Familias Unidas Team Members

Name and email

Role and Bio


Guillermo Prado, PhD
gprado@miami.edu

Role: Professor

Bio: Guillermo “Willy” Prado, PhD, is an internationally recognized prevention scientist and senior academic leader whose work has significantly shaped the field of adolescent health and health‐disparities prevention. Dr. Prado is best known for developing and evaluating Familias Unidas, one of the most rigorously tested and widely cited family-based interventions for preventing substance use, unsafe sexual behavior, and mental-health problems among Hispanic adolescents. Further, Dr. Prado is developer of Familias con Orgullo, an intervention to help families with LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) youth. His NIH-funded program of research spans multiple randomized controlled trials, hybrid effectiveness–implementation studies, and culturally grounded eHealth adaptations, solidifying his reputation as a leading scholar in prevention science. Administratively, he has overseen university-wide faculty processes, strengthened mentoring and leadership development, expanded graduate education programs, and promoted interdisciplinary research collaborations. His combined scientific and administrative leadership continues to advance both the University of Miami and the broader field of public health prevention.


Yannine Estrada, PhD
yestrada@miami.edu

 

 

 

 

 

Role: Research Assistant Professor

Bio: Yannine Estrada, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies whose academic work centers on preventing health disparities among Hispanic adolescents through culturally grounded, family-based, and technology-enhanced interventions. Her scholarship bridges prevention science, mHealth innovation, and adolescent behavioral health, with a strong emphasis on reducing drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and depressive symptoms. Dr. Estrada has led and collaborated on multiple NIH-funded trials, including the development and evaluation of eHealth Familias Unidas and Familias con Orgullo, and she is deeply involved in advancing next-generation digital intervention models. In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Estrada plays a significant role in doctoral education, designing and teaching graduate-level courses in intervention development and clinical trials, mentoring emerging scholars, and shaping the next generation of prevention scientists. Outside of work Dr. Estrada spends time travelling, homemaking, socializing, and playing with her two dogs, Chui and Ziggy.


Maria I. Tapia, LCSW, PhD
m.tapia1@med.miami.edu

Role: Manager Clinical Research

Bio: Dr. Tapia is a licensed professional psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience conducting research studies at the University of Miami.  She has dedicated her career to the prevention and treatment of adolescent substance use, behavioral problems, sexual risk behaviors and mental health with Hispanic families.  In her role as a senior researcher and clinical expert of evidence-based practices, she has trained and supervised agencies and therapists in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe.  She has participated in groundbreaking, NIH-funded behavioral clinical trials, and has authored several articles and book chapters in minority HIV, drug abuse, mental health, and LGBTQ+ issues taking into consideration the cultural context and functioning of the Hispanic family. She was the recipient of a fellowship grant from The Center of Human Rights & Social Justice (DHRSJ), to conduct research with (LGBT+) population.  She enjoys traveling, cooking, and sharing life with family and friends.


Alyssa Lozano, PhD
adl122@miami.edu

Role: Research Assistant Professor

Bio: Dr. Alyssa Lozano is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. She began her research journey in 2017 as a Research Assistant in the Familias Unidas Prevention and Behavioral Health Lab, where she worked closely with families participating in ongoing studies. Inspired by her experiences in the field, Dr. Lozano earned both her Master’s and Ph.D. in Prevention Science and Community Health from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Following the completion of her doctorate, she joined the School of Nursing and Health Studies faculty as a Research Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on developing implementation strategies that promote the adoption and implementation of family-based programs aimed at preventing drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and mental health challenges among Hispanic youth. A Miami native, Dr. Lozano enjoys reading, practicing yoga and Pilates, and spending quality time with her family in her free time.


Maria V. Alfaro
m.alfaro@med.miami.edu

 

Role: Manager Research Support

Bio: Maria Veronica Alfaro is a Manager of Research Support at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies team. She began her journey in 2009 as a Research Assistant in the Familias Unidas team. At the University of Miami, Veronica supports both projects Familias Unidas and Familias con Orgullo. In her role as a manager, she coordinates and assists with keeping the studies running smoothly. She also helps with participant recruitment, community outreach, and data collection. Outside of work, Veronica loves spending time with her family especially her son and mother

 


Rosalba Serralta RSerralta@med.miami.edu

Role: Research Assistant

Bio: Rosalba Serralta has been a dedicated member of the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies team for 15 years, bringing warmth, consistency, and exceptional communication skills to every project. As a Research Assistant, she not only supports day-to-day research tasks but also plays a key role in keeping participant retention rates high. Rosalba is often the go-to-person for reaching participants who are difficult to contact, thanks to her patience, resourcefulness, and genuine rapport with the community. Her commitment and steady presence make her an invaluable part of the team. Outside of work, Rosalba loves spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter, who brings her endless joy.

 


Diego Reyes
djr256@miami.edu

Role: Research Assistant

Bio: Diego Reyes is a Research Assistant at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University in 2023.

At the University of Miami, Diego plays an active role in both Familias Unidas and Familias con Orgullo projects. In his role as an Assessor, he helps with participant recruitment, community outreach, and data collection. He works closely with the team to manage REDCap projects, data collection, and help keep the studies' surveys running smoothly. He also serves as a Facilitator when needed, focusing on reducing health disparities among Hispanic adolescents through the Familias Unidas family-based interventions that address substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and mental health.
This experience has strengthened his interest in pursuing graduate studies in neuroscience to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying behavioral health.

