Dr. Zea is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Departments of General Dentistry and Health Policy & Health Services Research at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, and she serves as the President-Elect of the Hispanic Dental Association. Originally from Colombia, Dr. Zea earned her Doctor in Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in 1996 and completed a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) at Boston University School of Public Health in 2020. She is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, and an honorary faculty member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honors Society. Dr. Zea joined GSDM in 2007, where she serves as Director of Community Health Education, overseeing Community-Based and Service Learning rotations and externships for DMD students, and Director of the Applied Professional Experience (APEX) and Externship Programs. She is also Co-Director of the Comprehensive Pre-Clinical Dentistry Course and a member of the Dean’s Council on Ethics and Professionalism, Promotions, and Admissions Committees. Dr. Zea developed and implemented the comprehensive risk assessment used by students at the School Treatment Center. Her research interests focus on prevention, oral health disparities, and health services research, and she is an active member of the Hispanic Dental Association’s Core Research Team, addressing oral health disparities in the U.S. Dr. Zea is inspired by her students’ commitment to reducing oral health disparities through research, promotion, and community-based outreach activities.