Christine Suzette Pérez Jiménez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She earned her bachelor’s in Science (BS) degree in Industrial Microbiology and a Curricular Sequence in the Food Science and Technology Program from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. In June 2016, she received a Master’s in Science (MS) degree with a concentration in Environmental Health from the School of Public Health of the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus. During graduate school, she participated in public health research such as environmental factors associated with health problems among older adults in Puerto Rico, worked in health database management, did literature research related to health issues, and participated in voluntary service at the environmental program of Veterans Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Ms. Pérez participated as a Health Equity Fellow in the 2016 summer Youth Health Equity Model of Practice (YHEMOP) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH), in Rockville, MD. During the fellowship, Ms. Pérez placement site was at The National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), headquartered in Washington, DC, and helped develop a literature review on the status of Hispanic older adults’ report that highlighted the health inequities among Hispanic older adults in the United States.  Currently, Ms. Pérez is the Director of Programs at the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA), a national organization that works to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and caregivers. Ms. Pérez has over 7 years of experience as a program specialist and effectively implementing and managing social and public health programs that are used to boost fundraising, increase partner membership, enlist support from government agencies and corporations, and benefit older adults, their families, and caregivers.

Ms. Pérez is passionate about working to reduce health disparities among the Hispanic community, particularly in older adults, and for this population to age in the best possible health and dignity. Ms. Perez continues to be involved in community outreach with the Hispanic community.