Making Time to Lead the Fight against Alzheimer’s


Dr. Maria Carrillo blends her passion for work and family to make a difference


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or Dr. Maria Carrillo, senior director, Medical & Scientific Relations,


Alzheimer’s Association, success as a working mother requires organization and balance. Carrillo, a mother of four children ranging from ages 7 to 16, is committed to the Association’s global efforts to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease – but she still manages to find time to help her kids with their homework.


Carrillo discovered her love of science while taking psychology and biology classes at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1991. She went on to receive her Ph.D. from Northwestern University’s Institute for Neuroscience in 1996.


Carrillo discovered that the support of a strong mentor was critical in her pursuit of a career and family. “My mentor, Dr. John Disterhoft, was the first person to say to me, ‘There is never a good time to have kids. You just have them and keep going,’” said Carrillo. “It’s advice that I now give to other women.” Disterhoft’s flexibility and


encouragement helped Carrillo to stay on track toward her goals – and to prove her commitment to her colleagues. “A bias sometimes exists toward new mothers – an assumption that they won’t return to the workplace. That assumption only inspired me to work harder,” said Carrillo.


Carrillo went on to complete her postdoctoral fellowship in the Neurology department at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical center in Chicago, where she was later hired as an assistant professor in the department of Neurological Sciences. As she worked toward tenure, she began to look for career alternatives that would give her additional time with her family while utilizing her degree. In doing so, Carrillo found the Alzheimer’s Association.


Dr. Maria Carrillo, senior director, Medical & Scientific Relations, Alzheimer’s Association


“Working at the Association has been rewarding for me in a different way than being in the lab,” said Carrillo. “As a Spanish-speaking professional, I am able to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s through media opportunities that target both English and Spanish-speaking audiences.”


This spring, the Alzheimer’s Association released the 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures, an annual report covering the burden of Alzheimer’s and dementia on individuals, families, local and state government and the nation’s healthcare system. Carrillo worked to build awareness


around the report’s findings, which revealed that African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s than whites, and Hispanics are about 1.5 times more likely than whites to develop the disease. Although there are no known genetic factor for these differences, Facts and Figures cites the negative impact of health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes – conditions that are prevalent in the Hispanic and African-American communities. For Carrillo, her involvement was an opportunity to get a critical – and personal – message about Alzheimer’s out to a diverse community.


“These risk factors are real and many people in diverse populations live with them every day,” she said. “In fact, my mother-in-law, who has had diabetes for 25 years, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease six months ago. I hope these statistics – connecting the risk for Alzheimer’s to factors like heart disease and diabetes – will motivate individuals to address their overall health.”


As her career continues to progress, taking her around the globe to work with Alzheimer researchers, Carrillo still finds time for her family.


“The hardest part is not being physically there to support them,” she said. “But technology has changed that to some degree. I can review homework assignments online and text with my kids throughout the day.”


Carrillo values her career because it satisfies her aspirations and conveys an important message to her children. “For my sons, I hope this shows them that there are options in life for women, either as professionals outside the home or inside the home,” she said. “And I want my daughters to know that a woman can manage a family, be a partner and have a career. You can have the whole package and be successful.”


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