Diego Alvarez, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Phone (251) 460-6392
Fax (251) 460-7452
dalvarez@jaguar1.usouthal.edu

1988 - 1993

MD, Universidad Libre de Colombia, Cali, Colombia

1993 - 1994

Medical intern, Instituto de los Seguros Sociales, Cali, Colombia

1995

English as a Second Language, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

1996 - 1997

Emergency room trainee, Universidad Santiago de Cali - Hospital San Juan de Dios, Cali, Colombia

1997 - 1998

Diploma in University Teaching Education, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

2000 - 2005

PhD in Basic Medical Sciences (Physiology), University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2005 - 2007

Postdoctoral fellow, Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

1997 - 1999

Assistant Professor (equivalent to), Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Dentistry and Allied Health, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

1998 - 1999

Health Care Center Medical Coordinator, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

2007 - Current

Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Lung Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

1998

Distinguished Health Care Physician, Universidad Santiago de Cali

2002

Caroline Tum Suden-Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award, American Physiological Society

2003

Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars, University of South Alabama

2003

Predoctoral Fellowship Award (0315049B), Southeast Affiliate American    Heart Association (2003 – 2005)

2004

Presidential Student Award, Microscopy Society of America

2004

Microscopy and Microanalysis 2004 Travel Award, Southeast Microscopy Society of America

2005

Research Recognition Award, Respiratory Section, American Physiological Society

2006

August Krogh Young Investigator Award, Microcirculatory Society

2006

Caroline Tum Suden-Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award, American Physiological Society

2006

Young Investigator Award, Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine

2006

Research Recognition Award, Respiratory Section, American Physiological Society

2006

Elected Sigma Xi member

2008

Parker B. Francis Fellowship Award, Parker B. Francis Foundation (2008 – 2011)

1997 - 1998

Course director, General Physiology: Course offered to undergraduate Allied Health and Dentistry majors, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

1998 - 1999

Course director, Respiratory Physiology: Course offered to undergraduate Allied Health majors, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

2002

Instructor, Physiology laboratory course: Course offered to undergraduate Basic Medical Science majors, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2002 - 2005

Teaching Assistant, Electrocardiogram laboratory, Medical Physiology Course PHY 121: Course offered to Medical students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2003 - 2005

Lecturer, Renal Physiology. Biomedical Enrichment and Recruitment (BEAR) program: Course offered to minority students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2005 - 2007

Teaching Assistant, Lung volumes laboratory, Medical Physiology Course PHY 121: Course offered to Medical students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2006 - Current

Lecturer, Lung Pathobiology IDL 631: Course offered to Basic Medical Sciences graduate students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2007 - Current

Lecturer, Problem-based small group discussions. Pharmacology PHM 221: Course offered to Medical students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2007 - Current

Lecturer, Lung Biology IDL 630: Course offered to Basic Medical Sciences graduate students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2008

Course director, IDL 650-Spring 2008: Special Topic on Stem Cells. Course offered to Basic Medical Sciences graduate students, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

1.

AHA 0835134N Alvarez (PI)                                            07/01/2008 – 06/30/2012
AHA Scientist Development Grant
“Infusion of resident endothelial progenitors promotes repair of microvascular barrier during acute lung injury”.
The goal of this project is to determine whether use of resident microvascular endothelial progenitor cells as a cell-based therapy constitutes a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of lung injury.
Role: Principal Investigator

2.

P40 RR020052 Abee (PI)                                             07/23/2004 – 05/31/2009
NIH/NCRR
“Owl Monkey Breeding and Research Resource”.
The goal of this project is to create a self-sustaining breeding resource of Owl monkeys that meet the needs for the use of this species in Basic Research.
Role: Consultant (no cost)

1.

RO3 RHL096338A Alvarez (PI)                                     12/01/2008 - 05/30/2009
NIH/HLBI
“Lung resident Endothelial progenitor Cells: Molecular determinants and function in lung and disease”.
The goal of this project is to study the basic biology of resident endothelial progenitor cells during health and disease.
Role: Principal Investigator

1.

