“I am delighted to announce that Dr. Guillermo “Willy” Prado has agreed to serve as interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. He is tasked with maintaining a focus on continuous improvement across our schools and colleges and enhancing the reputation of our academic programs,” said Julio Frenk, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.P.H., President of the University of Miami, professor of public health sciences and health sector management and policy.

Dr. Prado is an alumnus of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences, earning his Ph.D. in epidemiology and public health in 2005.  

He joined the University's faculty in 2007, and since then, he has made an impact in the field of prevention research, particularly with regard to Latino health inequalities.

“Dr. Prado is a recognized researcher on adolescent health and prevention, who was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) in 2021,” said President Frenk, making him one of eight University of Miami faculty members who are current members of NAM.

His research has appeared in over 190 peer-reviewed articles and chapters. Over the past 20 years, he has received more than $100 million in NIH funding as the primary investigator, co-principal investigator, or mentor. He is currently the principal investigator on two NIH R01 grants worth a combined $7 million. 

Dr. Prado established the Division of Prevention Science and Community Health at the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences in 2011, where he was in charge of hiring faculty and creating two graduate programs in prevention science.

He has been in charge of the Graduate School’s more than 200 doctoral and master’s degrees since 2016 in his capacity as dean. 2018 saw the addition of the Postdoctoral Programs Office, which is in charge of all postdoctoral matters at the University, to the Graduate School thanks to his leadership. He also currently serves as the University’s vice provost for faculty affairs.

Dr. Prado has held various leadership positions, including past president of the Society for Prevention Research, a current member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Academies of Science, Medicine, and Engineering of Florida, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of  Research! America – the biggest not-for-profit organization in the nation dedicated to giving health research a higher national priority.

In addition to his research and current administration positions, Dr. Prado is a professor of nursing and health studies, public health sciences, and psychology at the University of Miami.

Dr. Prado will be responsible for keeping a focus on developing academic programs and enhancing the university’s reputation in his new post. He aspires to change the future of education both at the university and globally, while also assisting academics and students in doing creative research and putting it into practice.

“I am grateful to the faculty, students, and staff of the Department of Public Health Sciences, my academic home for many years. The department helped me to become a better researcher, teacher, and paved the way for my entry into academic leadership,” said Dr. Prado. 

Dr. Prado will collaborate closely with the university's president and other leaders to ensure a smooth transition in the division of academic affairs, following the departure of the current provost, Jeffrey Duerk.

Written by Deycha Torres Hernández

Published on June 26, 2023