I am an Associate Professor at the Department of Community Health & Prevention, Drexel University School of Public Health. From 2007 -2015, I was a tenured faculty at the Dpt. of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Previously, I was an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University. I received a PhD in Health Psychology from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in 1999, as well as an Expert Degree in Epidemiology from the National School of Public Health, Spain (2000). I completed my post-doctoral training at San Diego State University, focusing on health promotion, behavioral epidemiology, and community health. I joined Drexel University in September 2015.
I have served as a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Smoking Cessation in Military and Veteran Populations. Currently, I am serving as a member of the Behavioral and Social Approaches to Preventing HIV/AIDS Study Section at the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health.
I am also affiliated with the Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University and the Carbone Cancer Center, the Global Health Institute, and the Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
I have served as a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Smoking Cessation in Military and Veteran Populations. Currently, I am serving as a member of the Behavioral and Social Approaches to Preventing HIV/AIDS Study Section at the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health.
I am also affiliated with the Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University and the Carbone Cancer Center, the Global Health Institute, and the Center for Demography and Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Awards
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States (2010)
- University of Wisconsin System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award (2011)
- University of Wisconsin – Madison Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award (2011)
- Faculty of The Year Award, Master in Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison (2012)
- MPH Faculty Advisor Award, Department of Community Health & Prevention, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (2020)
- Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, Graduate Student Association, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (2020)
- Community Champion Award, Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Philadelphia, PA (2020)
Teaching & Mentoring
Currently, I am the course director for CHP 560 Program Design and Grant Writing, an elective course for the Master in Public Health program degree with concentration in Community Health and Prevention. I also lead the Graduate Minor Certificate on Latino and Immigrant Health. For this minor, I teach CHP 692 Migration and Health, an online graduate level elective that focuses on the health of immigrant populations and the impact of migration on health.
In the past, I have taught graduate-level courses on social and behavioral sciences in public health research & practice; research methods and proposal writing in health promotion; theoretical foundations of health promotion; and prevention and control of chronic disease. I have also served as regular guest lecturer for master- and doctoral -level courses on principles of population health; advanced epidemiology; public health principles and concepts; infectious disease epidemiology; and introduction to global public health.
In addition to classroom teaching, I provide individualized academic advising and research mentoring and funding to multiple undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty.
In the past, I have taught graduate-level courses on social and behavioral sciences in public health research & practice; research methods and proposal writing in health promotion; theoretical foundations of health promotion; and prevention and control of chronic disease. I have also served as regular guest lecturer for master- and doctoral -level courses on principles of population health; advanced epidemiology; public health principles and concepts; infectious disease epidemiology; and introduction to global public health.
In addition to classroom teaching, I provide individualized academic advising and research mentoring and funding to multiple undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty.
In the News
- Health care access worsens for Mexican immigrants in the U.S. The Nation's Health and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health published a summary of the findings from our study examining health care access and utilization among Mexican immigrants at different migration stages.
- How to Market Healthy Food in A Rural Town. The Atlantic's CityLab featured our Waupaca Eating Smart intervention as an example of strategies that can be used to promote healthy eating in rural communities. Read more here.
- Exposure to secondhand smoke among children who live with smokers. Our paper published by Preventing Chronic Disease was featured by Wisconsin Public Radio. Read more here.
- Veterans smoke at higher rates and lag behind in adoption of home smoking bans. Our research on this topic was recently published at the American Journal of Public Health and is featured in a piece of news by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
- Increasing health literacy skills among providers in oncology rural sites. Our paper on the results of a health literacy training curriculum for providers presented at the ing Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association was featured by MedPage Today. Learn more.
- Effects of tougher immigration measures on immigrants' wellbeing and immigration plans. Our Demography paper was featured by the London School of Economics and Political Science's USApp (American Politics and Policy) blog. Learn more.
- Martinez-Donate earns Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. The UW School of Medicine and Public Health News and Events features the two UW-based recipients of the 2010 PECASE awards. Learn more.
- Psychologists receive Presidential Early Career Award. The American Psychological Association writes about the recipients of the 2010 PECASE awards. Learn more.
- Cuidandome: Helping improve cancer prevention for Latinas. The UW Carbone Cancer Center features our project to promote breast and cervical cancer prevention among Latina immigrants in their annual report. Learn more.
- Working with underserved populations. The UW School of Medicine and Public Health News and Events features my work with vulnerable and underserved communities. Learn more.
- Assessing the Nutrition Environment in Wisconsin Communities (ANEWC) Project is featured by the National Cancer Institute, as part of their Research to Reality program. R2R is an "online community of practice that links cancer control practitioners and researchers and provides opportunities for discussion, learning, and enhanced collaboration o moving research to practice." Access the ANEWC-focused piece here.
- Assessing the Nutrition Environment in Wisconsin Communities (ANEWC) Project is featured by The Nation's Health. The official publication of the American Public Health Association describes our efforts to partner with community based organizations and food retailers in Wisconsin to promote healthier eating.