PBF fellowship Alvarez (PI)                                         06/01/2008 – 05/31/2011
Parker B. Francis Fellowship
“Infusion of resident microvascular endothelial progenitor cells promotes repair of the pulmonary microvascular barrier following Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced lung injury”.
The goal of this project was to determine whether use of resident microvascular endothelial progenitor cells as a cell-based therapy constitutes a therapeutic alternative for the treatment of lung injury.
Role: Principal Investigator
Status: Relinquished due to scientific overlap with AHA Scientist Development Grant

2.

AHA-SE 0315049B Alvarez (PI)                                    07/01/2003 – 06/30/2005
AHA Predoctoral Fellowship Award
“Role of P450 arachidonic acid metabolites in regulation of pulmonary endothelial cell permeability”.
The goal of this project was to determine whether P450 arachidonic acid metabolites contributed to pulmonary endothelial barrier disruption resulting in increased fluid filtration and pulmonary edema.
Role: Principal Investigator
Status: Completed

1.

Alvarez, D.F., E-A.B. Gjerde, and M.I. Townsley. Role of EETs in regulation of endothelial permeability in rat lung. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 286 (2): L445-L451, 2004.

2.

Alvarez, D.F., J.A. King, and M.I. Townsley. Evaluation of endothelial permeability by a corrosion casting technique. Microsc. Microanal. 10 (Suppl. 2): 200-201, 2004.

3.

Wu, S., E.A. Cioffi, D. Alvarez, S.L. Sayner, H. Chen, D.L. Cioffi, J.A. King, J.R. Creighton, M.I. Townsley, S.R. Goodman, and T. Stevens. Essential role of a Ca2+ selective, store operated current (ISOC) in endothelial cell permeability. Determinants of the vascular leak site. Circ. Res. 96 (8): 856-863, 2005.

4.

Alvarez, D.F., J.A. King, and M.I. Townsley. Resistance to store depletion-induced endothelial injury in rat lung after chronic heart failure. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 172: 1153-1160, 2005.

5.

Alvarez, D.F., J.A. King, D. Weber, E. Addison, W. Liedtke, and M.I. Townsley. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4-mediated disruption of the alveolar septal barrier: a novel mechanism of acute lung injury. Circ. Res. 99 (9): 988-995, 2006.
An editorial accompanied the article: Curry, F-R.E. and C.A. Glass. TRP channels and the regulation of vascular permeability: New insights from the lung microvasculature. Circ. Res. 99 (9): 915-917, 2006.

6.

Townsley, M.I., J.A. King, and D.F. Alvarez. Ca2+ channels and pulmonary endothelial permeability: insights from study of intact lung and chronic pulmonary hypertension (Review). Microcirculation. 13 (8): 725-39, 2006.

7.

Lowe, K., D.F. Alvarez, J. A. King, and T. Stevens. Phenotypic heterogeneity in lung capillary and extra-alveolar endothelial cells. Increased extra-alveolar endothelial permeability is sufficient to decrease compliance. J. Surg. Res. 143(1): 70-77, 2007.

8.

Hamanaka K., M-J. Jian, D.S. Weber, D.F. Alvarez, M.I. Townsley, A.B. Al-Mehdi, J.A. King, W. Liedtke, and J.C. Parker. TRPV4 initiates the acute calcium-dependent permeability increase during ventilator-induced lung injury in isolated mouse lungs. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 293 (4): L923-L932, 2007.

9.

Klinger J.R., J.D. Murray, B. Casserly, D.F. Alvarez, J. King, S.S. An, G. Choudhary, A. N. Owusu-Sarfo, R. Warburton, and E.O. Harrington. Rottlerin causes pulmonary edema in vivo: a possible role for PKCδ. J. Appl. Physiol. 103 (6): 2084-2094, 2007.

10.

Alvarez, D.F., L. Huang, J.A. King, M.C. Yoder, and T. Stevens. Lung microvascular endothelium is enriched with progenitor cells that exhibit rapid vasculogenic capacity. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 294 (3): L419-L430, 2008.
An editorial accompanied the article: Bhattacharya, J. Lung neovascularization: A tale of two circulations. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 294 (3): L419-L430, 2008.

11.

