Ernesto Moralez, a distinguished public health professor, researcher, and certified health education specialist, has left an indelible mark in the field of public health. His extensive academic journey includes positions at St. Lawrence University, New Mexico State University, the University of Colorado-Denver, and the Metropolitan State University of Denver. Moralez’s research shifted from program implementation to crafting enriching educational experiences for students studying population health and health promotion.
Ernesto Moralez co-developed the Health Disparities Field Experience (HDFE) through a partnership between the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and NMSU. In 2020, he led a three-week field experience for students from the UW School of Public Health and NMSU, immersing them in the US-Mexico border and the Navajo Reservation.
The HDFE aimed to make students active participants in understanding resource-deprived regions and the sociocultural factors affecting health disparities. His cancer research extends to the experiences of young Latina cancer survivors living along the US-Mexico border, exploring their challenges, strengths, and support systems. The findings led to the creation of a support group for Latina mothers with cancer and were published in the