Maria Fernanda Gutierrez

Maria Fernanda Gutierrez has a diverse range of work experience in public health and healthcare. Maria Fernanda has worked as a Director of Health Policy Research at The Health Management Academy since 2023. Prior to this, they served as a Senior Program Manager at the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, where they oversaw the management and implementation of CDC-funded projects focused on health equity and addressing health disparities in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

Before that, Maria Fernanda worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a Public Health Advisor, where they provided technical assistance and conducted reports for assessing and evaluating program operations. Maria Fernanda also served as a Partnerships & Risk Management Lead and participated as an objective review panelist for funding opportunities related to HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB prevention.

Maria Fernanda also had experience at the California Department of Public Health, where they worked as an Outbreak Response Epidemiologist and a COVID-19 Outbreak Response Liaison. In these roles, they collaborated with health departments and correctional facilities to detect and respond to TB outbreaks and provide consultation on infection control and prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally, Maria Fernanda worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at the UF Health Cancer Center and as a Quality Improvement Project Manager at the UF Health Department of Neurosurgery & Neuromedicine. Maria Fernanda also has experience in maternal and prenatal care assistance and case management as a Prenatal Care Specialist at WellFlorida Council.

Before their career in public health, Maria Fernanda worked as a Community Assistant at American Campus Communities and as a Medical Mobile Outreach Liaison at the University of Florida College of Medicine's Equal Access Clinic, providing healthcare services to the uninsured and underserved community.

Maria Fernanda Gutierrez's education history includes a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General from the University of Florida. Maria Fernanda also obtained an International Baccalaureate Degree-GED from Coral Gables Senior High School. Additionally, they pursued a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Florida.

In terms of additional certifications, Maria Fernanda Gutierrez has an Instructional Design Certificate from the Association for Talent Development (ATD), obtained in July 2022. Maria Fernanda also completed an Introduction to Policy Analysis in Public Health course from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in May 2021. Furthermore, they completed a Tuberculosis Contact Investigation Training from the UCSF Francis J. Curry National Tuberculosis Center in March 2021.

Maria Fernanda Gutierrez has obtained other certifications, including Planning and Budgeting for Public Health: The Business Plan from the University of Minnesota Medical School in February 2020 and An Introduction to the National Incident Command Management System from FEMA in December 2019. Maria Fernanda also completed Practical Program Evaluation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in November 2019 and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement - Open School from IHI in March 2018.

Furthermore, they have completed certifications in HIV Testing and Counseling from the Florida Department of Health in June 2017. Lastly, they hold CPR certification for adults, infants, and children, as well as First Aid and AED training from the American Heart Association | American Stroke Association.