Clark, J., D.F. Alvarez, M. Alexeyev, J.A. King, L. Huang, M.C. Yoder, and T. Stevens. Regulatory role for nucleosome assembly protein-1 in the proliferative and vasculogenic phenotype of pulmonary endothelium. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 294 (3): L431-L439, 2008.

12.

Troyanovsky, B., D.F. Alvarez, J.A. King, and K. Schaphorst. Thrombin enhances the barrier function of rat microvascular endothelium in a PAR-1-dependent manner. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol. Physiol. 294 (2): L266-L275, 2008.

13.

King, J., S. Agarwal, E. Syklawer, N. Prasain, H. Chen, J. Resmondo, F. McDonald, N. Bauer, D.F. Alvarez, S. Wu, T. Stevens, L. Shevde, T. Moore, and M. Townsley. Quantum Dots - Utilization in TEM. Microsc. Microanal. 14 (Suppl. 2): 702-703, 2008.

14.

Stevens, T., S. Phan, M. Frid, D.F. Alvarez, E. Herzog, and K. Stenmark. NIH Workshop on Lung Vascular Cell Heterogeneity: Endothelium, Smooth Muscle, and Fibroblasts (Perspective). Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 5 (7): 783-791, 2008.

15.

Cioffi, D., K. Lowe, D.F. Alvarez, C. Barry, and T. Stevens. TRPing on the lung endothelium. Calcium channels that regulate barrier function (Review). Antioxid. Redox Signal. (In press), 2008.

16.

Zhu, B., L. Zhang, M. Alexeyev, D.F. Alvarez, S.J. Strada, and T. Stevens. Type 5 phosphodiesterase expression is a critical determinant of the endothelial cell angiogenic phenotype. (Submitted), 2008.

17.

Alvarez, D.F. Cell-based therapies in the horizon for treating ALI/ARDS. (Submitted), 2008.

18.

Alvarez, D.F., K. Lowe, J.A. King, M.C. Yoder, J.P. Weiner-Kronish, and T. Stevens. Resident microvascular endothelial progenitor cells restore the disrupted barrier after Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced acute lung injury (In preparation).

19.

Hill K.L., P. Obrtlikova, D. F. Alvarez, J.A. King, Q. Li, J. Zhang, and D.S. Kaufman. In vitro and in vivo characterization of human embryonic stem cell-derived vascular progenitor cells (In preparation).

A1.

Alvarez, D., and M.I. Townsley. Are P450 epoxygenase arachidonic acid derivatives (EETs) involved in lung endothelial permeability after chronic heart failure? Proceedings of the Gulf Coast Physiological Society meeting, 2002.

A2.

Alvarez, D., and M.I. Townsley. Are P450 epoxygenase arachidonic acid derivatives (EETs) involved in lung endothelial permeability after chronic heart failure (HF)?  FASEB J. 164: A402, 2002.

A3.

Alvarez, D., and M.I. Townsley. Role of P450 epoxygenases in regulation of lung   endothelial permeability. Proceedings of the Grover conference on pro-inflammatory signaling mechanisms in the pulmonary circulation, 2002.

A4.

Alvarez, D., and M.I. Townsley. Role of P450 arachidonic acid metabolites in regulation of endothelial cell permeability in rat lung. FASEB J. 17: A85, 2003.

A5.

Gjerde, E.A.B., D. Alvarez, T. Stevens, and M.I. Townsley. Role of 14,15- and 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in activation of store-operated calcium channels in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Proceedings of the Scandinavian Congress of Physiology and Pharmacology, 2003.

A6.

Alvarez, D., J.A. King, and M.I. Townsley. Evaluation of Ca++ entry-induced lung injury in heart failure. Proceedings of the Gulf Coast Physiological Society meeting, 2004.

A7.

Alvarez, D., J.A. King, and M.I. Townsley. Structural analysis of Ca++ entry-induced pulmonary endothelial cell injury. FASEB J. (Late Breaking Abstract), 2004.

A8.

Alvarez, D., J.A. King, and M.I. Townsley. Adaptive mechanisms underlying resistance to acute lung injury in heart failure. Am. J. Resp. Crit. Care Med. 169(7): A157, 2004.

