I’m passionate about turning complex data into compelling, human-centred narratives that drive policy change and public engagement.
My recent work ranges from coordinating international research collaborations to leading national healthcare training programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. I bring both frontline and systems-level experience—and a strong ability to bridge sectors, disciplines, and audiences.
I also have experience participating in and producing media projects, most recently as a co-writer of an Emmy®-nominated documentary (Boston/New England Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) exploring the mental health impacts of migration and family separation.
Throughout my career, I’ve designed and implemented large-scale health initiatives across local and global contexts. I’ve received training and worked at institutions such as the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine, the National Institute of Psychiatry, and the Ministry of Health in Mexico.
I have also collaborated with and consulted for international agencies, community organizations, and cross-sector partners across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and beyond.
I am an applied public health scientist and clinical psychologist bridging research, clinical, and government sectors.
Education and Experience (selected)
Education
2017
Master of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
2012
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Universidad de la Americas (UDLA), Mexico City, Mexico
Johns Hopkins RAPID Psychological First Aid Training, JH School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
2018
Certificates
2017
Strategic Leadership Principles & Tools for Health Systems Transformation in Developing Countries, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
2015
Clinical Certification in Addiction Therapy (Therapist) Centros de Integración Juvenil, Mexico City, Mexico
2013
Clinical Trials Design and Management Certificate Program, Universidad La Salle, Mexico City, Mexico
Professional and Research Experience
2024 - present
2022 - 2024
2019 - 2020
Scientific and Project Coordinator, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
Independent consultant and writer
Director General, Mexican Ministry of Health - Department of Education for Healthcare Professionals, National Institute for Wellbeing, Mexico City, Mexico
2016 - 2019
Research Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Global Public Health Observatory (GPHO), Department of Epidemiology, and School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
2012 - 2016
Research Coordinator, National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City
Therapist, Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health
Editorial Assistant, Scientific Journal “Salud Mental”
Published Works (selected)
For a full list of academic publications, see Google Scholar Profile / ResearchGate
Mental Health Needs of an Emerging Latino Community
Bucay-Harari L, Page KR, Krawczyk N, Robles Y, Castillo-Salgado C.
Over the last decade, Baltimore has become a non-traditional sanctuary city, receiving an unprecedented influx of Latino immigrants, mostly from Central America's Northern Triangle, who are often fleeing violence in their home countries. This study explored the nature and frequency of healthcare utilization for mental health problems among uninsured/uninsurable Latinos who received outpatient care between 2012 and 2015 through an academic hospital-affiliated program that covers primary and specialty services to uninsured patients without regard to documentation status.
Using Social Indicators to Describe Neighborhood-Level Disparities in Adolescent Health
James P. Senter, Linda Bucay-Harari, Carlos Castillo-Salgado
The purpose of this study was to use social indicators to compare adolescent health disparities across neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, circa 2017. Neighborhoods heavily influence adolescent health outcomes. Baltimore remains a hypersegregated city along racial boundaries with a recently growing population of Latino immigrant youth. This segregation may promulgate adolescent health disparities, yet the magnitude of needs and how they may differ among Baltimore's minoritized adolescents remain unknown.
Potential Role of Cost and Quality of Life in Treatment Decisions for Arthritis-Related Knee Pain in African American and Latina Women
The present study was undertaken to investigate whether Latina and African American women with arthritis-related knee pain and primary care providers who treat them believe their treatment decisions would benefit from having more information about the impact of treatment on their quality of life, medical care costs, and work productivity.
Modelo de tamizaje, atención y monitoreo de la salud mental para adultos en casos de desastre [Model for adult mental health screening, treatment, and monitoring in disasters]
Mauricio Ávarez-Monjarás, Linda Bucay-Harari
Disasters affect all members of a community; however, not all react in the same way. It is therefore essential to identify those who require specialized interventions, and establish appropriate referral and treatment pathways for different
mental health services. Authors synthesize recommendations from evidence-based interventions to inform mental health care efforts for populations exposed to disasters, specifically in relation to screening, referral and psychological treatment. The authors propose a comprehensive model of coordinated efforts that uses existing services and infrastructure. This aims to incentivize future inter-institutional collaboration and a greater professionalization of public mental health in México.
