Board Member Profile
Hortensia Amaro, PhD
Professor
Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Hortensia Amaro, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Professor of Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University. In the 20 years since she received her doctoral degree form the University of California at Los Angeles, Dr. Hortensia Amaro’s achievements in the areas of public health research, practice, and public service, have earned her wide renown. Dr. Amaro’s research and extensive scientific publications have illuminated critical issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, and substance abuse and mental health treatment issues for women.
Current research projects include several national cross-site studies for example, on the effectiveness of gender-specific substance abuse treatment, the effectiveness of integrated, trauma-informed services for women with substance abuse and mental health disorders, on HIV prevention for racial and ethnic minority populations, and faculty training in substance abuse prevention.
Pursuing a commitment to put public health research into practice, Dr. Amaro has developed model substance abuse treatment programs for Latina and African American women Entre Familia and the Mom’s Project, which have been cited for recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Governor’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Amaro’s public service encompasses local and national organizations. She serves as vice chair of the Board of the Boston Public Health Commission, and on the National Advisory of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, on editorial boards of numerous journals, and grant review committees for several National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and private foundations. Dr. Amaro’s impressive record of research, program development, and public service have earned her the title of Distinguished Professor of Health Sciences