 


Kelly Barbosa
kcb84@miami.edu

Role: Research Assistant

Bio: Kelly Barbosa is a Research Assistant at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies. She earned her B.S in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida. She later attended the Universidad Iberoamericana School of Medicine in the Dominican Republic, where she completed medical school with a subspecialty focus in Tropical Medicine. She intends to pursue residency in Family Medicine or Emergency Medicine, with a strong passion for working with underserved populations, giving back to her community, and promoting a healthy lifestyle both physically and mentally.

Through her clinical rotations, Kelly gained hands-on experience working with both children and adults across diverse healthcare settings. At the University of Miami, she has contributed to several research projects, including Familias Unidas, Familias con Orgullo, and CLaRO. Her responsibilities include survey data collection, participant engagement, qualitative tasks, and guiding participants through the recruitment process. She also conducts adherence ratings for various agencies involved in the Familias Unidas projects.

Outside the lab, Kelly enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and dog. She is an endurance athlete who loves marathon training, cycling, the gym, hiking, and pretty much anything that gets her outdoors.


Andrea Lopez
axl4424@miami.edu

Role: Research Assistant

Bio: Andrea Lopez is a research assistant at the University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University (FIU) in 2022 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in counseling psychology at FIU, with an expected graduation date of July 2026. Andrea has clinical experience working with children and adolescents, providing assessment support, intervention assistance, and skill-building. At the University of Miami, Andrea has contributed to multiple projects, including Familias Unidas, Familias con Orgullo, and CLaRO. Within the lab, she serves as an assessor and plays an active role in participant recruitment, surveying, data collection, and community outreach.

 

PAST TEAM MEMBERS

Maria Rosa Velzaquez

Maria Rosa Velazquez was a longstanding and integral member of the Familias Unidas team from 2009 to 2024, serving in both managerial and senior leadership roles. Over her 15-year tenure, she led the assessment team with consistency and rigor, overseeing day-to-day operations, supervising staff, and ensuring the integrity and quality of data collection across multiple large-scale research studies. Her leadership contributed to the successful implementation of complex protocols and the maintenance of high research standards. She currently serves as a Project Director in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, where she continues to apply her expertise in research operations, team leadership, and study coordination.

 

Tae Kyoung Lee

Tae Kyoung Lee, PhdD. joined the Familias Unidas team in 2015 and remained an integral member until 2022, providing advanced statistical expertise to support rigorous evaluation and analysis across multiple studies. His contributions were instrumental in strengthening the team’s ability to assess intervention outcomes and underlying mechanisms. Beyond his technical expertise, Dr. Lee was a highly valued and beloved member of the team, and he continues to collaborate closely with the group. Dr. Lee is currently an Associate Professor at Sungkyunkwan University, where he leads both the Department of Child Psychology and Education and the Early Childhood Education and Child Care Program. His research focuses on advancing knowledge in health and behavioral science, particularly in intervention development and evaluation. With a strong foundation in quantitative and applied methods, his work integrates innovative, evidence-based approaches with practical implementation strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities across diverse populations.

 

SELECTED PAST TRAINEES

Manny Ocasio

Manny Ocasio, PhD, trained with the Familias Unidas team from 2013 to 2018 as both a doctoral and postdoctoral fellow, where he contributed to research on family-based interventions and adolescent health. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Tulane University School of Medicine and serves as Director of Behavioral Research and Community Engagement for NOLAHYPE, a program within Adolescent Medicine.

NOLAHYPE is dedicated to reducing health inequities and promoting healthy development among queer and trans youth (QTY) through community-driven research, youth-centered outreach, and innovations in primary care. Dr. Ocasio serves as Principal Investigator or Multiple Principal Investigator on several original research studies and co-leads the Tulane site of the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV Interventions (ATN), the only national research network focused exclusively on ending the HIV epidemic among adolescents.

His program of research centers on addressing HIV-related health inequities affecting QTY in the U.S. South, with a particular focus on Black and Latinx youth.

 

Padideh Lovan

Padideh Lovan PhD, RD, LDN was a post-doctoral student on the Familias Unidas team from 2021 – 2025. She is currently an assistant professor at Florida International University’s Department of Dietetics and Nutrition. Dr. Lovan studies how different factors in young people’s lives influence behaviors that can increase cancer risk, such as unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Her current work looks at how a combination of personal factors (like thoughts and emotions), family relationships, and the environments where youth live and spend time all work together to shape their health.

 

Beck Graefe

Beck Graefe, PhD ,was a doctoral student with the Familias Unidas team from 2022 to 2025, where he contributed to research on family-based interventions and data analysis. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Graefe’s research focuses on quantitative methods, with an emphasis on applying advanced statistical approaches to better understand behavioral health outcomes and improve the rigor of intervention research.

 

Alejandra Fernandez

Alejandra Fernández, PhD, was a post-doctoral student with the Familias Unidas team from 2019 – 2021. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health whose research focuses on adolescent health, family functioning, and the prevention of obesity and related risk behaviors among Hispanic youth. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas A&M University and earned her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Fernández subsequently pursued postdoctoral training at the University of Miami through an NIH/NIDA Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, where she examined family functioning as a key mechanism influencing adolescents’ substance use and sexual health outcomes.

 

Sara St. George

Sara St. George. Sara M. St. George, Ph.D. was a post-doctoral student with the Familias Unidas team from 2014-2016. She is currently an Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she also directs the Master of Science in Prevention Science and Community Health program. Her work focuses on developing and evaluating theoretically grounded digital (web- and mobile) interventions to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent obesity, and reduce chronic disease risk—especially within Hispanic and other underserved families and communities. At UM, she leads the Health eLifestyles Lab, mentoring students and trainees while advancing research on family-based health promotion and preventive interventions. Dr. St. George’s contributions to public health science have earned her recognition as a “Rising Star” by the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida.

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