Nilsa Padilla Elías, MPA, is MCN's Research Manager and works from the Puerto Rico office. She has dedicated her career to work in different public health scenarios, among which stand out the emergency preparedness and response. Padilla Elías has vast experience in the development and implementation of research projects, focusing on the emergency preparedness and capability of the Puerto Rico health system, including the Altered Crisis Standards of Care. She also has devoted her research efforts to addressing the needs of the unhoused population and people with substance abuse disorders and implementing mental health awareness programs for the community. In addition to research initiatives, Padilla Elías has coordinated services, collected data, and provided psychoeducation for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (including related dementias), and their caregivers. Padilla Elías has a Master’s degree in Public Affairs majoring in Human Services from the University of Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico. She has recently been certified as a Thanatologist and continues to study diverse modalities of the Enneagram. Padilla Elías is a lover of nature, travel, and music and passionate about singing and dancing "bomba puertorriqueña". In sports she is a basketball fan and proud mother of an outstanding basketball coach and a skilled front-of-the-house manager in the fine dining hospitality industry.