Dr. Prado | Department of Public Health Sciences | University of Miami

Dr. Guillermo “Willy” Prado Named President of the Society for Prevention Research

Guillermo “Willy” Prado, Ph.D., dean of the University of Miami Graduate School and professor of public health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was named president of the Society for Prevention Research (SPR).

Dr. Prado, who is also the director of the Division of Prevention Science and Community Health at the Miller School’s Department of Public Health Sciences, began the role on June 1.

“I’m very excited to be able to give back to the organization that I feel I’ve benefitted so much from,” Dr. Prado said.

During his 17-year SPR membership, Dr. Prado has served on the Board of Directors, the Diversity Network Committee, the Nominations Committee, the Early Career Preventionists Network, the Fellows Selection Committee, and as chair of the 2013 SPR Annual Meeting. Dr. Prado has also been awarded a myriad of awards from SPR, including the Friend of ECPN (Early Career Preventionist Network) award for his commitment to mentoring young professionals in his field.

“Dr. Prado’s vision, passion, and commitment to the advancement of prevention science world-wide will provide outstanding leadership to SPR over the next two years,” said outgoing SPR President Dr. Leslie Leve, a professor at the University of Oregon.

SPR is an organization that is focused on advancing scientific investigation into the etiology and prevention of social, physical and mental health, and academic problems, and on the translation of that information to promote health and well-being.

In a statement, SPR said, “Dr. Prado’s extensive involvement in the organization is due to his dedication to the field of prevention science, his interest in improving the lives of the communities he serves, and his commitment to the training of the next generation of prevention scientists.”

His research, which focuses on the development and evaluation of parenting interventions for Hispanic youth and their families, has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute Minority and Health Disparities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“His commitment to educating and mentoring early career scientists is evident by the fact that the Division of Prevention Science and Community Health at the University of Miami houses one of a small but growing number of doctoral programs in prevention science in the U.S.,” the SPR statement added.

Written by Amanda Torres

Published on June 12, 2019