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Who We Are Guillermo (Willy) Prado, Ph.D
Guillermo (Willy) Prado, Ph.D
Distinguished University Professor, Nursing and Health Studies, Public Health Sciences and Psychology, University of Miami
Profile
Officer Role: Secretary
Nominee Election Year to ASEMFL: 2021
Nominee Committee Service: Dr. Prado has demonstrated a sustained and meaningful commitment to ASEMFL since joining the Executive Committee in 2022. During his first two years, he served as Chair of the Nominations Committee, where he helped identify and advance outstanding scientific and academic leaders within Florida. This year, he was appointed Chair of the Fundraising Committee, reflecting the confidence the Academy has placed in his leadership and ability to advance important organizational priorities. He also served this year as lead for the Medical Membership Subcommittee, further demonstrating his willingness to take on responsibilities central to the growth and vitality of the Academy. His commitment to ASEMFL extends well beyond his formal committee responsibilities. Dr. Prado has attended the ASEMFL Annual Meeting for each of the past four years and has consistently brought members of his research team, including postdoctoral fellows and Ph.D. students, to the meetings. This commitment to mentorship and professional development exemplifies the broader mission of ASEMFL to foster scientific excellence and develop future scientific leaders.
Nominator Name: Hortensia Amaro
Description of technical expertise, past leadership experience, and goals for ASEMFL position:
Dr. Prado is an internationally recognized scientist and academic leader whose accomplishments place him among the most distinguished members of the Academy as evidenced by his induction into the National Academy of Medicine. He has also served as President of the Society for Prevention Research, his major professional scientific organization, providing leadership to an international community of prevention scientists. His contributions to science and prevention have been recognized through multiple lifetime achievement and other national honors.
Dr. Prado has maintained continuous NIH research funding since his doctoral training, an extraordinary record of sustained scientific productivity and competitiveness ($150+ million in NIH funding) supporting a broad portfolio of research focused on prevention, health disparities, substance use, mental health, HIV, and the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and families. He has been called upon to testify before the United States Congress, providing scientific expertise on issues of national importance. He has also served on multiple search committees charged with identifying leadership for NIH Institutes.
His research has focused particularly on the development, rigorous evaluation, and international implementation of evidence-based interventions to prevent substance use and mental health problems and promote healthy development among children, adolescents, and families. He has developed and tested innovative family-based interventions, and has increasingly focused on translating evidence-based interventions into scalable digital and implementation approaches.
Dr. Prado's career also demonstrates his ability to work effectively across disciplines and organizations. His experience leading a major professional society, serving on national scientific and leadership committees, advising on NIH leadership searches, testifying before Congress, and leading complex research programs has prepared him exceptionally well for the responsibilities of an ASEMFL officer. As Secretary, he would bring to the position a combination of organizational experience, scientific distinction, national visibility, institutional knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the Academy and its members.
Nominee Election Year to ASEMFL: 2021
Nominee Committee Service: Dr. Prado has demonstrated a sustained and meaningful commitment to ASEMFL since joining the Executive Committee in 2022. During his first two years, he served as Chair of the Nominations Committee, where he helped identify and advance outstanding scientific and academic leaders within Florida. This year, he was appointed Chair of the Fundraising Committee, reflecting the confidence the Academy has placed in his leadership and ability to advance important organizational priorities. He also served this year as lead for the Medical Membership Subcommittee, further demonstrating his willingness to take on responsibilities central to the growth and vitality of the Academy. His commitment to ASEMFL extends well beyond his formal committee responsibilities. Dr. Prado has attended the ASEMFL Annual Meeting for each of the past four years and has consistently brought members of his research team, including postdoctoral fellows and Ph.D. students, to the meetings. This commitment to mentorship and professional development exemplifies the broader mission of ASEMFL to foster scientific excellence and develop future scientific leaders.
Nominator Name: Hortensia Amaro
Description of technical expertise, past leadership experience, and goals for ASEMFL position:
Dr. Prado is an internationally recognized scientist and academic leader whose accomplishments place him among the most distinguished members of the Academy as evidenced by his induction into the National Academy of Medicine. He has also served as President of the Society for Prevention Research, his major professional scientific organization, providing leadership to an international community of prevention scientists. His contributions to science and prevention have been recognized through multiple lifetime achievement and other national honors.
Dr. Prado has maintained continuous NIH research funding since his doctoral training, an extraordinary record of sustained scientific productivity and competitiveness ($150+ million in NIH funding) supporting a broad portfolio of research focused on prevention, health disparities, substance use, mental health, HIV, and the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and families. He has been called upon to testify before the United States Congress, providing scientific expertise on issues of national importance. He has also served on multiple search committees charged with identifying leadership for NIH Institutes.
His research has focused particularly on the development, rigorous evaluation, and international implementation of evidence-based interventions to prevent substance use and mental health problems and promote healthy development among children, adolescents, and families. He has developed and tested innovative family-based interventions, and has increasingly focused on translating evidence-based interventions into scalable digital and implementation approaches.
Dr. Prado's career also demonstrates his ability to work effectively across disciplines and organizations. His experience leading a major professional society, serving on national scientific and leadership committees, advising on NIH leadership searches, testifying before Congress, and leading complex research programs has prepared him exceptionally well for the responsibilities of an ASEMFL officer. As Secretary, he would bring to the position a combination of organizational experience, scientific distinction, national visibility, institutional knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the Academy and its members.