Dr. Pinedo has an invested interest in better understanding the intersection between migration and health. Though migrant health has become an important facet of health research, migration has rarely been examined as a social determinant of health. His work addresses this critical area by focusing on how different migration experiences contribute to health disparities, particularly among Latino populations. Specifically, his work investigates how social- and structural-level factors associated with migration to the US; voluntary and forced migration (e.g., deportation); domestic migration within Mexico; and migration to high-risk environments (e.g., settings with increased availability of alcohol and drugs) relate to the epidemiology of substance abuse, HIV risk, and related harms. A large proportion of his work has focused on Mexican migrants residing on both sides of the US-Mexico border, a high-risk region for alcohol and drug abuse and HIV. Overall, his research underscores the importance of migration-related factors in shaping health behaviors, risk practices, and health outcomes.
Prior to joining UT, Dr. Pinedo received his PhD in Global Health from the UC San Diego and completed his postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley. He also previously earned his Master in Public Health from UC Berkeley.
B.A. in Latin American Studies (Honors with Distinction), University of California, San Diego
B.S. in Psychology, University of California, San Diego
M.P.H. in Health & Social Behavior, University of California, Berkeley
Ph.D. in Global Health, University of California, San Diego
Focuses on how migration-related factors contribute to health disparities related to substance abuse, HIV risk, and related harms among Latino populations in the United States and Mexico.
Pinedo, M., Zemore, S. & Rogers, S. (2018). Understanding barriers to specialty substance abuse treatment among Latinos. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 94, 1-8.. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 94, 1–8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.08.004.
Pinedo, M., Zemore, SE., Cherpitel, CJ. & Caetano, R. (2017). Acculturation and alcohol use: the role of environmental contexts. Handbook of Acculturation and Health. Oxford University Press (pp. 239). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. (View)
Pinedo, M., Beletsky, L., Alamillo, N. & Ojeda, VD. (2017). Health-damaging policing practices among persons who inject drugs in Mexico: Are deported migrants at greater risk?. International Journal of Drug Policy(46), 41–46. (View)
Pinedo, M., Kang Sim, E., Espinoza, RA. & Zuñiga, ML. (2015). An exploratory study of internal migration and substance use among an indigenous community in Southern Mexico. Family & Community Health, 1(39), 24–30. (View)
Pinedo, M., Burgos, JL., Vargas-Ojeda, A., Fitzgerald, DS. & Ojeda, VD. (2015). The role of visual markers in police victimization among structurally vulnerable persons in Tijuana, Mexico. International Journal of Drug Policy, 26(5), 501–508. (View)
Pinedo, M., Burgos, JL. & Ojeda, VD. (2014). A critical review of social and structural conditions that influence HIV risk among Mexican deportees. Microbes and Infection, 5(16), 379–390. (View)
Pinedo, M., Burgos, JL., Robertson, AM., Vera, A., Remedios, L. & Ojeda, VD. (2014). Perceived risk of HIV infection among deported male injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico.. Global Public Health, 4(9), 436–454. (View)
Pinedo, M., Campos, Y., Leal, D., Fregoso, J., Goldenberg, SM. & Zuñiga, ML. (2014). Alcohol use behaviors among indigenous migrants: A transnational study on communities of origin and destination. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health(16), 348–355. (View)
Understanding barriers to specialty alcohol treatment among Latinos: A qualitative study
National studies have documented that Latinos are less likely to use specialty substance abuse treatment (e.g., rehabilitation programs, in/out-patient services) than other racial/ethnic groups. Disparities in treatment utilization are particularly pronounced between Latinos and Whites. However, few national studies have explicitly examined barriers to treatment by race/ethnicity, and current results are inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of barriers to specialty substance abuse treatment among Latinos via qualitative interviews.
Migration-related impacts on the health of US-citizen Latinos
This national study will examine the role of migration-related factors (e.g., knowing someone who has been deported, having a migrant family member) on the mental health and substance use behaviors of US-citizen Latinos. Further, this study will compare how these outcomes vary across other racial/ethnic groups, namely Whites and Blacks. The overarching goal of the study is to provide a new perspective on health disparities by highlighting the importance of migration as a social determinant of health among Latinos, regardless of US-citizenship status.
Migration & Health Study: Latinos in Austin, Texas
This qualitative study will explore in-depth how migration-related stressors (e.g., anti-immigration sentiments, deportations) influence the mental health and substance using behaviors of Latinos in Austin.
Loan Repayment Program Award, National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (2016 - 2018)
Interdisciplinary Research Training Institute on Hispanic Drug Abuse Fellowship, National Institute on Drug Abuse (2016 - 2018)
NIAAA T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship Postdoctoral Fellowship, Alcohol Research Group & UC Berkeley (2015 - 2017)
National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research, NIDA (2013 - 2015)
| Year | Semester | Course |
|---|
| 2019 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2019 | Spring | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2019 | Spring | HED 395: 7-Foundations Of Epidemiology |
| 2018 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2018 | Fall | HED 196: Doctoral Seminar |
| 2018 | Spring | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
| 2017 | Fall | HED 311: Intro To Health Promotion |
Migration and Health Lab
The Migration and Health Lab focuses on better understanding how migration impacts the health of populations, primarily among Latino communities in the US and Mexico. Our work underscores the importance of migration-related factors in shaping vulnerability to alcohol and substance abuse, HIV, and related harms.
