Degree Program Directors

NIYA WERTS, PHD, MIS, MS EHS, LMT

Associate Professor and Program Director, Master of Science in Health Science Program 

Dr. Werts is an accomplished educator, scholar, and leader, and has taught health science in community and higher education settings for more than fifteen years. She has an interdisciplinary focus on community health and health information technology. 

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Master of Health and Exercise Science from Miami University of Ohio, a Master of Information Systems from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Information Systems from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She’s also held an active license as a Massage Therapist in the state of Maryland since 2002.  Her primary interests are in the realm of health literacy and health data integration for the improvement of healthcare on the community and organizational levels. She currently serves as the Graduate Program Director for the MS in Health Science at UMB. 

CARLOS A. FAERRON GUZMÁN, M.D., M.SC.

Assistant Professor and Program Director, Master of Science in Global Health

Faerron is currently Assistant Professor of Global Health at the University of Maryland Baltimore, Graduate School.  He is also the Director of the Centro Interamericano para la Salud Global (CISG) in Costa Rica and acts as the Associate Director of the Planetary Health Alliance at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, as well as adjunct faculty at the University of Costa Rica.  

Faerron began his career as a primary care doctor in a rural area of Costa Rica, where he worked closely with migrant and indigenous populations. His work seeks to redefine the meaning of leadership in global health through innovative educational approaches. 

Faerron follows a framework of equity in health and human rights as guiding principles and firmly believes in progress in health through community empowerment, action / research, and participatory education. 

He obtained his medical degree at the University of Costa Rica and his MSc. in International Health at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh and Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Additional studies include Social Justice at the International Institute for Health and Development in Scotland and Social Innovation for Health from INCAE Business School. He is a Fellow of the Central American Healthcare Initiative.