Alejandro Azofeifa, PhD, DDS, MPH, MSc

Alejandro Azofeifa, PhD, DDS, MPH, MSc, is a Health Scientist/Epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Azofeifa has more than 14 years of experience working in public health both domestically and globally. His interests are in healthcare systems, strategic planning, and program evaluation. Dr. Azofeifa has a special interest in population health, public health policy, health disparities, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease surveillance, and behavioral health (substance use and mental health).  

Dr. Azofeifa has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, and technical documents/manuals that cover topics from oral health, outbreak investigation (Influenza, COVID-19), birth defects, blood lead testing, surveillance methods and evaluation, substance use (marijuana/cannabis), and health care.

From 2010 to 2012 he served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer at the CDC. Since 2012 to the present, Dr. Azofeifa has served in various roles at the CDC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Bureau of Primary Health Care at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

Dr. Azofeifa believes in the continuous transfer of knowledge. Dr. Azofeifa has served as a mentor and supervisor to CDC’s EIS officers, to CDC’s Field Epidemiology Training Program-FETP’s fellows from Kenya, Colombia, and Mexico, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists-CSTE’s applied behavioral health fellows and various interns and students.

Research

Select Publications

• Azofeifa A, Liu R, Dupont H, Reissman DB. Telemedicine Trends and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic — World Trade Center Health Program, 2020−2021. Journal of Public Health Reports 2023.
• Azofeifa A, Mattson ME, Fogarty K, Lyerla R. Characterizing Marijuana Use Disorders (DSM-5) — National Survey on Drug Use and Health, United States, 2020. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction 2023.
• Azofeifa A, Martin GR, Howard J. World Trade Center Health Program, 2012-2020 — Implications for Clinicians and Health Care Systems. JAMA-Journal of the American Medical Association 2021. 
• Azofeifa A, Martin GR, Santiago-Colón A, Reissman DB, Howard J. World Trade Center Health Program — United States, 2012−2020. MMWR-Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Summary Report 2021.
• Azofeifa A, Valencia D, Rodriguez C, Cruz M, Hayes D, Montañez-Báez E, et al. Estimating and Characterizing COVID-19 Deaths — Puerto Rico, March–July 2020. Journal of Public Health Reports 2021. 
• Azofeifa A, Sripipatana A. Blood Lead Testing Among Medically Underserved and Socially Vulnerable Children in the United States 2012-2017. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice 2020.
• Azofeifa A, Rexach-Guzmán BD, Hagemeyer AN, Sauber-Schatz EK. Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana and Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 2018. MMWR-Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2019. 
• Steinberg J, Azofeifa A, Sigounas G. Addressing Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness by Mobilizing Primary Care Using a Patient Centered Model. Journal of Public Health Reports 2019.
• Azofeifa A, Mattson ME, Grant A. Monitoring marijuana use in the United States: challenges in an evolving environment. JAMA-Journal of the American Medical Association 2016.
• Azofeifa A, Mattson ME, Schauer G, McAfee T, Grant A, Lyerla R. National estimates of marijuana use and related indicators—National Survey on Drug Use and Health, United States, 2002–2014. MMWR-Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Summary Report 2016. 

Honors and Awards

• CDC Excellence in Emergency Response: Toby Merlin Award – Domestic, for unparalleled commitment to protecting the public’s health and resolutely responding to one of the most devastating epidemic in American history 
• CDC Excellence in Frontline Public Health Service, for the efforts of headquarters and field deployers in supporting jurisdictional prevention and mitigation strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 
• Distinguished Partner Award, 2016, given to SAMHSA by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 
• CDC & ATSR Honor Award, 2016, Excellence in Surveillance and Health Monitoring— International. DBDDD Surveillance Working Group/National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.  
• 2012 Nominee, Mitch Singal Award for Excellence in Occupational and Environmental Health, 61st Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Title: Are children in Puerto Rico lead free? A population-based, cross-sectional assessment of childhood lead poisoning—Puerto Rico, 2010 
• European Commission, 2007, Erasmus Mundus Masters Grant 

Degrees

• PhD, Doctor of Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Health Science, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Addiction Specialization Certificate)   
• DDS, Doctor of Dental Surgery, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica 
• MPH, Specialization in Advanced Public Health Methods, University of Copenhagen, Denmark & University of Granada, Spain
• MSc, Specialization in Sustainable Health Services, Management, and Health Policy, University Estatal a Distancia de Costa Rica