Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
Timeline
Languages
Consultancies
Publications
Consultancies

María Soledad Martínez Gutiérrez

Medical Doctor, Public Health Preventative Medicine Specialist
Santiago,Metropolitana

Summary

With over 23 years of experience in health systems, expertise includes public management at the Ministry of Health, working at the Undersecretariat of Healthcare Networks and Undersecretariat Public Health. A strong background in research and management across various levels of the Chilean Health System demonstrates a commitment to promoting equity in financing and access to health services, particularly in primary health care. Extensive teaching experience encompasses undergraduate and graduate public health programs, including master's and doctoral courses, as well as extension teaching on critical topics such as demand management innovation, healthcare networks, quality improvement, and project management for public health professionals. This combination of practical experience and academic involvement fosters a comprehensive understanding of the complexities within the health sector.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Language

Work History

Head of the Division of Disease Prevention and Control

Ministry of Health
Santiago
01.2023 - Current
  • Managed budgets and resources effectively, ensuring fiscal responsibility within the division.
  • Increased division efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing innovative strategies such as agile management techniques
  • Developed strategic plans in alignment with organizational goals, setting clear expectations and priorities for the division.

Assistant Professor

University of Chile
Santiago
01.2002 - Current
  • Taught undergraduate and graduate courses
  • Lead Research projects
  • Participated in extension initiatives
  • Provided Technical Assistance for the public sector.
  • Designed the course “COVID-19 Case and Contact Tracing” 2020, which has certified more than 14,000 people in Chile.

Head of the Primary Care Division

Ministry of Health
01.2022 - 01.2023
  • Championed innovation by encouraging creative problem-solving techniques amongst team members, for example implementing the PAHO Teletriage System, which began to be implemented in Primary Health Care throughout the country. https://telesalud.gob.cl/
  • Collaborated with other departments to develop cross-functional initiatives for organizational success.
  • Resolved conflicts swiftly and professionally, fostering an environment of trust within the team dynamic.

Advisor to the Hospital Director

Health Refererral Center Maipú
Santiago
01.2019 - 01.2022

Head of the Strategic Development Coordination Unit

San Borja Arriarán Clinical Hospital, Central Metropolitan Health Service
Santiago
01.2019 - 12.2019

Deputy Director, School of Public Health

University of Chile
Santiago
01.2015 - 08.2017
  • Acted as Co Chair for the Organizing Committee of the IV and V Public Health Congresses (2016 and 2018).
  • Increased overall efficiency by identifying areas of improvement and implementing necessary changes.
  • Fostered a positive work environment by promoting collaboration, transparency, and open communication among team members.

Advisor

Magallanes Health Service Directorate
01.2004 - 12.2004

Education

Ph.D. - Health Services and Policy Analysis

University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
01.2014
  • Dissertation: The role of the public primary care network in access to primary care services in Chile
  • Fulbright – MECESUP scholarship for postgraduate studies, 2008, Department of State, United States of America

Master of Public Health - Public Health

University of Chile, Santiago
01.2008
  • Thesis: Evolution of equity in the allocation of financial resources to primary health care: the transition from payment per service to per capita payment.

Medical Specialty - Public Health & General Preventive Medicine

University of Chile, Santiago
01-2008

Degree awarded with highest distinction

M.D. -

University of Chile, Santiago
05.2001 -

Skills

Problem-solving

Additional Information

Hourly rate: $ 200

Timeline

Head of the Division of Disease Prevention and Control - Ministry of Health
01.2023 - Current
Head of the Primary Care Division - Ministry of Health
01.2022 - 01.2023
Advisor to the Hospital Director - Health Refererral Center Maipú
01.2019 - 01.2022
Head of the Strategic Development Coordination Unit - San Borja Arriarán Clinical Hospital, Central Metropolitan Health Service
01.2019 - 12.2019
Deputy Director, School of Public Health - University of Chile
01.2015 - 08.2017
Advisor - Magallanes Health Service Directorate
01.2004 - 12.2004
Assistant Professor - University of Chile
01.2002 - Current
University of Chile - M.D.,
05.2001 -
University of California Berkeley - Ph.D., Health Services and Policy Analysis
University of Chile - Master of Public Health, Public Health
University of Chile - Medical Specialty, Public Health & General Preventive Medicine