A9.

Alvarez, D., J.A. King, and M.I. Townsley. Underlying protection to store depletion-induced endothelial cell injury in rat lung after heart failure. Proceedings of the Grover Conference on genetic and environmental determinants of pulmonary endothelial cell function, 2004.

A10.

Alvarez, D., and M.I. Townsley. A novel role for TRPV4 in regulation of pulmonary endothelial permeability. Proceedings of the Gulf Coast Physiological Society meeting, 2005.

A11.

Alvarez, D., and M.I. Townsley. A novel role for TRPV4 in regulation of pulmonary endothelial permeability. FASEB J. 19: A172, 2005.

A12.

Alvarez, D., H. Chen, J.A. King, T. Stevens and M.I. Townsley. Application of vascular corrosion casting to characterize spatial injury “fingerprints” induced by Ca++ entry in rat lung endothelium. Proceedings of the Southeastern Microscopy Society 25: 2005.

A13.

Parker, J.C., D. Drake, J.A. King, D. Alvarez, M.I. Townsley, S. Yoshikawa. Vascular segmental leak in lungs after high airway pressure inflation. Microsc. Microanal. 11 (Suppl. 2) LBP 8, 2005.

A14.

Alvarez, D., J.A. King, W. Liedtke, and M.I. Townsley. Ca2+ entry via TRPV4 increases endothelial permeability in mouse lung septal capillaries. FASEB J. 20: A747, 2006.

A15

Schaphorst, K.L., D. Alvarez, B. and Troyanovsky. Thrombin enhances the barrier function of rat microvascular endothelium in a PAR1-dependent manner. Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 3: A307, 2006.

A16.

Lowe, K., D. Alvarez, J.C. Parker, T. Stevens. Phenotypic differences in the pulmonary vascular endothelium are revealed by leak sites and the shape of the pressure/volume curve. Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 3: A310, 2006.

A17.

King J.A., D. Alvarez, and M.I. Townsley. Correlative microscopic analysis of pulmonary endothelial leak sites. S.E. Biology 53 (2): 230, 2006.

A18.

Alvarez, D., M.C. Yoder, L. Huang, J.A. King, and T. Stevens. Adult microvascular endothelium is enriched with high proliferative potential progenitor cells that possess angiogenic capacity. Proceedings of the 4th annual meeting, International Society for Stem Cell Research. 101: 203, 2006.

A19.

Alvarez, D., M.C. Yoder, L. Huang, J.A. King, and T. Stevens. Adult microvascular endothelium is enriched with high proliferative potential progenitor cells that possess angiogenic capacity. Gordon Conference in Endothelial Cell Phenotypes in Health and Disease. Biddeford, Maine, 2006.

A20.

Alvarez D., M. Yoder, L. Huang, and T. Stevens. Presence of high proliferative potential resident endothelial progenitor cells within the lung microcirculation. FASEB J. 21 (6): A1434-a, 2007.

A21.

Alvarez D., M. Yoder, L. Huang, J.A. King, and T. Stevens. Lung microvascular resident endothelial progenitor cells exhibit high vasculogenic capacity. FASEB J. 21 (6): A856-a, 2007.

A22.

Clark, J., D. Alvarez, J. A. King, M. Alexeyev, M. Yoder, L. Huang, and T. Stevens. Essential role of nucleosome assembly protein in pulmonary endothelial vasculogenesis. FASEB J. 21 (6): A1434, 2007.

A23.

Hamanaka K., D. Alvarez, M.I. Townsley, W. Liedtke, and J.C. Parker. TRPV4 regulates the calcium-dependent acute permeability increase during ventilator-induced lung injury in isolated mouse lungs. Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 175: A222, 2007.

A24.

Casserly B., J.D. Murray, D. Alvarez, J.R. Klinger, and E.O. Harrington. Rottlerin causes pulmonary edema in vivo: a possible role for PKCδ. Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 175: A235, 2007.

A25.

