SBPS Doctoral Student Takes on Municipal Role in Ecuador

Carina Vance Mafla, an SBPS doctoral student at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, has taken on an even bigger role in public health in the municipality of Quito, Ecuador.

Vance already boasts a master’s degree in public health from Cal-Berkley and has previously served the country of Ecuador in the capacity as a minister of public health (2012-15).

Vance has now taken on a position working for the mayor of Quito as general secretary of territorial coordination and social participation.

In the new secretariat role, Vance coordinates social development policies (including health), as well as economic and territorial policies (roads, regulation of land use permits, etc.) and implementation of a social participation model for the city.

“I am very excited with this opportunity to serve my city,” Vance said.

Quito boasts a population of almost 3 million people.

Vance has also previously served as President of the Executive Committee of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Ecuador (2015-2016).