Hector Balcazar, PhD, MS, became dean of the College of Science and Health at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science on April 4, 2016. Prior to that position, Dr. Balcazar served as the regional dean of public health at the University of Texas (UT) Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, El Paso Regional Campus.
Dr. Balcazar has extensive experience as a leader in public health education, research, service and community outreach working with community health workers. Dr. Balcazar specializes in the study ofpublic health problems of Latinos/Mexican Americans. He is a bilingual public health scientist and part of a bicultural family. He has conducted numerous studies of acculturation and health-related behaviors, cardiovascular disease prevention programs in Latinos, and border health issues. Dr. Balcazar has over 180 publications, including 101 peer-reviewed journal articles.