Priscilla De La Cruz was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Vail, Arizona. After graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a bachelors in neuroscience, Priscilla moved to Tucson, Arizona and worked at the Arizona Smokers Helpline where she learned how to become a smoking cessation counselor and utilize motivational interviewing techniques. As a medical student at Albany Medical College, Priscilla continued to provide smoking cessation counseling to patients and trained medical students in motivational interviewing and smoking cessation strategies. Her passion for patient care and wellness helped to propel her forward as she trained at the University of Buffalo for Internal Medicine during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Priscilla also recognized a need for healthfulness in her colleagues and assisted with organizing the Internal Medicine Wellness Committee to reduce burnout amongst residents. Priscilla followed her passion for patient care to fellowship at Indiana University for Pulmonary/Critical Care where she worked tirelessly to provide compassionate, patient-centered medical care to COVID-19 patients. Additionally, Priscilla is also an avid scientist and researcher. 

Priscilla’s research interests began as a student at Johns Hopkins University in the Wilson Lab at Kennedy Krieger Institute where she investigated the effects of prenatal lead exposure in the somatosensory cortex in neonatal mice. In medical school, Priscilla worked in a functional neurosurgery lab and developed the first occipital nerve stimulator rodent model. Her prior research includes work clinical and basic science work in migraine, neuromodulation in chronic back pain, and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease. Priscilla’s current research builds on her background as she implements protocols to investigate neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction in critically ill mice. Priscilla’s other interests include healthcare disparities, affordability, and accessibility. 

Outside of work, Priscilla enjoys painting, traveling, and reading. She believes that there is always more to learn and discover about the world, herself, and those around her.