Erik J. Rodriquez, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Behavioral Epidemiologist, Staff Scientist
Division of Intramural Research
Erik.Rodriquez@nih.gov
301-827-1989

Erik J. Rodriquez, Ph.D., M.P.H., is a behavioral epidemiologist and Staff Scientist at the Division of Intramural Research at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), where he conducts population health research in the Minority Health and Populations Experiencing Health Disparities Laboratory. This lab is led by NIMHD Director Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable. Dr. Rodriquez specializes in tobacco use behaviors, social determinants of health behaviors, and behavior-related health disparities among racial/ethnic minority and immigrant populations. His past research has investigated relationships between acculturation-, stress-, mental health-, and age-related factors and health behavior. His experience also includes research in the fields of premature mortality, occupational health and applied public health.

Dr. Rodriquez’ immediate work includes: 1) identifying modifiable mechanisms between behavioral and biological factors that explain the relationship between chronic stress and depressive symptoms among a diverse cohort of Latinos; 2) determining optimal levels of tobacco-related biomarkers to distinguish heavier smokers from lower levels of tobacco use and exposure among Latinos and individual Latino national backgrounds; and 3) investigating the relationships between individual-level neighborhood factors, and health-promoting and risk behaviors among Latinos living in four large U.S. communities.

Dr. Rodriquez received his M.P.H. degree from Loma Linda University; postgraduate training from the California Department of Public Health; Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis; and postdoctoral training from the University of California, San Francisco.

Selected Publications

• Rodriquez, E.J., Kim, E.N., Sumner, A.E. et al. Allostatic Load: Importance, Markers, and Score Determination in Minority and Populations Experiencing Health Disparities. J Urban Health 96, 3–11 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-019-00345-5
• Shiels, M. S., Berrington de González, A., Best, A. F., Chen, Y., Chernyavskiy, P., Hartge, P., … Freedman, N. D. (2019). Premature mortality from all causes and drug poisonings in the USA according to socioeconomic status and rurality: an analysis of death certificate data by county from 2000-15. The Lancet. Public health, 4(2), e97–e106. doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30208-1

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