José is an urban health specialist and systems thinker whose work sits at the intersection of cities, health, and planetary sustainability. Trained initially in ecology at Cornell University, he went on to complete an MPH and PhD in infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Michigan, with field experience in Ghana and Kenya that sparked his long-term engagement with the complexity of urban health systems. Over the course of his career, he has moved from traditional epidemiology toward a broader systems-based approach, holding roles at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health, and the Wellcome Trust, where he served as Senior Science Lead for Cities and Health. He has collaborated with governments, multilateral organizations, and global scientific bodies, and currently works with the World Bank and the World Health Organization on advancing healthy cities agendas. Across research, policy, and advisory roles, José’s work is driven by a commitment to ethical, systems-oriented solutions that expand human potential while reducing structural inequities and environmental harm.