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School of Medicine - Department of Public Health

Lina María
VERA CALA

The general public and the educational community are introduced to Professor Lina María Vera Cala of the Department of Public Health.

Dean of the Faculty of Health

CONTACT

Information

limavera@uis.edu.co

+57 (607) 634 4000
Extension: 3148

GENERAL

Biography

Physician and master in epidemiology from Universidad Industrial  de Santander, she completed doctoral studies at the Department of Population Health of the University of Wisconsin. Tenured Professor attached to the Department of Public Health of the School of Medicine and currently Dean of the Faculty of Health of the UIS. She was Director of the Department of Public Health, Director of Research and Extension of the Faculty of Health, Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Epidemiology, Representative of the Professors to the Council of the School of Medicine and Member of the Ethics Committee in Scientific Research (CEINCI) of the UIS.

Her main research interest is in events of public health importance. She has conducted research and interventions on different Public Health issues in Colombia and the USA, including chronic noncommunicable diseases, mental health, socioeconomic determinants of health, health disparities, vulnerable populations, Hispanic/Latino health, global health, and health technology assessment.

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To date, she has more than 40 publications in indexed and homologated journals, has written book chapters and has been a speaker at multiple national and international scientific events. Likewise, she has directed, co-directed and advised undergraduate and thesis projects of PhD, Master, Medical-Surgical Specializations, Specializations and undergraduate students. She has won more than 20 awards and recognitions including numerous research awards, having been a fellow of the Colciencias Young Researchers program, a Fulbright scholar, a Colfuturo scholar and a fellow of the Health Equity Leadership Institute.

Among the international research awards, two awards granted by the American Public Health Association, through its chapters of Epidemiology and Latino Health, stand out. She has directed and participated in multiple university extension projects, transferring academic knowledge to clinical practice and maintaining health in communities. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Colombian Association of Public Health and the Colombian Association of Faculties of Medicine.

She has served as an evaluator peer of Colciencias, national and international journals and has been part of the Evaluation Committee of Candidates for the Fulbright Colombia Scholarships since 2012. Professor Vera Cala is part of the team of inventors of a patent that was granted to the UIS in 2021. In her private practice, she worked as an epidemiologist at the Chicamocha Clinic.

EDUCATION AND

Qualifications

  • Master of Epidemiology


    Universidad Industrial de Santander, 2005

  • Physician and Surgeon


    Universidad Industrial de Santander, 1997

Dean of the Faculty of Health

CONTACT

Information

limavera@uis.edu.co

+57 (607) 634 4000
Extension: 3148

AREAS OF

Expertise

  • Epidemiology
  • Chronic noncommunicable diseases
  • Mental health
  • Clinical research
  • Health economics
  • Vulnerable populations
  • APS

OFFICE

Hours

Monday to Friday

7:00 a.m. – 12 m.

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Facultad de Salud, Cra 32 # 29-31, Decanatura Facultad de Salud

Research

Group

AWARDS AND

Recognitions

  • Founders Award for the best research paper


    LVI Congreso Colombiano de Psiquiatría. Asociación Colombiana de Psiquiatría

  • Student Award, Latino Caucus recognition


    139 reunión anual de la Sociedad Americana de Salud Pública (APHA). Washington D.C

  • The Catherine Allen Memorial Outstanding Poster Award


    Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin. Madison

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