In the bustling corridors of Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Carolina L Zilli Vieira stands as a beacon of interdisciplinary prowess and scientific curiosity. A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Carolina’s journey from a curious, somewhat introverted child to a leading researcher in public health is marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a deep-rooted faith in spirituality.
Carolina’s academic odyssey began with a degree in Dentistry, where she quickly recognized the profound implications of oral health on overall well-being. This realization propelled her into the realms of Cardiology, where under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Bruno Caramelli, she embarked on groundbreaking clinical and experimental studies. Her collaborations with multiple departments at the University of Sao Paulo’s Heart Institute yielded pivotal insights into cardiovascular health, culminating in her co-authorship of Brazil’s foremost guidelines for perioperative cardiovascular evaluation.
However, it was during her Ph.D. studies that Carolina’s research trajectory took a distinctive turn. Fascinated by the intricate interplay between periodontal diseases and atherosclerosis, she pioneered novel investigative approaches that bridged the gap between dental and systemic health.
In 2009, Carolina’s inquisitive spirit led her to delve into the effects of environmental ionizing radiation on disease cycles across solar cycles. Her seminal postdoctoral research illuminated a stark correlation between galactic cosmic rays and mortality rates, unveiling new dimensions in environmental health dynamics.
Since joining Harvard’s Department of Environmental Health in 2015, Carolina has spearheaded pioneering studies on the synergistic impacts of environmental radiation and air pollution on human health. Collaborating with esteemed colleagues like Prof. Petros Koutrakis, her work has transcended disciplinary boundaries, garnering international acclaim and fostering collaborations with institutions from Oulu University in Finland to MIT and beyond.
Beyond her scholarly pursuits, Carolina is a dedicated mentor to Harvard’s next generation of public health leaders, imparting her profound insights into the intricate web of genetic, environmental, and health factors shaping global well-being. Her role in the committee of Brazilian Women Scientists in the USA underscores her commitment to fostering diversity and excellence in scientific inquiry.
As she continues to unravel the complexities of our environment’s impact on human health, Carolina L Zilli Vieira exemplifies the transformative power of interdisciplinary research and unwavering dedication to advancing public health on a global scale.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Carolina L Zilli Vieira:
What has made you successful? What do you value?
Determination, study, being able to make connections among different areas of expertise, creativity, faith in God, starting and finishing what I am proposed to do, meditation, being stubborn for things I believed and very flexible and adaptable for other things, using critics to grow and fix things in myself, accepting losing things and people when it is the time to change life direction for better. Because of my friendly, curious and studious nature, I was able to make good connections and friendships among different areas of academia and outside it. In many moments of my life, I needed to accept losing the acceptance and approval of my loved ones (including my parents) because they could not understand my life purposes and paths. Now, seeing where I am and what I have been doing in my career, most agree that I was right. And good karma that I helped create in this life and likely in my past lives too. Do good, do your best, and good things will come.
What are the most important aspects of a university culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
The academic environment is the best place to investigate the truth about unknown things and facts, which ultimately will help people and the world be better and healthier. I like to be able to navigate through interdisciplinary areas, making unusual connections among different disciplines, and transmit this knowledge to college students, colleagues and the whole community.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in your work field?
For me, it is the reason why I am where I am. If I continued doing things as I learned, I was not able to be where I am.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
Unfortunately, I believe most organizations do not like changes, and good changes take many many years to be placed because of that.
What are your responsibilities as a teaching assistant and instructor at Harvard university? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
I prepare classes based on my research, and I teach and train students to be able to perform epidemiological and toxicological studies in my area. The happiest part of my daily routine is to do my morning meditation and yoga practices, and, mainly, to know that I concluded my work knowing that I gave my best. I also love being and talking with my kids and partner about how their day was while sharing a good vegetarian meal.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
I would say: Do your best, and the best will find you anyways.
