Marisol Alvarez Builla
Marisol Alvarez Builla is wife, mother of two, and a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and public health professional dedicated to advancing occupational safety, prevention, and health education within the community and healthcare environments. Based in Gainesville, Florida, she serves as the Occupational Medicine Program Coordinator at the University of Florida, where she leads initiatives in needlestick prevention, bloodborne pathogen safety, and serves on the university’s Emergency, Safety, and Infection Control (ESIC) Committee and Emergency Planning Cohort CoOp. Marisol's current projects include developing a new needlestick prevention program aimed at improving safety standards for healthcare professionals and updating policies and procedures for UF's Emergency Preparedness plans—a project that highlights her commitment to innovation and evidence-based practice. Before stepping into her current role, Marisol gained extensive experience in healthcare education and program management. She previously served as a Program Director and faculty member at Southeastern College, where she took on oversight of clinical coordinator, curriculum design, and academic operations. Later, as a Clinical Research Coordinator within the UF College of Medicine’s Department of Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine. Her diverse experience bridged clinical, academic, administrative, and leadership spheres, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to both research and applied public health practice. Marisol holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida, where she graduated with honors and served in multiple leadership roles, including President of UF’s School Health Interdisciplinary Program, Director of Programming for Eta Sigma Gamma (Alpha Lambda Chapter) National Public Health Honor Society, President of Alpha Epsilon Lambda (Alpha Chapter) Honor Society which recognizes the top 1% of UF graduate and professional students, and is a member of UF's Tau Sigma (Delta Chapter) Honor Society. She was recently featured in the University of Florida's College of Health and Human Performance 2026 Winter Edition of Performance Magazine, where her student organization UF SHIP was highlighted. She has now transitioned into the role of Assistant Executive Director of UF SHIP. Driven by her passion for community wellness and prevention, Marisol continues to advocate for safer healthcare practices and equitable access to quality health education.
• Health Educational Specialist-NCHEC
• University of Florida - College of Health & Human Performance- B.S.
• University of Florida - College of Health & Human Performance- M.S.
• Cum Laude
• UF SHIP
• Eta Sigma Gamma- National Honor Society
• Alpha Epsilon Lambda National Honor Society
• Tau Sigma National Honor Society
• National Society of Leadership and Success Honor Society
• University of Florida School Health Interdisciplinary Program
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having determination and grit, along with a lifelong commitment to learning and growth, and the support of my family.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've gotten is to never settle and always go after my dreams.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to build strong networks for mentorship, lead with your values, and always approach your work with compassion and integrity.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There is both a challenge and an opportunity for growth within the Occupational Health/ Occupational Medicine departments here at UF and UF Health. I'm excited to collaborate with our newly hired Occupational Health Medical Director.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are faith, integrity, and compassion.