Paula Nieto-Morales, a Ph.D. student in the College of Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences, was selected as a National Hispanic Latino Cardiovascular Collaborative (NHLCC) Scholar for the 2023-2024 program year. As a Scholar, she will attend the Scientific Sessions conference of the American Heart Association (AHA) Nov. 10-13 in Philadelphia.
Nieto-Morales works in the laboratory of Professor Jose Pinto, Ph.D., where she studies cardiomyopathies, which are diseases of the heart. Her current research involves validating the first dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) created to date using the CRISPR gene-editing tool. She hopes to uncover the underlying mechanism of DCM and the potential therapeutic effects of the novel myotropic drug danicamtiv.
“Paula is a bright and creative young woman with high professional goals. Her project involves a novel pre-clinical model of Pediatric Dilated Cardiomyopathy (PDCM), which is in line with the American Heart Association mission,” Pinto said. “PDCM is a devastating disease, and currently there are no available treatments.”
Nieto-Morales, who was born and raised in Villavicencio, Colombia, earned an academic and athletic scholarship to pay for her college education at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. After completing her bachelor’s degree in 2018, she moved to Atlanta to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a contractor in the Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections.
In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, she joined the CDC’s Global Rapid Response team and was deployed as a laboratory scientist to the Oklahoma Department of Health to support the testing capabilities in the virology division.
“By the end of my deployment, I knew I was ready to pursue a long-term career in research and medicine,” said Nieto-Morales, who began her Ph.D. program at Florida State University in 2022.
The NHLCC, a unit within the AHA’s Office of Health Equity, is composed of health and medical professionals who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino, including cardiologists, surgeons, primary care physicians, researchers, academics and leaders from prominent accredited societies, and others interested in Hispanic cardiovascular health issues. It created the Scholars program to engage health professions students and early-career investigators in networking, mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, with the ultimate goal to increase Hispanic and Latino representation in the health-care workforce and bridge the gaps in health equity.
In Nieto-Morales' selection notification email, Carlos J. Rodriguez, M.D., a founding NHLCC member and its current chair, wrote, “We understand the road to pursue a career in research is not an easy one and we are here to support you along the way. We hope your experience as an NHL Scholar is fruitful and leads to long-term professional connections in your career and in your work to create a healthier community.”
Nieto-Morales brings cardiovascular knowledge to her local volunteer efforts, working weekly as an ultrasound technician at a local pregnancy center serving underserved populations. She is also active in the non-profit Who We Play For, which works to eliminate preventable sudden cardiac death in young people by providing free electrocardiogram heart screenings to sixth-grade students.
“My goal after my Ph.D. training is to go to medical school to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a physician-scientist pediatric cardiologist, performing bench-to-bedside research and patient care, helping children diagnosed with heart disease,” Nieto-Morales said.
She acknowledges that she has big dreams and loves what she does, but she will never forget where she comes from.
“Being a NHLCC Scholar is an honor and I’m looking forward to working with my mentors.”