Leo

Morales

MD

PhD

MPH

Education & Training

• MD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (1990)
• MPH, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (1990)
• Internal Medicine Internship and Residency, UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA (1990–1993)
• PhD, RAND Graduate School, Santa Monica, CA (2000)

Honors

• Investigator Award in Health Policy Research, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2005)
• Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program Award, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2001)
• Visiting Minority Scholar Award, Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000)

research

Summer Health Professions Education Program (1989–ongoing)

SHPEP is a six-week summer enrichment program that strengthens the academic proficiency of college students from underrepresented and/or disadvantaged backgrounds interested in pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, and public health. SHPEP introduces scholars to the academic realities and application processes for professional and graduate school education to prepare them for success in the health professions. (SOM PI: Leo Morales; SOD PI: Susan Coldwell; SPH OI: Sara McKenzie)

University of Washington Health Professions Academy (2014–2019)

The University of Washington’s health sciences schools are concerned about the decreasing number of competitive applicants from Washington State who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and from racial and ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the health sciences. The goal of this project is to bring together the university’s professional schools to leverage our collective strengths and provide financial and intellectual resources to recruit high performing and highly motivated disadvantaged and URM sophomores, juniors, and seniors into a collaborative professional development program. (SOM PI: Leo Morales; SOD PI: Susan Coldwell; OMAD PI: Gabe Gallardo)

Access to Care for Latino Workers (2018–2019)

The UW Latino Center for Health, under contract from the Department of Labor and Industries, is conducting a qualitative study of facilitators and barriers to accessing care by Latino workers with job-related injuries and illnesses in central Washington state. The study will conduct key informant interviews with five stakeholder groups: Latino workers with active claims, Latino workers without claims, attorneys representing Latino workers, community advocates, and healthcare providers. (PI: Leo Morales)

Study of the Latino Physician Workforce (2019–2020)

The UW Latino Center for Health, with proviso funding from the Washington state legislature, will conduct a project that will describe the current supply of Latino physicians in the State of Washington and will hold a symposium in 2020 to disseminate policy recommendations to meet the State’s growing need for Latino physicians. The project is forming an advisory board consisting of providers, legislators, and medical educators to help guide the work of the project. (PI: Leo Morales)

UW Latino Center for Health (2014–ongoing)

The UW Latino Center for Health is supported with proviso funding from the Washington state legislature. The Latino Center for Health provides leadership for community-engaged research through capacity building and authentic partnerships with community stakeholders to promote impactful improvements in the health and well-being of Latinx communities in Washington state, regionally, and nationally. The Center’s priority areas of research are physical health, mental health, environmental and occupational health, and violence prevention. (Co-Director: Gino Aisenberg; Co-Director: Leo Morales)

Research & Clinical Interests

• COVID-19
• Diabetes
• Disparities in Health
• Latino Health
• Social Determinants of Health

publication highlights

• Morales LS, Rogowski J, Freedman V, Wickstrom S, Adams JL, Escarce JJ. Sociodemographic differences in use of Preventive Services by Women Enrolled in Medicare +Choice Plans. Preventive Medicine 2004; Oct;39(4):738–45.
• Morales LS, Cunningham WE, Andersen RM, Galvan FH, Nakazono TT, Shapiro MF. Sociodemographic Differences in Access to Care Among Hispanic who are Infected with HIV in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. 2004; Jul;94(7):1119–21.
• Morales LS, Staiger D, Hobar JD, Rogowski J. Mortality among Very Low Birthweight Infants in Hospitals Serving Minority Populations. American Journal of Public Health 2005; 95(12): 2206–2212.
• Morales LS, Varma R, Paz SH, Lai MY, Mazhar K, Andersen RM, Azen SP, Los Angeles Latino Eye Study Group. Self-Reported Use of Eye Care among Latinos in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. Ophthalmology. 2010 Feb;117(2):207–15.
• Morales LS, Edwards TC, Flores Y, Barr L, Patrick DL. Measurement properties of a multicultural weight-specific quality-of-life instrument for children and adolescents. Qual Life Res. 2011 Mar;20(2):215–24.