Rafael Perez-Escamilla PhD

Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases); Director, Office of Public Health Practice

Biographical Info

Dr. Rafael Pérez-Escamilla is Professor of Epidemiology & Public Health and Director, Office of Community Health, Yale School of Public Health. He is also Director and PI of the Connecticut NIH EXPORT Center of Excellence for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (CEHDL). His public health nutrition and food security research has led to improvements in breastfeeding promotion, iron deficiency anemia among infants (by delaying the clamping of the umbilical cord after birth), household food security measurement and outcomes, and community nutrition education programs worldwide. His health disparities research involves assessing the impact of community health workers at improving behavioral and metabolic outcomes among Latinos with type 2 diabetes. He has published over 100 research articles and over 300 conference abstracts, book chapters, and technical reports.

International Activity

  • Harmonization of household food security measurements in Latin America and Caribbean Region
    Brazil (2007 - 2010)
    Senior leadership for Latin American & Caribbean household food security measurement (project ELCSA)
  • Nutrition, food security and human rights
    Rwanda (2004 - 2010)
    Keynote speaker for annual human rights youth leadership intergenerational forums
  • Brazilian household food security measurement project
    Brazil (2003 - 2010)
    Senior advisor to Brazilian government national household food security measurement project (EBIA initiative)

Education & Training

B.S.
Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City (1982)
M.S.
University of California at Davis (1985)
Ph.D.
University of California at Davis (1991)

Honors & Recognition

  • University of Connecticut UNESCO Chair Human Rights Award
    University of Connecticut UNESCO Chair (2010)
  • 2010 Dietary Guidelines Scientific Advisory Committee
    Appointed by US Secretaries of Agriculture and Health (2008)
  • Pan American Health & Education Foundation (PAHEF) trustee
    PAHEF (2009)

Professional Service

  • Committee Member, IOM (12/15/2007 - 12/15/2009)
  • Committee Member, USDA & DHHS (11/15/2008 - 05/30/2010)
  • Chair-elect, American Society for Nutrition International Nutrition Council (05/15/2010 - 05/15/2012)
  • Vice-chair, American Society for Nutrition Minority Affairs Committee (05/15/2010 - 05/15/2011)
  • Chairman of scientific planning committee, International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation (04/14/2009 - 10/15/2010)
  • co-chair, SustiNet (01/15/2010 - 05/15/2010)
  • Editorial board member, Journal of Nutrition (2002-2007) Journal Human Lactation (1999-date) Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition (2006-date) (01/15/1999 - 10/01/2010)
  • ad-hoc reviewer, peer reviewed journals (01/15/1990 - 10/01/2010)

Edit Profile