Carlos Penilla, DrPH, MS
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Carlos Penilla

About

I have many years experience directing clinical research and earned a Doctor of Public Health degree from UC Berkeley that focused on preventive interventions for Mexican American families. Currently, as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at UCSF, I am collaborating on technology-based behavioral health interventions for adolescents and young adults. With the aim of reducing health disparities in underrepresented communities, my research covers a variety of topics, including middle school health science career education, adolescent alcohol-related risk reduction, family-based obesity prevention, smoking cessation, child health and sleep duration and depression prevention. My mixed methods research involves a three-pronged approach that includes family, environmental and policy components. During my master’s level training in clinical psychology at San Francisco State University, I provided therapy to children, adults, and families and developed a deep theoretical understanding of how people grow over the lifespan that continues to inform my work. A key aspect of my work involves public service, such as consulting work with community organizations and mentoring underrepresented minority students.

Education

2018  University of California, Berkeley, Dr.P.H.
Public Health
Doctoral Dissertation: Parental feeding practices and child weight in Mexican American families
Committee: Emily Ozer, Ph.D., (Chair), Julianna Deardorff, Ph.D. (School of Public Health), Kurt Organista, Ph.D. (School of Social Welfare), Pat Crawford, Dr.P.H. (UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrition Policy Institute)
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2000  San Francisco State University, M.S.
Clinical Psychology
Master’s Thesis: Interrelationships among acculturation, ethnic identity, life satisfaction, success expectancy, and perceived racism
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1997  San Francisco State University, B.A.
Psychology
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1995  East Los Angeles College, A.A.
Psychology

Select Honors and Awards

2019-21  Loan Repayment Program, National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities
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2015-17  Institute for the Study of Societal Issues Graduate Fellows Program, UC Berkeley
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2015  Susan Kersch De Young School of Public Health Alumni Association Fellowship, UC Berkeley
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2013, 2014, 2016  Mayhew and Helen Derryberry School of Public Health Alumni Association Fellowship, UC Berkeley
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2012-15  Kaiser Permanente Public Health Scholarship, UC Berkeley
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2012  Geneveive Sickfoose School of Public Health Scholarship, UC Berkeley
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2007  Annual Staff Performance Award, UCSF
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2001  Annual Staff Performance Award in Research and Technical Support, UCSF
carlos.penilla@ucsf.edu​
  • Home
  • Research & Policy
    • Fathers
    • National Drinking Water Alliance
    • Advanced Technologies
    • Grants
  • COVID-19 Photos
  • Publications
  • Mentoring
  • About
    • Experience
    • Contact