B.

Mantilla

MD, PhD, MPH

Education:

Medical School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Residency: George Washington University

Biography:

Dr. Mantilla grew up in Wheaton, Maryland. During their undergraduate studies at Goddard College they conducted illness narratives with farmworkers in North Carolina and Tennessee. They also studied traditional medicine and autonomous healthcare delivery in Chiapas, Mexico. Dr. Mantilla completed an MPH at Nova Southeastern University and went on to receive their MD and PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Their dissertation research examined “undocumentedness” as a major social determinant of health.

Dr. Mantilla completed residency at George Washington University in Washington DC. Their major research interests center around health equity, immigrant health and disparities in rheumatologic conditions. Outside of medicine, they enjoy spending time with their dog, playing board or video games, kayaking and gardening.

Why Rheumatology?

“Rheumatology involves critical thinking, interrogating the medical literature, highly variable clinical presentations, and detailed patient histories. The chronic nature of rheumatology conditions often means that we can make significant differences in our patients' quality of life. Finally, several rheumatologic conditions affect people of color, often young women, disproportionately. This can result in a double burden for these patients, both by the existence of a chronic, disabling disease and systemic inequalities. I am interested in bringing a sociological and structural critical lens to the practice of rheumatology.”

Why UW?

“I was fortunate to be able to participate in the UW Visiting Scholars Program (VSP) as a fourth year medical student. I was impressed by the collegiate atmosphere, the quality of the clinical education, and the excellent humanistic patient centered care.”