Karla M. López De Victoria Cancel

Oversaw surveillance, data management, and epidemiological analysis across 800+ pediatric-serving institutions, including public schools, daycare centers, tutoring centers, and Head Start programs. Led a team of 15 investigators, ensuring data integrity, timely case investigation, and effective response strategies during COVID-19 and seasonal influenza outbreaks.

• Directed active surveillance and epidemiological reporting of pediatric COVID-19 and influenza cases; produced statistical summaries, descriptive reports, and risk trend analyses.
• Led the development and implementation of standardized infectious disease mitigation guidelines, adopted system-wide by educational institutions.
• Designed and deployed a centralized outbreak tracking database to monitor the epidemiological curve, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Coordinated island-wide testing campaigns achieved over 75% institutional participation across public and private schools.
• Conducted public health education sessions, and developed academic outreach materials to inform healthcare providers and community stakeholders.
• Collaborated in drafting public health policies, emphasizing outbreak mitigation, preventive strategies, and institutional readiness.
• Performed statistical and geospatial analysis using tools such as ArcGIS, STATA, IBM SPSS, REDCap, and Epi Info to monitor case patterns, generate visualizations, and guide resource allocation.
• Developed and validated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for case surveillance, outbreak response, and institutional health reporting systems.

Led strategic public health initiatives across 600+ early childhood and higher education institutions (including Head Start, Early Head Start, and post-secondary campuses) in support of COVID-19 mitigation and health compliance. Supervised a cross-functional team of 15, aligning public health operations with local and federal mandates to reduce transmission in school environments.

• Designed, implemented, and updated institution-specific COVID-19 prevention and mitigation protocols.
• Directed outbreak response investigations, training staff in contact tracing, data collection, and epidemiological toolkits to monitor school-based transmission.
• Acted as a liaison between the CDC Foundation, school administrators, and public health officials to align testing, reporting, and isolation protocols with evolving CDC guidelines.
• Monitored regulatory compliance across educational institutions, and provided tailored recommendations to improve adherence to public health directives.
• Led coordination of non-clinical operations for youth-focused vaccination campaigns, prioritizing equitable access.
• Created health communication materials and guidance documents to enhance stakeholder understanding and outreach across educational and community sectors.
• Compiled and delivered data-driven reports to municipal and state-level public health entities, informing policy decisions with actionable insights.
• Strengthened inter-agency collaboration and built sustainable partnerships with government agencies, school districts, and community organizations for unified public health responses.

Directed the development and implementation of a comprehensive COVID-19 surveillance and infection control program across 12 campuses and specialized centers within a postsecondary education system. Provided strategic epidemiological guidance and supervised a team of two public health professionals to strengthen institutional pandemic preparedness.

• Designed and launched a real-time surveillance system, integrating key epidemiological indicators, enabling timely, data-informed mitigation decisions.
• Authored and implemented tailored Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for testing, quarantine, isolation, and IPC measures in alignment with academic operations.
• Led targeted outbreak investigations, generating evidence-based recommendations to reduce campus-based transmission risks.
• Delivered PPE training and IPC compliance workshops for faculty and staff, improving institutional response capacity and preparedness metrics.
• Conducted continuous data analysis and reporting using Power BI, Excel, and internal dashboards to evaluate and improve intervention outcomes.
• Acted as the primary liaison to academic leadership, ensuring alignment of public health initiatives with institutional objectives and evolving CDC/local guidelines.

Directed the COVID-19 epidemiological response for the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, serving over 130,000 residents during peak pandemic periods. Managed a team of 12 specialists to implement surveillance, contact tracing, and public health education initiatives, significantly reducing community transmission, and enhancing municipal health system resilience.

• Designed and maintained the municipal epidemiological surveillance system, integrating real-time dashboards to track SARS-CoV-2 cases, and monitor trends.
• Led the planning and execution of targeted testing initiatives in underserved areas, complemented by public health outreach to small businesses and high-risk populations.
• Acted as the official risk communication spokesperson alongside the municipal mayor, improving transparency and fostering public trust through effective messaging.
• Developed, implemented, and enforced SOPs for testing, isolation, and mitigation in line with CDC and federal public health guidelines.
• Successfully achieved all key performance targets while utilizing less than 18% of the allocated federal funding, demonstrating efficient resource management.
• Oversaw logistics and supply distribution for quarantined individuals, and vulnerable populations.
• Served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), advising regional and state leadership on infectious disease control and outbreak containment strategies.

Contributed to biomedical and public health research across infectious and vector-borne diseases, including mosquito surveillance, and waterborne parasitic illnesses. Supported faculty-led projects through laboratory work, field studies, and technical writing efforts, from study design to dissemination.

• Investigated disease mechanisms for high-priority conditions through literature reviews, lab-based testing, and field data collection.
• Conducted field and laboratory studies on schistosomiasis in southern Puerto Rico, supporting waterborne disease surveillance in coordination with public health researchers.
• Carried out research on mosquito-borne diseases, analyzing Culicidae diversity and ecological distribution across urban and rural zones, and presented findings at the PHSU Scientific Congress.
• Drafted scientific manuscripts, technical reports, and plain-language summaries to support publication and grant proposals.
• Maintained laboratory inventory systems, managed supply logistics, and ensured procedural compliance in a high-throughput research environment.
• Participated in weekly lab meetings to discuss results, refine protocols, and contribute to ongoing study planning and direction.