D. Alvarez, M.K. ElZarrad, J.A. King, J. Wiener-Kronish, M.C. Yoder, and T. Stevens. Infusion of Resident Microvascular Endothelial Progenitor Cells promotes repair of the endothelial barrier during acute lung injury. Proc. Am. Thorac. Soc. 117: A230, 2008.

A26.

D. Alvarez, D. Robinson, M.K. ElZarrad, T. Stevens, and J.A. King. Apical secretion of collagen II from endothelial cells precedes blood vessel formation during postnatal vasculogenesis. FASEB J. 22: 1178.13, 2008.

A27.

D. Alvarez, M.C. Yoder, M. Alexeyev, and T. Stevens. Nucleosome assemble protein 1 (NAP-1) determines the progenitor status of endothelial cells. FASEB J. 22: 1178.12, 2008.

A28.

G. Parra-Bonilla, D. Alvarez, D. Cioffi, and T. Stevens. Lung microvascular endothelial cells utilize aerobic glycolysis (e.g. Warburg effect) to sustain rapid proliferation. FASEB J. 22: 1178.9, 2008.

A29.

G. Parra-Bonilla, D. Alvarez, D. Cioffi, and T. Stevens. Glucose restriction inhibits glycolytix flux and limits proliferation in lung microvascular endothelial cells. FASEB J. 22: 1178.10, 2008.

A30.

N. Prasain, D. Alvarez, D.W. Frank, and T. Stevens. Exo Y increases Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. FASEB J. 22: 928.6, 2008.

A31.

King J., S. Agarwal, E. Syklawer, N. Prasain, H. Chen, J. Resmondo, F. McDonald, N. Bauer, D. Alvarez, S. Wu, T. Stevens, L. Shevde, T. Moore, and M. Townsley. Quantum Dots–TEM Applications. Proceedings of the Southeastern Microscopy Society 28: 2008.

A32.

Alvarez, D., M.C. Yoder, M. Alexeyev, and T. Stevens. Nucleosome assemble protein 1 (NAP-1) determines the progenitor status of endothelial cells. Gordon Conference in Endothelial Cell Phenotypes in Health and Disease. Biddeford, Maine, 2008.

A33.

Hill K.L., P. Obrtlikova, D. Alvarez, J.A. King, Q. Li, J. Zhang, and D.S. Kaufman. In vitro and in vivo characterization of human embryonic stem cell-derived CD34+ cells that function as pericytes with endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell potential. Blood (In press), 2009.

1.

Stevens, T. and D.F. Alvarez, Resident Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Progenitor Cells, in: Textbook of Pulmonary Vascular Disease, 2008 (In preparation).

2.

Yoder, M.C. and D.F. Alvarez, Circulating and Vascular Progenitor Cells in Lung Injury and Pulmonary Hypertension, in: APS handbook in Pulmonary Circulation and Non-Respiratory Functions, 2008 (In preparation).

2002

Gulf Coast Physiological Society Meeting (Jackson, Mississippi): “Are P450 epoxygenase arachidonic acid derivatives (EETs) involved in lung endothelial permeability after chronic heart failure?”

2002

Experimental Biology International Meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana): “Are P450 epoxygenase arachidonic acid derivatives (EETs) involved in lung endothelial permeability after chronic heart failure (HF)?”

2003

Experimental Biology International Meeting (San Diego, California): “Role of P450 arachidonic acid metabolites in regulation of endothelial cell permeability in rat lung”

2004

Gulf Coast Physiological Society Meeting (Mobile, Alabama): “Evaluation of Ca++ entry-induced lung injury in heart failure”

2004

Microscopy and Microanalysis International Meeting (Savannah, Georgia): “Evaluation of endothelial permeability by a corrosion casting technique”

2005

Gulf Coast Physiological Society Meeting (New Orleans, Louisiana): “A novel role for TRPV4 in regulation of pulmonary endothelial permeability”

2005

Southeastern Microscopy Society Meeting (Pensacola, Florida): “Application of vascular corrosion casting to characterize spatial injury fingerprints induced by Ca++ entry in rat lung endothelium”

2005

Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Seminar, LSU, Health Medical Center (New Orleans, Louisiana): “Regulation of pulmonary endothelial permeability by distinct Ca++ entry pathways”

