Dra. Virginia Torres Lista

Dr. Virginia Torres-Lista is a researcher, academic, psychologist, and international consultant with extensive experience in clinical psychology, psychiatry, social sciences, public health, education, and gender studies. She has built a distinguished academic and scientific career dedicated to advancing research, higher education, social innovation, and evidence-based public policy in Panama and internationally.

Dr. Torres-Lista completed her Postdoctoral Studies in Psychiatry at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine, Spain, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology and a Diploma in Advanced Studies in Psychiatry. She additionally holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Health Psychology from the Institute of Psychological Studies (ISEP) in Barcelona, Spain, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Rafael Urdaneta University in Venezuela. Her academic training also includes specialized studies in bioethics, university teaching, sports coaching, and high-performance psychology, qualitative research analysis using NVivo, and international ethics in health research.

Throughout her career, Dr. Torres-Lista has contributed significantly to scientific research and academic leadership. She currently serves as a Researcher at the Cultivating Well-being Foundation – Panama Mind Well. Between 2021 and 2025, she held the position of Director of Research at the Santa María la Antigua Catholic University (USMA) in Panama, where she also coordinated the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, served on the Bioethics Research Committee, and directed the scientific journal Investigación y Pensamiento Crítico (IPC Journal).

She has participated in and led multidisciplinary and multicultural research projects focused on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in health, education, gender equality, social inclusion, political participation, psychosocial adaptation, and social inequalities. Her research has addressed important societal issues such as the psychosocial effects of COVID-19, violence against women in digital spaces, educational quality, child abuse, emotional development in children, and women’s political participation in Panama.

Dr. Torres-Lista has produced more than thirty-eight scientific products, including peer-reviewed articles, books, policy briefs, and academic publications. She has collaborated with international institutions and organizations, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), SENACYT, UNESCO, the London School of Economics, and multiple universities across Europe and Latin America.

Internationally recognized for her scientific leadership, she has served as an editor and reviewer for prestigious journals, including Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers in Psychology, and Frontiers in Public Health. She was also co-editor of the international research topic “Death and Mourning Processes in the Times of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)” alongside researchers from Spain, Italy, Belgium, Brazil, and other countries.

Dr. Torres-Lista is an active member of the National Research System of Panama (SNI) and the Panamanian Association for the Advancement of Science (APANAC). Her work has been recognized with multiple awards and distinctions, including a distinction from the National Assembly of the Republic of Panama for her scientific leadership and contributions to advancing science and research in the country. In 2024, she received the “Graduate of the Year” recognition in the Science, Technology, and Research category from USMA.

In addition to her research activities, Dr. Torres-Lista has extensive experience mentoring students, supervising theses, and guiding emerging researchers at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. She has supervised numerous academic projects in psychology, education, social sciences, public policy, and health-related fields.

Her professional mission centers on generating scientific knowledge with social impact, promoting mental health and well-being, strengthening educational systems, advancing gender equality, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration for sustainable development and social transformation.