Edna Esquer, PhD, FNP-BC

Dr. Edna Esquer was born in Mexicali, Mexico and immigrated to the U.S. during her adolescent years. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Esquer a clinical nurse scientist and family nurse practitioner has dedicated her efforts in caring for the medically vulnerable families of the California US-Mexican Border specializing in Family Health. She earned a master’s degree in nursing science from University of San Diego and completed her family nurse practitioner board certification with subspecialty in Latino Health Care.

Dr. Esquer returned to University of San Diego and recently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science. Her dissertation research focused on identifying the associations of chronic stress, social support, health behaviors and metabolic syndrome among middle-aged Mexican/American women living in a US/Mexico border community.

Dr. Esquer had focused her efforts working as a clinical research practitioner conducting multiple cardiovascular and Type 2 Diabetes research studies sponsored by Scripps Health, California Endowment and the National Institute of Health (NIH) landmark ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular risk in Diabetes) Trial.

She completed a graduate student internship at the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Child Health Bureau. She assisted in special analytical projects of a federally funded program for the reduction of infant mortality among diverse ethnic racial communities throughout the United States.

Dr. Esquer currently provides family medicine services, serves as lecturer, clinical academic advisor and assists Imperial County advanced practice nursing students to achieve their educational requirements.

Research Interests: Identifying cardio-metabolic risk factors, high-risk health behaviors, health policy & equity health outcomes research focusing specifically on the social determinants of health that adversely affect the well-being of vulnerable minority populations.