Year Graduated: 2006, 2009
Major: Master of Public Health; Ph.D., Epidemiology
Job Title: Program Coordinator, Infectious Disease Epidemiology Program, California Department of Public Health, Office of Binational Border Health
Dr. Esmeralda Iniguez-Stevens grew up in Imperial County, California in a binational and bicultural family. At an early age, she realized she wanted to pursue a career where she could help address international public health issues. During her graduate studies she had the opportunity to work with faculty addressing global health issues including a project working binationally with academic institutions in Baja California (BC). Dr. Iniguez-Steven’s expertise and deep knowledge of border health positioned her to start her career working for the California Department of Public Health Office of Binational Border Health (CDPH OBBH). As an infectious disease epidemiologist for CDPH OBBH, she currently focuses on enhancing detection and response to infectious disease incidents and threats in the border region. During this current COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Iniguez-Stevens’ office is responsible for serving as a communication liaison between the State of CA and BC on epidemiological matters related to the pandemic, conducting surveillance for binational cases, as well as working collaboratively with local, state and federal public health partners.
She shares that while pursuing her graduate studies at SDSU, faculty always went above and beyond the core teachings of the classroom to give students an opportunity to get field experience in public health both domestically and internationally. These experiences set the stage and gave her the necessary tools to do the work she does today in binational infectious disease epidemiology. Iniguez-Stevens can truly say she was very inspired and motivated by her graduate experience at SDSU, and in turn driven to pursue the career she is currently in.
Aztecs Making an Impact
