2024 HOLA Board Members

PRESIDENT AND COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR – Dr. Teresa Palacios Hernandez, PhD, DABT

Dr. Teresa Palacios Hernandez is a Board-Certified Toxicologist (DABT), serving as Senior Staff Fellow Biologist in the Division of Joint Arthroplasty Devices (DHT6A), Office of Health Technology 6 (OHT6), Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ), CDRH/FDA, specialized in the TPLC evaluation of different orthopedic devices and surgical instruments received in OHT6. She is also a consultant in the areas of toxicological risk assessment, general biocompatibility and sterility. 

Dr. Palacios obtained her Doctoral Degree in Chemical Sciences (Major in Inorganic Chemistry) from Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (BUAP), Mexico, in 2012 and, before joining OPEQ, she performed three postdoctoral appointments in the Division of Biology, Chemistry and Materials Science at CDRH (2016–2019), in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University (2014–2016), and in the Department of Food and Chemical Engineering at UDLAP University in Mexico (2014), as nanotoxicology specialist. As part of the scientific outreach and DEI&B activities where Dr. Palacios participates, she is currently Co-Chair in the OPEQ Belong Committee, where she coordinates the activities from this committee in CDRH-OPEQ. She previously participated in this committee as OHT6 representative (2022), volunteering in the editorial team for the OPEQ Belong Newsletter. Also, Dr. Palacios served as President of the Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists (HOT) in the Society of Toxicology (SOT) for period 2022-2023, where she was actively involved in different initiatives inside HOT, such as the coordination of the webinar series “Updates in Toxicology”, the elaboration of scientific and career development contributions for the HOT newsletter Toxenlaces, the coordination of mentoring activities for HOT in SOT annual meetings, and the coordination of Social Media inside this organization. Dr. Palacios is married, and she is a boy mom. She enjoys spending time with family, gardening, photography and cooking.

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SPECIAL EVENTS CO-CHAIR – Mr. Gregorio Vazquez, M. Eng.

Gregorio Vazquez is the Medical Products Branch Manager in the Division of Applications Services under the FDA Office of Digital Transformations.  His group supports application development, operations and other related services for CDRH, CDER, CBER, CTP, OIMT and OC.  Previous to the FDA, he worked in NASA, Harris Corporation, General Electric and the Federal Aviation Administration. He completed a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s in Engineering from the University of Maryland in College Park.   He is married with two grown children and resides in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

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SPECIAL EVENTS CO-CHAIR – Mrs. Martha Galindo, BS

Martha Galindo joined the Office of Digital Transformation (ODT), Immediate Office (IO), Strategy & Operations Staff (SOS) as a Program Support Specialist in July 2023. Martha has a diverse background of professions which include professional opera singer, a school educator, and most recently a Performing Arts Education and Community Engagement Program Manager. Martita grew up in North Potomac, MD, and lived in San Francisco for 13 years before moving back to Germantown in 2021. Martita’s family is Jewish-Colombian American, and includes her husband, Matthew, and two little ones, Diego (3) and Emma (1). Martita loves swimming, cooking, and rediscovering parks around the DMV with her family. Although new to the FDA, Martha’s last role in Community Engagement gave her the experience needed to uplift the special events committee in FDA HOLA. Martha is passionate and professionally experienced in the DEIA framework. She would like to broaden the presence of Latine Excellence in FDA, work alongside like-minded professionals that also want to promote the equity advancement of Latine in the agency, and build a deep community of friends who share her cultural identity and understand the nuances of our lived experiences. Martha would love to serve the FDA HOLA community. 

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CO-CHAIR – Dr. Gladys Vanessa Erives, PhD

Dr. Erives received a B.S. in Chemistry at the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Mexico, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arizona, Tucson. USA. Dr. Erives is currently a Senior Toxicologist at CDER. Prior to her role at CTP, she worked as a Supervisory Toxicologist at CTP, and as Regulatory Toxicologist at CFSAN/OFAS. She has participated in organizations such as SACNAS and the Society of Toxicology – Hispanic organization of Toxicologist (SOT-HOT) that promotes diversity and representation for scientists of Hispanic origin. She enjoys mentoring students and promoting STEM disciplines. She is a boy mom so part of her free time is driving to soccer tournaments, Jiu Jitsu, swimming and tennis lessons. Dr. Erives enjoys traveling, the beach, reading, and yoga.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CO-CHAIR – Dr. Jose Pablo Morales, MD

Jose Pablo Morales, MD, is a Senior Medical Advisor/Bioethics consultant in the Office of Clinical Policy (OCLiP) within the Office of the Commissioner at FDA. Dr. Morales received his MD from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Colombia, South America. He completed his clinical training in vascular and endovascular surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London, UK. In addition, he completed a 2-year endovascular research fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Morales joined the FDA in 2009 as a medical officer in CDRH Office of Cardiovascular Devices.  He provided clinical and regulatory recommendations for over 1000 clinical consults. These consults included but are not limited to original and panel track PMAs, traditional 510(k), original IDEs, early feasibility studies (EFS), breakthrough designation, recall classification and shortages assessments. Dr. Morales later served as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in CDRH Office of Clinical Evidence and Analysis.  