2006

Experimental Biology International Meeting (San Francisco, California): “Activation of TRPV4 increases endothelial permeability in lung septal capillaries”

2006

Vascular Biology Seminar, St. Michael’s Hospital (Toronto, Canada): “Contribution of Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelium in Maintenance of Barrier Integrity and Their Reparative Capacity Following Lung Injury

2006

Gordon conference in endothelial cell phenotypes in Health and Disease (Biddeford, Maine): “ Adult Lung microvascular endothelium is enriched with high proliferative potential progenitor cells that possess angiogenic capacity”

2007

Experimental Biology International Meeting (Washington, D.C.): “Lung microvascular resident endothelial progenitor cells exhibit high vasculogenic capacity”

2007

American Thoracic Society International Conference (San Francisco, California): “Cell-based therapies in ALI using endothelial progenitors derived from vascular wall”

2008

American Federation for Medical Research Symposium (San Diego, California): “Cell-based therapies in the horizon for treating ALI/ARDS”

2008

American Thoracic Society International Conference (Toronto, Canada): “Infusion of Resident Microvascular Endothelial Progenitor Cells promotes repair of the endothelial barrier during acute lung injury”

2008

Pulmonary Endothelial Cell Symposium (Richmond, Virginia): “Pulmonary Endothelial Stem Cells”

2008

Gordon conference in endothelial cell phenotypes in Health and Disease (Biddeford, Maine): “Nucleosome Assemble Protein 1 (NAP-1) determines the progenitor status of endothelial cells”

2003

Odyssey Program: “Systemic arterial hypertension: The hidden enemy”

2004

Odyssey Program: “Heart failure: A big heart is not necessary a good one”

2004

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division Conference: “Unveiling adaptive mechanisms to acute lung injury in heart failure”

2006

Critical Care Conference: “Exploring the role of cell based therapy in the treatment of Acute Lung Injury”

2007

Special Topics for Graduate Basic Medical Sciences trainees: “The history of ARDS”

2006 - Current

American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology

2006 - Current

Microvascular Research

2000 - Current

American Physiological Society

2000 - Current

Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine

2000 - Current

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

2004 - Current

Southeastern Microscopy Society

2005 - Current

International Society for Stem Cell Research

Emile Addison, University of South Alabama, 2005 - 2006

Susan Weinholz, exchange student, Hochschule Magdegurg-Stendal, Germany, 2006 - 2007

Elexissca N. Morriessette, Biology major, University of South Alabama, 2008 - Current

William Porr, University of South Alabama, 2003

Christopher Robin Bailey, University of South Alabama, 2006

Daniel Robinson, University of South Alabama, 2007

Sailaja Allamneni, University of South Alabama, 2008

Anthony J. Wright, Surgeon resident, University of South Alabama, 2007 - 2008

Tung Trang, Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow, University of South Alabama, 2008 - Current

2006 - Current

Trainee Representative, Steering Committee, Respiratory Section-American Physiological Society

1997 - 1999

Academic Committee (member), Allied Health Programs, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

1997 - 1998

Occupational Health Committee (chair), Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali, Colombia

2001 - 2004

Biomedical Library Committee (member), University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2002 - 2005

Graduate Student Representative for the Department of Physiology, Biomedical Science Student Organization, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2003 - 2004

Executive Committee (member), Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Basic Medical Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

2007 - Current

Acute Lung Injury Journal Club (Coordinator)

2008 - Current

Graduate Student Advisor, Biomedical Science Student Organization, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama

1997 - 1998

Health care brigade coordinator, health care unit that assisted underprivileged regions in rural areas, Cali, Colombia

1997 - 1999

Asthma Club Director, a program directed to educate families of patients with asthma. Universidad Santiago de Cali in association with Glaxo and Böehringer laboratories, Cali, Colombia

2004 - Current

Sponsor of underprivileged children for elementary education, Fundacion Caritas al Sol, Cali, Colombia

2005 - 2006

Monitor of a workshop in cardio-electrophysiology for middle school girls, Expanding Your Horizons, a community program on careers in Science, Mobile, Alabama