Improving Chronic Health Conditions
Laura Suarez Pardo, MD, is a board-certified Consultation-Liaison psychiatrist with expertise in the impact of psychiatric illness on the adjustment and trajectory of patients with chronic medical illnesses, mainly Psychocardiology. She is an assistant professor of Psychiatry at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and a C2DREAM Cycle 1 Pilot Grant Scholar.
Tell us about yourself?
I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, the youngest of four siblings and the first in my family to pursue a medical education. I attended medical school at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, where I completed six years of training, followed by a year of social service as a general practitioner serving people in Cartagena, Colombia. I’m married and a proud parent to two daughters—one is 4.5 years old, and the other is 15 months old. I truly enjoy spending quality time with my family.
Why did you pursue your current career?
My social service experience in Colombia after medical school was incredibly empowering. It opened my eyes to the significant need for mental health support, particularly among individuals with chronic medical conditions, such as older adults. Later, I joined Massachusetts General Hospital to complete a research fellowship at the Cardiac Psychiatry Research Program. During this time, I discovered my passion for Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry—especially Psychocardiology—which has been the focus of my work ever since.
* Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, previously known as psychosomatic medicine, is a subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric conditions in patients who are being treated for medical or surgical conditions. It bridges the gap between physical and mental health, providing psychiatric expertise in hospital settings to support patients coping with illness, injury, or complex medical care.
Why did you pursue this career?
I’ve always been passionate about helping those in need. Since beginning my psychiatry residency in 2015, I’ve been actively involved with Hispanic communities, driven by a deep understanding of the challenges immigrant populations experience. This work has given me insight into the factors that impact health access and care. Having grown up in a country with limited resources and now working in a resource-rich environment, I feel a strong responsibility to advocate for and give visibility to those who are vital members of our communities but often lack a voice.
What has been your experience in the C2DREAM Pilot Grant Scholars program? How has this impacted you?
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to develop this pilot project, which holds significant personal and professional importance as I continue to grow as a clinical investigator. The experience has been incredibly valuable, offering not only essential resources but also meaningful networking opportunities. C2DREAM has provided a platform to deepen my interests while fostering collaboration and launching additional projects aligned with my work in Psychocardiology. Having the infrastructure and support to conduct research aimed at improving chronic health conditions is a meaningful and fulfilling endeavor, personally and professionally.
What is your project about?
My study expands current work in Psychocardiology by assessing psychiatric comorbidity and psychological distress in Hispanic women. The study is innovative and impactful in three key ways: (1) it focuses on Hispanic women in both Psychocardiology and medical research more broadly; (2) it evaluates a range of psychological constructs to define and understand cardiac distress more accurately; and (3) it includes potential confounding and protective factors.
We are currently in the enrollment phase. The study aims to:
Measure cardiac distress in two groups of Latina/Hispanic women with cardiovascular disease (CVD)—those with a history of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and those with traditional CVD risk factors (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, elevated LDL, obesity) but no ACS—using validated self-report tools.
Examine the effect of cardiac distress on health-related quality of life (QoL) as the primary outcome.
Investigate how acculturation, acculturative stress, perceived discrimination, and familism may influence the relationship between cardiac distress and Qo.
What are you working on currently?
From a research perspective, I am currently enrolling patients for my pilot study and hope to complete this phase in the coming months. I am also actively collaborating with the Rochester Healthy Community Partnership on a project aimed at assessing stress and stress-related behaviors in Hispanic and Somali communities through the use of wearables and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). The goal is to inform the development of targeted interventions to improve overall well-being and cardiovascular health. Additionally, I support other research initiatives at the Mayo Clinic. I also serve as the Co-Chair for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity within my department and remain actively involved in these efforts, as well as in advancing the field of Psychocardiology through my engagement with the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Clinically, I maintain a busy practice, with over 70% of my patients presenting with coexisting cardiovascular disease and psychiatric comorbidities.