In addition to supporting CDRH review divisions with topics related to evidence generation and analysis, Dr. Morales also served as the CDRH Center-designee for the FDA IRB and CDRH liaison on several Agency-wide and external consortiums. Finally, under his current role as Senior Medical Advisor/Bioethics consultant, Dr. Morales provides expert opinion and bioethical support in regulatory submissions to review divisions across the Agency on a wide variety of complex ethical issues identified during the review of protocols and/or marketing applications.  Dr. Morales also participates in several ongoing cross-Agency working groups to develop policies intended to promote and incentivize diversity and inclusion in clinical trials (e.g., older adults’ guidance, race and ethnicity guidance).

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COMMUNICATIONS SPECIAL VOLUNTEER – Mr. Boris Jiron, BS

Boris Alberto Jiron is a Millennial born in Washington, D.C. to immigrant parents from El Salvador and Nicaragua, making him a first-generation Hispanic American. Professionally, Boris’ career began in 2008 as a student intern for Booz Allen Hamilton assisting a project team contracted by the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in the development of a drug tracking application. Prior to attending the University of Maryland: College Park (UMD), Boris interned with the Employee Resource and Information Center (ERIC) of the FDA as an Office Automation Clerk – providing assistance and support to various office programs servicing the FDA community and American public. His willingness to learn, explore opportunities, and continually improve the circumstances for all has produced tremendously rewarding personal and professional experiences and outcomes – today, Boris is a Management and Program Analyst with ERIC under the Office of Digital Transformation (ODT).

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SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB CO-CHAIR- Dr. Carolina Alvarez-Garriga, MD, Dr. PH

Dr. Carolina Alvarez-Garriga is a Medical Epidemiologist for the Division of Restorative, Repair and Trauma Devices, Fracture Fixation Devices Team in OHT6 since February 2021. She started working at FDA in 2012 at the former Division of Epidemiology (DEPI) in the Office of Surveillance and Biometrics (ODB), currently the Office of Clinical Evidence and Analysis (OCEA), primarily evaluating post-market studies, and conducting research on device performance. Before joining FDA, she worked as a faculty member for the University of Nevada in Reno, School of Public Health, and for the Ponce Health Science University, in the Public Health Program, teaching graduate courses in epidemiology and research methods for Public Health Master’s and Doctoral Students, as well as conducting epidemiology research. Dr. Alvarez-Garriga has a Doctoral Degree in Public Health (Dr.P.H.) with concentration in Epidemiology from the University of North Texas, a Medical Doctor degree (M.D.) from the Central University of Venezuela and completed a Medical Residency in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases at the University of Carabobo, Venezuela. 

SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB CO-CHAIR- Dr. Manuel Bayona, MD, PhD

Dr. Manuel Bayona was born and grew-up in Mexico City. Dr. Bayona studied Medicine and completed a master’s degree in Biostatistics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).  Dr. Bayona came to Baltimore to study a Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University.  He has worked over 20 years in academia teaching epidemiology and biostatistics to medical and public health students and conducting scientific research in Mexico, Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Puerto Rico and in several universities in the U.S. Dr. Bayona has published 86 scientific papers, 48 of them in peer reviewed journals, and 137 oral and poster presentations in scientific and professional meetings in the U.S. and internationally. I have also patented 3 medical devices in the U.S.  He has been working as a Lead Reviewer and Consultant for more than 11 years at FDA CDRH from March 25, 2012, to date, as Scientist Epidemiologist evaluating medical devices’ clinical research for safety and effectiveness at premarket and post-market areas.  

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SPANISH CONVERSATION CLUB SPECIAL VOLUNTEER – Mrs. Ana Zayas-Boone, BS

Ana Zayas-Boone started her full-time career as a Chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Safety and Inspections Services (FSIS) in Athens, Georgia for 12 years. Later, she started working for the Food and Drug Administration in March of 2017 as a Chemist for the Southeast Tobacco Laboratory in support of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) and their mission in regulating the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products. A year later, Ana got a detail/position as the Quality System Specialist for the Southeast Tobacco Laboratory on mid-November 2018 – present. She possesses a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Forensic Chemistry, with a minor in Psychology and Food Science from Ohio University and University of Puerto Rico, respectively.

Ana is a team player, outgoing and friendly; she is happily married to Ken Boone and has a daughter. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, physical fitness, hot-yoga, hiking and Pilates. 

SOCIETY FOR ADVANCEMENT OF CHICANOS/HISPANICS AND NATIVE AMERICANS IN SCIENCE (SACNAS) LIAISON – Mr. Asis Lopez, PhD Cand.

Asis Lopez is an ORISE Fellow with the Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL) in the Division of Applied Mechanics at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH). He is researching the bioeffects of high intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU) on blood vessels and surrounding tissue for Blood-Brain Barrier applications.

