Marcela Banegas is a physician and public health leader dedicated to advancing healthcare through research, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of better patient outcomes. With an MD from Tecnológico de Monterrey and an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, she has forged a career that bridges clinical practice, cutting-edge research, and impactful global health initiatives.

Her journey began in Monterrey, Mexico, where she completed grueling 36-hour clinical ward shifts every three days in Mexico’s public health system hospitals. Witnessing the limitations of care firsthand, she constantly questioned, “Why can’t we do better for these patients?” This curiosity propelled her to secure a competitive one-year research fellowship offered by the International Research Initiative at Harvard Medical School hospitals (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital). Marcela was awarded the Honduran Presidential Scholarship and the Hondufuturo Foundation Scholarship, which covered her living expenses during her time in Boston. Her tenacity earned her a full-time position in the same lab for an additional 1.5 years. During this time, Marcela oversaw a portfolio of research projects valued at approximately $40 million while she also conducted her studies and contributed to her team’s Jacqueline L. Wolf Digestive Disease Grant win, advancing women’s digestive health. She published four peer-reviewed articles and 15 abstracts, presented at national and international conferences, establishing herself as a rising researcher.

Returning to Honduras, Marcela provided guidance in founding the first digestive disease research unit in the northern region, integrating it within an existing clinical gastroenterology practice. She forged partnerships with local universities and pharmaceutical companies to test treatment regimens for rural Honduran populations battling H. pylori. Leading a six-person team, she designed and executed three research protocols, with findings accepted for oral presentation at the World Gastroenterological Organization’s Gastro 2024 in Marrakech (showcasing a randomized controlled trial on high-dose dual therapy) and two others presented at a regional gastroenterology conference in Mexico. This work improved patient outcomes for over 150 rural patients annually and solidified the unit’s reputation as a regional leader.

In global health, Marcela’s contributions shine through her work with Johns Hopkins’ Data 4 Health Initiative Gender Equity Unit, where she contributed to the launch of a mentorship program connecting over 50 advocates across 25 low- and middle-income countries. She developed training resources to enhance data collection, analysis, and utilization practices, ensuring actionable insights. Her systematic review for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health delivered five data-driven recommendations, making the ongoing mHealth maternal health programs more effective and increasing their utilization. Additionally, she evaluated World Vision’s Youth Ready Program in Ecuador and Guatemala, leading data analysis, interpretation, visualizations, and report writing. By identifying pain points and training field data collectors—improving data accuracy by 30%—her strategies boosted youth development outcomes in education, employment, and entrepreneurship by 40%.

Currently, Marcela serves as Manager of Research and Statistics at the Health for the Health in Delaware Institute within the Delaware Division of Public Health. She led efforts to secure $1 million in funding and earned a CDC/NORC evaluation award. A prolific researcher, she has publications in journals like the American Journal of Gastroenterology and the Journal of International AIDS, influencing clinical practice and healthcare policy worldwide.

Beyond her professional achievements, Marcela enjoys reading, taking long walks, and volunteering for children’s health initiatives. Fluent in Spanish and English, her global perspective and multilingual skills amplify her impact as a versatile leader in healthcare.