Dr. HUMBERTO LOPEZ
Humberto Lopez Castillo
he/him/él
Executive Board
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Dr. Humberto López Castillo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). His research focuses on cardiometabolic health disparities in sexual minority men. Using a biobehavioral approach, his research identifies potential links between minority stress and metabolic syndrome outcomes (namely, obesity,
hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemias). Other lines of inquiry explore the potential mediation roles of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy use in the development of cardiometabolic disease and behavioral aspects driving sexual health risk-taking among sexual minority men, especially the link between substance use and HIV transmission.
Dr. López Castillo’s background spans from clinical practice with adolescents and young adults, public health methods, and biobehavioral intervention development, implementation, and evaluation. Besides research, Dr. López Castillo teaches undergraduate classes on human disease, earning the 2022 CHPS Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching award. He also hosts The Sex Café Podcast, where clinicians, researchers, and community advocates meet over coffee to discuss issues and provide
local resources for the sexual and reproductive health of the Central Florida community. Dr. López Castillo graduated with an MD (2001) and completed his residency in pediatrics (2009) at the University of Panama. He also has an MSc in clinical sciences and an MEd in higher education. He completed his PhD in Public Health (2016) and postdoctoral fellowship in adolescent risk behaviors (2018) at the University of South Florida. Dr. López Castillo is Certified in Public Health and a Certified Medical
Interpreter.