Faculty
From an early age, her fascination with science and the desire to contribute to the well-being of people led her to pursue a career in medicine. She graduated as a General Physician from UCIMED, CR and then got a master’s in Health Management at UCIMED.
Carolina has been working at Hospital Clínica Biblica since 2018, first, as part of the medical team in the Emergency Department and since 2021, she became the coordinator of External Consultations. She has developed initiatives and projects that not only improved the overall quality of care but has also enhanced patient satisfaction and trust in healthcare services. Carolina has also been directly involved in an International Accreditation Process: ensuring safety and quality measures for patients and staff.
Maria Alejandra is an experienced facilitator of leadership development for sustainability. With a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden. She specializes in community engagement, trust building and collective capacity. She has led transformative participatory processes with multiple sustainability NGO’s, local communities and educational programs for youth. She is a dancer and an artist at heart.
Marianela holds a Masters in Human Development from FLACSO, Argentina and a History Degree from Universidad de Costa Rica. With over 15 years of experience as a professor and speaker, her research expertise covers topics related to gender, reproductive rights, social history, human development, and the preservation of intangible heritage, emphasizing in Latin America. She also advocates for the promotion of the history of diverse cultures around the globe in a wide spectrum of historical periods.
Andrea graduated from Yale School of Public Health in 2014 and from Harvard Kennedy School in 2021. At Yale, her thesis was nominated for the Dean’s Outstanding Thesis Award. She also holds a Bachelor’s in History from the University ofCosta Rica. She has taught health-related courses such as Introduction to Epidemiology and Health and Vulnerable Populations in Latin America.
In 2015, she traveled to Japan to the International Development Youth Forum. In 2017, she traveled to London as a member of the UK International Leaders Programme, and delivered a talk to university students regarding the challenges of developing health-related legislation. Andrea’s greatest cause is mental health. She started working in suicide prevention and has been a volunteer in the Costa Rican Saving Lives Foundation. Recently she chaired the VIII Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Suicide Prevention. She currently serves as a Costa Rican Congresswoman where she has spearheaded legislation on public health and human rights issues.
Rodrigo Corrales-Mejías is an economist with expertise in economic policy and international economics. He holds a master’s degree in Economic Policy with a focus on International Economics. With a background in both academia and public service.
Rodrigo is currently working in the telecommunications sector. He has worked in various roles, including as a professor for 14 years. In addition to his teaching experience, he has served as a researcher and senior consultant on diverse projects. Rodrigo has specialized in utilizing his analytical skills and research acumen to influence decision-making processes in both governmental and business contexts.
Dr. Fernández is a staff member of Hospital Clínica Bíblica since 2013 and had served as Chief Physician of the Hospital Social Action Programs, devoted to the attention of vulnerable populations facilitating medical attention and educational programs with a human rights emphasis and a human development focus. Currently serves as chief of clinical services to Hospital Clinica Bíblica for the last 2 years.
Dr. Fernández obtained his medical degree from Universidad de Costa Rica and completed a masters in management of Public Policies and Social Programs from Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública (Central American Institute of Public Administration).
Dr. Olga Arguedas completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the School of Medicine of the University of Costa Rica, and received a Masters and a Doctorate degree in Sciences at the University of Gothemburg in Sweden. Dr. Arguedas also had post doctorate training at the Istituto Gaslini, in Genova, Italy. She also holds a Masters degree in Health Services Management from the UNED, in Costa Rica.
She is currently Professor of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine of the University of Costa Rica. Until August 2023 she was the General Director of the National Children’s Hospital in San José, Costa Rica. She has particular interest in pediatric rheumatology and immunology, bioethics, scientific biomedical research, stem cell transplantation, development and quality of health services, and medical teaching. She has authored numerous book chapters, articles, and conference’s on the above mentioned topics.
Jeff is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) and has been an Energy Engineer for the last 10 years with deep experience in the energy efficiency field. Jeff graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Renewable Energy Engineering with specialties in international engineering and energy efficient building design. Jeff Davis has dedicated the last 7 years of his life to sustainable living and permaculture farming in Costa Rica. Jeff started a sustainable farm called “Finca Sol y Valle” four years ago, regularly teaches sustainable living on the farm, including the course “Sustainability Practices and Food Security in Rural Costa Rica” with ICDS.
Helen is an environmental sociologist living and teaching in Costa Rica. In addition to a PhD from Birkbeck College in London, she holds two Master’s degrees in Sociology and Latin American Environmental Issues. Helen develops and teaches courses in Sustainable Development Studies and Environmental Policy at all university levels. She participates in many creative sustainability projects and is a forest guardian, recuperating and protecting 13.4 ha of tropical forest at the San Miguel Forest Reserve.
