New investigator: Sara Hurtado Bares, MD

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on Nov. 14 for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Sara Hurtado Bares, MD  
• Title: Associate professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, UNMC College of Medicine
• Joined UNMC: 2013
• Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico to Bronx, New York to Norwalk, Connecticut to Chicago to Omaha

Describe your research focus in three words or less: HIV comorbidities

Why is research important in the world today? 

Research is crucial in today’s world because it drives innovation, informs evidence-based decision-making and addresses pressing global challenges. Research allows us to discover new treatments, improve quality of life and address disparities. In the field of HIV, research is vital for developing better therapies, understanding the long-term effects of aging with the virus and addressing the unique challenges faced by different populations of people HIV. By exploring these areas, research not only enhances health care but also helps shape policies and systems to create more equitable and informed solutions for diverse populations.

My research will make a difference because:

More than half of people with HIV in the United States are over the age of 50. Although the life expectancy of people with HIV is approaching that of people without HIV, they are twice as likely to experience a heart attack, stroke and other non-infectious comorbidities. My research focuses on ways to reduce the burden of non-infectious comorbidities in people with HIV and, ultimately, to help improve not just the quantity but the quality of their lives.

The best advice I’ve ever received is: 

My dance teacher once said, “Compete against yourself, not others,” and her advice still resonates today. We’ll always find people who are better at something than we are, but if we compare ourselves to the person we were last year or 10 years ago and see how far we’ve come, we’re less likely to question or doubt ourselves.

Three things you may not know about me are:

• My first language was Spanish, but English now is my dominant language.
• I can’t carry a tune but love dancing and considered pursuing a career as a professional ballet dancer when I was young.
• I never took the MCAT. I applied to medical school through Mount Sinai’s early acceptance humanities and medicine program when I was a sophomore. It was the best decision I’ve ever made, because it allowed me to take more humanities classes and study abroad as an undergrad.