students from the UW School of Public Health and New Mexico State University as part of the HDFE project. The students embarked on a journey to sites like the US-Mexico border and the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, immersing themselves in health service activities and the unique cultural contexts that influence health outcomes. The results of this study were presented at the American Public Health Association's 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting and Expo and published in Frontiers in Public Health.

Additionally, Ernesto Moralez was involved in a research initiative that conducted interviews with young Latina cancer survivors who were also raising children along the US-Mexico border. This study delved into their challenges related to cancer, parenting, and access to essential resources and was published in the Journal of Cancer Therapy in 2021.

Moralez's contributions also extend to developing a health equity curriculum for family practice medical residents through an interdisciplinary team. This curriculum was crafted to address the impact of patients' lived experiences on their health issues, their obstacles in adhering to treatment plans, and the recommendations of medical professionals. Their work on this curriculum was published in the book Anthropology in Medical Education in 2021.

Personal Life

Ernesto Moralez lives with his dog, Luke.

Awards

• 2017 - Patricia Christmore Faculty Teaching Award - New Mexico State University
• 2018 - Donald C. Roush Award for Teaching Excellence - New Mexico State University
• 2021 - Owen D. Young Faculty Award - St. Lawrence University

Selected publications

• Kavanaugh, T. C., Tomaka, J., & Moralez, E. (2021). Professional preparedness and psychosocial beliefs as predictors of quality physical education and recreation services to students with disabilities. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 55(4), 414-431.
• Moralez, E. A., Boren, R. L., Lebel, D. L., Drennan, M., Olvera, D. R., & Thompson, B. (2022). Teaching Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Tailoring Virtual Learning for Public Health and Cancer Health Disparities Education. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 845400.
• Scott, M. A., Moralez, E. A., & Andazola, J. (2021). Using Anthropological Perspectives to Integrate Health Equity Across a Family Medicine Residency Program in New Mexico. Anthropology in Medical Education: Sustaining Engagement and Impact, 335-351.
• Moralez, E., Mandall, N., Thompson, B., Englund, K., Drennan, M., & Loest, H. (2020, October). Learning about health disparities first-hand in the US-Mexico border region: A field experience approach. In APHA's 2020 VIRTUAL Annual Meeting and Expo (Oct. 24-28). APHA.
• Moralez, E. A., Thompson, B., Englund, K., Drennan, M., Mandall, N., & Loest, H. (2020). The Health Disparities Field Experience: College students and community health workers in the field. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 9.

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