Marcia Varella, MD, is a pediatrician and clinical epidemiologist. She joined FIU HWCOM as Professor in June 2013. Before that he worked as a faculty at the medical school of Unigranrio University and attending physician in neonatal intensive care units in Rio.
At HWCOM, Dr Varella’s main activities involve teaching epidemiology and evidence-based medicine concepts, and serving as content and methodological mentor to research projects of medical students in a variety of fields. As a results of her mentorship, students have presented their scientific work in prestigious national meetings and published in peer review journals. Dr. Varella own research interests relies on the risk factors and interventions during early life that contribute to the health of children. Other areas of interest are related to the fields of breastfeeding (correlated factors for breastfeeding initiation and cessation), and neuro-cognitive development (including attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity).
research interests
My major research interest relate to the study of factors associated with early childhood development and growth. My interest are mostly in how nutritional factors , like breastfeeding practices, and social determinants of health may impact child health.