Aitor is the Executive Director of ALIARSE, an organization that promotes public private partnerships for development in Costa Rica. He is an advisor on research, development issues, capacity building initiatives, and the design and management of partnerships in a wide range of countries including Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Jamaica. Aitor received his Master’s at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom and has been a consultant for organizations such as IADB, OECD, GIZ, and IUCN, as well as a senior associate for The Partnering Initiative. He is also the editor of the “Methodological Guide for the Design and Management of Public Private Partnerships for Development” and “The Legal Framework of Public Private Partnerships in Costa Rica”.
Gabriela studied Economics at Emory University and received a Master’s degree in Development Management from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She has significant experience working as a consultant in sustainability and corporate social responsibility in Costa Rica and Atlanta, as well as the expansion of NGOs and public private partnerships in the developing nations of Kenya and Peru. Gabriela also manages her own microenterprise, incorporating sustainable, local development of Costa Rica as part of the company´s ethos.
Born in Costa Rica, Yanina studied Chemistry and then received a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of California at Berkeley. She was active in the regional environmental movement, as communications officer of the IUCN, World Conservation Union. She also worked at the Costa Rican Embassy in France and UNESCO, where she was instrumental for the inclusion of Cocos Island on the UNESCO World Heritage site list. She lives in Punta Leona, works as consultant and translator, and teaches sustainability and environmental issues at ICDS.
Danielle Jean-Pierre studied Business Administration at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) and holds a Master’s degree in public policy from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), Ecuador. She has extensive experience in supporting micro-entrepreneurship projects and economic empowerment of impoverished populations in Costa Rica. She also has experience in coordinating international study abroad programs.
Jorge is the President and Academic Director of the International Center for Development Studies (ICDS) and chairs the Foundation for Sustainability and Equity (ALIARSE). He holds a Ph.D. from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) as well as a Master’s degree in Social Planning in Developing Countries and a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations, both from LSE. Jorge has been a consultant for international organizations such as ILO, UNDP, OAS, Inter-American Development Bank, as well as author and coauthor of books and articles on topics such as trade and poverty, labor issues, social security, trade unions, and human development.
María holds a Masters in Latin American Literature from the University of Costa Rica and has taught at several public and private universities including Spanish grammar, writing, technical report writing, research work writing, oral expression, Latin American literature and culture, and L2 Spanish as a Second Language at all levels. She has worked as a professional editor for universities, academic organizations, the United States Embassy, and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund. María has also published specialty articles and her own poetry. She won the Roberto Brenes Mesén award in 1985 and authored a 2012 book of poetry, "Transited Absence".
Ms. Lopez has a Master degree in Peace Education and Human Rights and a Master degree in Latin American Studies. She works at Universidad Nacional and University for Peace, facilitating courses in human rights, feminist theory, peace studies and conflict resolution, among others. She has been a consultant for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Latin American Campaign for Education (CLADE). In 2018, she received the UNESCO-APCEIU Award for best practice in peace education and global citizen education for her project “Building Zones of Peace”.
a 2012 book of poetry, "Transited Absence".
Ruth works with educational projects related to curriculum design and application of innovative methodologies for private Institutions in Costa Rica. She has experience in cross-cultural and developmental research projects and has participated as a featured lecturer on themes of culture and development at Universidad Nacional. Ruth is also involved in sustainable development at the local level, working with the Costa Rican Ministry of Education on projects with high school students and recycling programs.
Professor Castro is a political scientist, social educator and English language specialist with graduate degrees from Universidad de Costa Rica and Universidad de Guadalajara, México. Her work experience is both on the academic field as university lecturer and in community projects in the fields of human rights and governance at the UN System, World Vision. She has also been an OAS appointed electoral observer, nationally and internationally in Guatemala and Panamá, and has both researched and worked on advocacy and empowerment actions within Costa Rican social movements.
Rodolfo oversees the two Health Care Areas administered by Hospital Clinica Bíblica in agreement with the Costa Rican Social Security (CCSS), giving Primary Health Care access to more than 90.000 inhabitants in San José.
Dr. Jose Camacho currently serves as the head of medical education, external services and research at Hospital Clínica Bíblica. He was the first medical coordinator of the new Clínica Bíblica headquarters in Santa Ana and played an integral role in its development and growth, with specific contributions to áreas of Cardiology and Radiology. Dr. Camacho is also on the verge of obtaining his Master’s in Health Management with Universidad de Ciencias Médicas and plans to pursue further research and development in the field.
Andrés Madriz is a health economist from the London School of Economics with significant experience in international health policy and public sector reform with an emphasis in developing countries such as México, the Bahamas, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan. Over the past 7 years, he has worked with The World Bank and Sanigest Internacional on a wide range of projects that focus on health financing and universal health coverage
A Costa Rican citizen, Jairo Hernandez has degrees in Law and Political Science and a Master’s from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He has worked extensively in the public sector and as a consultant both at home and abroad. He served as a diplomat for ten years, including as Ambassador of Costa Rica to Australia and Singapore and as both Director-General of Foreign Policy and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Jairo has considerable academic experience teaching and leading research at home and abroad. In his professional capacity, Mr. Hernandez has traveled extensively in Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
