Implementation Science Working Group

Lucía Abascal Miguel is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Institute for Global Health Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. She is a public health researcher focused on advancing health equity through implementation science and digital health. Her work centers on designing and evaluating culturally tailored, scalable interventions, such as WhatsApp-based chatbots and social media campaigns, to improve vaccination, family planning, and preventive health among Spanish-speaking and Indigenous populations in the U.S. and Latin America. Lucía has led and co-led mixed-methods studies in Guatemala, Mexico, and California. She also serves as a public health spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health, leading Spanish-language risk communication efforts. Her research integrates technology, human-centered design, and participatory approaches to address misinformation and strengthen trust in health systems. Lucía earned her MD in Mexico and completed a PhD and Master’s degree in Global Health Sciences at UCSF.