In 2015 Asis joined the FDA as a graduate student conducting post market surveillance with the Office of Product Evaulation and Quality (OPEQ) at CDRH. For two years, Asis conducted biomedical acoustics research as an NSF-FDA Scholar-in-Residence under OSEL. At Tulane University, he investigated the parameters that promoted growth and death in neurons with low intensity ultrasound for spinal cord injuries. As an NSF I-Corps Lead he conducted face-to-face market research to inform the commercialization of a levitation device providing blood coagulation analysis. Asis worked on the development of an FDA pre-approved medical device for Pectus Carinatum at the University of California, San Francisco Pediatric Device Consortium. In the UCSC Genome Sequencing Center Asis optimized the center’s library prep for next generation sequencing with automation. Asis earned his Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Biomedical Robotics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and is currently pursuing a PhD from Tulane University.

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HISPANICS OFFICERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (HOAC) LIAISON – LCDR Ramses Diaz-Vargas

LCDR Ramses Diaz-Vargas is a Health Care Administrator who earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and International Health Care Systems from Trident University, a Master of Science in Quality System Management from The National Graduate School of Quality Management and a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences and Industry from the University of Puerto Rico. He currently serves as Senior Technical Advisor at the Office of Digital Transformation (ODT) for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) providing direct support and technical advice to FDA Chief Information Officer and Executive Officer of ODT on strategic evaluation, and guidance for Agency-wide Information Technology (IT) infrastructure operations and policy and Artificial Intelligent (AI) services. LCDR Diaz-Vargas has been an active member of the Hispanic Officers Advisory Committee (HOAC) since 2014 and has helped to support the vision of the Office of the Surgeon General to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation, and promote the Hispanic interests and accomplishments within the USPHS. Currently, he serves as the 2022 HOAC Chair.

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HISPANICS OFFICERS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (HOAC) LIAISON – CDR Cesar Perez

Cesar Perez is a Commander (CDR) of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) and the Director of the Division of Establishment Support, Office of Regulatory Programs (ORP), Office of Product Evaluation and Quality (OPEQ), at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Division is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and processes related to medical devices’ imports, registration and listing, exports, regulatory inspections/audits and compliance programs. As the Director, he is responsible in providing strategic leadership for the Division and serves as the technical authority and principal advisor to the Office Director on medical devices programs. From 2015-2018, he was the Branch Chief of the Surveillance and Enforcement Branch I, Division of Premarket Labeling and Compliance, FDA, which is responsible for enforcing premarket requirements, as well as labeling and promotion/advertising requirements for medical devices. He previously worked for more than 7 years as a Consumer Safety Officer in different branches within the Office of Compliance, FDA.

CDR Perez attended the State University of New York at New Paltz in 1998, and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biology. In 2008, he received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from New York University School of Medicine’s Sackler Institute. CDR Perez also served in the United States Army Reserve from 1998-2006 as a Non-Commissioned Officer. In 2003, he was activated and served one year on active duty at Fort Hood, Texas in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) operation.

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Past Members

Dr. Almaris Alonso-Claudio, PhD, Past President

Dr. Almaris Alonso-Claudio is a mom, a wife, a scientist, an author, an inclusive leader, and works at CFSAN/OARSA. She attended public schools in Puerto Rico and finished a bachelor and a master’s degree at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez, a Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, completed her Postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and has finalized a leadership certificate, and two diversity, equity, and inclusion certificates at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Her work promoting equity and inclusion has been recognized with; The Woman Who Makes a Difference Award (UMASS-Amherst); The SACNAS Presidential Award (SACNAS 2007); and The Excellence in Equity Award, presented by the Boston Executive Board; and the 2022 Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for her role at CFSAN’s Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. Her illustrated children’s books promote inclusiveness, cultural awareness, empathy, and acceptance. Almaris enjoys traveling with her family, reading, writing, and drawing, swimming, trying new cultural-traditional recipes from around the world, and mentoring students in STEM disciplines.

Mrs. Gloria Sanchez-Contreras, MA, Past President (Co-chair)

Ms. Sanchez-Contreras is an international public affairs specialist and the national Spanish-language spokesperson and multicultural communications lead at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this role, she manages multilingual communications across FDA and works to “transcreate” culturally and linguistically educational materials and messages for diverse groups in the U.S.

Ms. Sanchez-Contreras, a native from Mexico City, received her MA in Digital Journalism and Public Affairs from American University and her BA in Radio, Television and Motion Picture from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also serves as a co-chair for HOLA, the FDA Hispanic employee resource group.

Mr. Asis Lopez, Co-Chair
LCDR Ramses Diaz-Vargas, Communications
CDR César Pérez, Events
Mrs. Elsie Figueroa, Council
Dr. Almaris Alonso-Claudio, Council
Mrs. Marisabel Rodriguez, HOLA-FFA Liaison