Languages

English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Spanish
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)

Consultancies

  • OECD, Document Pandemics and Primary Healthcare in Latin America: Chile, 2022
  • GES Cost Verification Study, Department of Health Economics, Ministry of Health, 2018
  • Study on Effective Use of GES Benefits, Research Department, Ministry of Health, 2018
  • Pre-investment Study for the Iquique Oncology Center, Iquique Health Service, 2018
  • World Bank Consultant, Primary Healthcare performance assessment in Chile. Chile — Public Health Sector Support Project., 2017
  • Pre-investment Study for the National Cancer Institute, North Metropolitan Health Service, 2017
  • Pre-investment Study, Northern Zone Hospital, Northern Metropolitan Health Service, 2016
  • Addendum to Study on Verification of GES Costs 2015, Department of Health Economics, Ministry of Health, 2016
  • Study on Verification of GES Costs 2015, Department of Health Economics, Ministry of Health, 2015
  • Comprehensive Evaluation of National Emergency Network Expenditures, Budget Division, Ministry of Finance, 2015



Publications

  • Telehealth: a digital strategy to manage the demand for primary health care in Chile, González C, Guajardo H, Martínez MS, Rodríguez V, Aravena C, Vergara A, et al., Rev Panam Salud Pública, 2025, https://doi.org/10.26633/RPSP.2025.68
  • Gender disparities in access to care for time-sensitive conditions during COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, Pacheco, J., Crispi, F., Alfaro, T., Martínez MS, Cuadrado, C., BMC Public Health, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11838-x
  • Human rights violations during the October 2019 protests in Chile, Sandra Cortés, María-Soledad Martínez-Gutiérrez, Samanta Anríquez Jiménez, Gaceta Sanitaria, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.12.029
  • National Health Policy Reform for Primary Care in Chile: A Qualitative Analysis of the Health Program Documents, Dominguez-Cancino, KA; Palmieri, PA; Martinez-Gutierrez, MS., Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1177/2150132720924884
  • Urgent care centers reduce emergency department and primary care same-day visits: a natural experiment, Jorge Pacheco, Cristóbal Cuadrado, María Soledad Martínez-Gutiérrez, Health Policy and Planning, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz023
  • Proposal for the modernization and strengthening of state health service providers, Óscar Arteaga, Harald Beyer, Soledad Martínez, Emilio Santelices, Carolina Velasco, Salvador Villarino, Center for Public Studies and School of Public Health, University of Chile, 2017
  • Health policy in the concertacion era (1990–2010): Reforms the Chilean way, Martinez-Gutierrez M, Cuadrado C., Soc Sci Med, 2017
  • The impact of changes in county public health expenditures on general health in the population, Brown TT, Martinez-Gutierrez MS, Navab B., Health Econ Policy Law, 2014

Consultancies

  • OECD, Document Pandemics and Primary Healthcare in Latin America: Chile, 2022
  • GES Cost Verification Study, Department of Health Economics, Ministry of Health, 2018
  • Study on Effective Use of GES Benefits, Research Department, Ministry of Health, 2018
  • Pre-investment Study for the Iquique Oncology Center, Iquique Health Service, 2018
  • World Bank Consultant, Primary Healthcare performance assessment in Chile. Chile — Public Health Sector Support Project., 2017
  • Pre-investment Study for the National Cancer Institute, North Metropolitan Health Service, 2017
  • Pre-investment Study, Northern Zone Hospital, Northern Metropolitan Health Service, 2016
  • Addendum to Study on Verification of GES Costs 2015, Department of Health Economics, Ministry of Health, 2016
  • Study on Verification of GES Costs 2015, Department of Health Economics, Ministry of Health, 2015
  • Comprehensive Evaluation of National Emergency Network Expenditures, Budget Division, Ministry of Finance, 2015



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María Soledad Martínez GutiérrezMedical Doctor, Public Health Preventative Medicine Specialist