She holds PhD and MS degrees in nutritional sciences from the University of Connecticut and an MA in Regional Studies: Middle East from Harvard University. Her expertise is in dietary assessment and intervention. She was a co-investigator and lead nutritionist for the Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial at the New York City Clinical Center. She serves as the nationwide principal investigator for the Study of Latinos: Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment Study, which is designed to investigate the measurement error of diet and physical activity assessment instruments in a Hispanic cohort in four U.S. cities. She is also the Bronx principal investigator for the Study of Latinos Sleep Study.