Martha Soledad Vela Acosta
Dr. Martha Soledad Vela Acosta is a program officer for The Kresge Foundation. She manages the Health Program’s Healthy Environments focus area, which fosters practices that address health inequities among adults and children living in underserved urban and rural areas.
A physician, Martha brings more than 20 years experience using an integrated systems approach for community health problem-solving to the foundation.
Her diverse background in epidemiology and public, environmental and occupational health, as well as her perspective as a bilingual Latina health professional, enhance the health team’s programmatic approach to improving access to health care for groups that have been marginalized, particularly low-income people, minorities and women.
“Philanthropy is a promising field for me,” Martha says. “I view my professional performance as an opportunity to link grantmaking with scientific, evidence-based practices, thereby enhancing the foundation’s philanthropic mission to make a meaningful investment in the well-being of vulnerable populations.”
A former family practitioner, Martha sees prevention as a tool for reducing health disparities. Working in the fields of medicine, research, academia, and community activism, she has addressed the health of underserved populations, especially disproportionately affected minorities such as Spanish-speaking families. As a scientist, she has advanced the occupational health field, using community-based participatory research. She has established multi-disciplinary partnerships among educators, industry, scientists, advocates, and policy-makers in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Guanajuato, Mexico, as well as along the Texas-Mexico border.
Martha received her medical degree from the University of Guanajuato’s School of Medicine in Mexico. She earned a master’s degree in environmental health and epidemiology and doctorate in environmental health and industrial hygiene from Colorado State University. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals focusing on agriculture, environmental and occupational health, safety and minority populations. Nationally, Martha has successfully promoted collaborations between private grantmakers, organizations, and governmental agencies. Her pioneering work and mentoring have been recognized by academic and public health organizations.