Dr. Valerie Madera-Garcia is an epidemiologist with 10+ years in infectious diseases, real-world data analysis, environmental health, and community-participatory research. She is a bilingual (English/Spanish) researcher with expertise in mixed-methods research, entomology, spatial epidemiology, cross-sector collaboration, and publishing work that advances data-driven, equitable public health solutions. Dr. Madera-Garcia graduated from CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service Program, where she worked on HIV bio-behavioral surveillance and led projects and critical epidemiological analyses aimed at reducing health disparities among people at risk of HIV infection. Most recently, she worked at the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry conducting field investigations to guide emergency public health responses to chemical disasters. Dr. Madera-Garcia holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, an M.P.H in Environmental Health from the Ponce Health Sciences University, and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona.