Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology

“TC provided me with the foundation essential for translating health research into practical application. The Master’s degree paved my way to work in multiple health care settings, ranging from the National Institutes of Health to rural health clinics in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Theresa P. Castillo, EdD, MA, CHES first obtained her MA degree in 2001 in health education and used that foundation to travel around the world—providing global leadership in delivering community-based health education in diverse indigenous communities.

Eventually, Theresa returned to obtain the Ed.D. degree. Theresa explains, as follows: “When I decided to return to school mid-career [14 years later], the doctoral program in Health Education offered the perfect opportunity to combine my diverse interests under the rubric of global health inequities. My interests in gender, health innovation and program sustainability have been well nurtured by TC’s commitment to interdisciplinary fields and to applied research. TC’s flexible environment and academic rigor have made going back to school an easy transition and invaluable experience.”

Across the academic year 2014-2015 Theresa Castillo, M.A. travelled to the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh to investigate best practices and challenges in delivering health care to indigenous Asian women. As her doctoral dissertation data, she was able to present pioneering research, and graduated with her EdD in May 2015.

Building on her prior decade of experience working as a consultant globally, including through the United Nations, Dr. Castillo became the Program Director for Women and Children’s Health at HealthRight International in New York City in 2016. She was lauded as follows on the HealthRight website:

Theresa  P. Castillo has been working globally in the fields of gender, social justice, and health equity for over 20 years. Her expertise includes cultural rights, adolescent health, violence prevention, sexual & reproductive health, and community development among vulnerable populations. Dr. Castillo has collaborated with various civil society organizations, UN agencies, and Ministries of Health to build local capacity and to strengthen public health systems. Her research has focused on immigrant, refugee, and indigenous women and girls’ health issues. Currently, she is adjunct faculty at Columbia University, NYU, and Bard College’s Program on Globalization and International Affairs. Early in her career, she served as a Maternal Health Specialist in Turkmenistan, Morocco, and Mali with the US Peace Corps…

(Source: https://healthright.org/profile/theresa-castillo-edd-ma-ches/)

Not surprisingly, in June 2021, Dr. Castillo was promoted, being appointed the Chief Program Officer at HealthRight—given recognition of how: 

“Theresa is a deeply experienced global health and development professional… [who] has led our Women’s and Children’s Health Program through a period of significant growth. She is exactly the right person to lead all of HealthRight programs as we embark on a new strategic plan with ambitious goals to improve the health and wellbeing of marginalized communities around the world.”  – Dr Peter Navario

(Source: https://healthright.org/news/article/congratulations-dr-theresa-castillo/)

Dr. Castillo explained how, since joining this organization,

“I have been inspired by HealthRight’s unwavering commitment to health equity and its partnerships across the globe. I am eager for this next chapter as Chief Program Officer, and I look forward to amplifying our success at co-creating inclusive, sustainable health solutions.”  – Dr. Theresa Castillo

(Source: https://healthright.org/news/article/congratulations-dr-theresa-castillo/) 

Further, in August 2022, in honor of World Humanitarian Day, Dr. Theresa Castillo was honored as one of the Teachers College, Columbia University Alumni “You Should Know” who are “furthering equity and social justice for underserved communities around the globe”—as follows:

Theresa Castillo (Ed.D. ’15, M.A. ’01)

    “A catalyst in public health research and service for more than 20 years, Castillo is the Chief Program Officer of the global nonprofit HealthRight, which works to eliminate the gap in access to healthcare for underserved populations. Castillo previously served as the organization’s director of Women and Children’s Health Programs for five years, during which time she oversaw the execution and success of health programs in Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

    “Meaningful, diverse partnerships are at the core of all successful global health collaborations. It is what drives innovation and health solutions,” says Castillo, whose expertise includes sexual & reproductive health, and community development among vulnerable populations.

    For Castillo, successful health partnerships embrace trust, inclusivity and shared leadership. “Such partnerships are an invaluable marker for improving the health of communities by anchoring the positive shifts in health policy and programming.”

    Early in her career, Castillo served in the Peace Corps in Morocco, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Mali in Africa, which granted her hands-on experience with numerous facets of public health. This fall, Castillo will receive the Harding Women of Achievement Award, which honors Peace Corps alumnae whose contributions have globally impacted women and girls. “With my TC Health Education degree under my belt, I loved learning from and collaborating with colleagues to solve challenging health issues and to build better systems of care.”

(Source: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/articles/2022/august/human-rights-focused-alumni-you-should-know/)

Indeed, in October of 2022, Dr. Theresa P. Castillo received the Year 2022 Deborah Harding Women of Achievement Award from the Peace Corps, sharing how “It is such a big honor and tribute to the early work that started while at TC in the late 90's.” Consider the nature of this high honor:

    “The Deborah Harding Women of Achievement Award honors Peace Corps women whose contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of women and girls in the world. Awardees are recognized in a public ceremony during the annual National Peace Corps Association Conference.”

    “Women of Peace Corps Legacy is pleased to honor Dr. Theresa P. Castillo as the 2022 winner of the Deborah Harding Women of Achievement Award.  Informed by Peace Corps service early in her career in Turkmenistan, Morocco, and Mali, Theresa has worked in the fields of gender, social justice, and health equity for more than 25 years, and has helped thousands of women and girls around the world.”  

    “Working primarily in resource-poor settings across Asia, North America, and sub-Saharan Africa, Dr. Castillo has collaborated with various non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and Ministries of Health to strengthen public health systems. Dedicated to community-led innovation, her work centers around co-creation and partnership with multidisciplinary actors. Her research is dedicated to immigrant, refugee, and indigenous women and girls’ health issues.  A strong advocate of holistic concepts of health and integrated healing, Dr. Castillo serves on several health equity committees, peer-review journal panels, and presents globally on gender, SRH, youth and indigenous rights. Currently, she is the Chief Program Officer at HealthRight International and teaches at Bard College’s Globalization and International Affairs, New York University’s School of Global Public Health, and Teachers College, Columbia University.”

(Source: https://www.womenofpeacecorpslegacy.com/cpages/dhaward).

In this manner, with receipt of the MA and EdD degrees in health education, the career trajectory of Dr. Theresa P. Castillo is a reflection of her deep commitment as global leader in health who has a track record for effectively addressing the needs of indigenous communities, women and children in resource poor communities around the world.  She was welcomed as an Adjunct Assistant Professor to Teachers College, Columbia University, teaching Women’s Health, as a genuine expert.