Edgar Diaz-Cruz
Department Chair and Professor
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
PhD (Medicinal Chemistry) Ohio State University; MS (Pharmacognosy) University of Puerto Rico; BS (Chemistry) University of Puerto Rico
Location: McWhorter Hall 327
615-460-6532edgar.diaz-cruz@belmont.edu
Biography
Dr. Edgar S. Diaz-Cruz serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical, Social & Administrative Sciences at Belmont University's College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. He earned his degrees from the University of Puerto Rico and The Ohio State University, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in tumor biology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. His teaching focuses on Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology (with an emphasis on Pharmacodynamics), Natural Products, and Health Disparities.
Dr. Diaz-Cruz's research centers on understanding the molecular mechanisms and genetic alterations involved in breast cancer development. His translational research aims to improve risk assessment tools and tailor treatment regimens for individualized care. A significant aspect of his work involves studying the correlation between aromatase activity and expression in the mammary gland and the initiation and progression of breast cancer.
Committed to student development, Dr. Diaz-Cruz seeks to help student pharmacists discover their purpose through scientific inquiry, community engagement, humanitarian values, and cultural humility. He has earned a certificate in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Cornell University, reflecting his dedication to inclusive excellence in higher education. His mission is to mentor and develop leaders of character and purpose, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset that drives innovative change for community well-being.
Dr. Diaz-Cruz leads by example, inspiring and empowering others to realize their leadership potential. He emphasizes strategic excellence, self-direction, confidence, and empathy in guiding faculty, students, and staff toward a shared vision. His goal is to create an academic environment where innovation thrives, individuals are empowered, collective growth is nurtured, and societal progress is achieved.
Developing best practices for building an inclusive classroom.
Improving health education for English language learners.
Developing best practices in educating health professions students on social determinants of health through biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.
Designing high impact practices for Historically Underrepresented Minority Students to increase purpose, belonging, and educational success.
Elucidating treatment response predictors in breast cancer.
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Association of Biochemistry Educators
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society
The Rho Chi Society
5/2024 Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, Belmont University Pharmacy Program, Nashville, TN
5/2022 Pharmaceutical, Social & Administrative Faculty of the Year Award, Nashville, TN
5/2020 Outstanding Faculty Member, Nashville, TN
4/2019 Professor of the Year Award, Nashville, TN
4/2018 Presidential Faculty Achievement Award Recipient, Nashville, TN
4/2017 Presidential Faculty Achievement Award Finalist, Nashville, TN
2/2017 Belmont University Homecoming Spirit Court Finalist, Nashville, TN
1/2017 Professional Stewardship Award, Nashville, TN
5/2016 Most Influential Faculty Member, Nashville, TN
2/2016 Pharmacy Leadership Society Inductee, Nashville, TN
Diaz-Cruz E.S., Long S.A. Educational Tools to Dismantle Disparities by Addressing Social Determinants of Health. Pharmacy Education. 23(1):252-261, 2023.
Diaz-Cruz E.S., Thompson, S., Hawkins M., Jefferson K., Zengotita-Borges R. Leveraging Expertise from Community Resources to Improve the Role of the Pharmacist in HIV Testing and Counseling. Innovations in Pharmacy. 12(4), Article 21, 2021.
Simmons J.M., Franklin D.S., Dahlman K.B., Symes K., Viselli S.M., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Fong S.F.T., Spicer D.B. Teaching Biochemistry to Students of Dentistry, Medicine, and Pharmacy: 8th International Conference of the Association of Biochemistry Educators (ABE) Virtual Conference, May 3-7, 2021. Medical Science Educator. Sep 20;31(6):1-4, 2021.
Diaz-Cruz E.S., Harland, M.D., Darensbourg, C. Using biochemistry to educate students on the causal link between social epigenetics and health disparities. Innovations in Pharmacy. 11(3), Article 13, 2020.
Diaz-Cruz E.S., Hagan, A.M. Developing a co-curricular activity to introduce student pharmacists to the cultural proficiency continuum framework. Innovations in Pharmacy. 11(1), Article 1, 2020.
Diaz-Cruz E.S. If cultural sensitivity is not enough to reduce health disparities, what will pharmacy education do next? Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 11(5):538-540, 2019.
McDonnell A.M., Pyles H., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Barton C.E. Enoxacin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) act synergistically to inhibit the growth of cervical cancer cells in culture. Molecules. 24(8):1580, 2019.
Alothman S.J., Wang W., Chao S., Kallakury B.V., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Furth P.A. Differential efatutazone's impact on mammary neoplasia dependent upon Brca1 dose. Endocrine Related Cancer. 25(12): L53-L57, 2018.
Slay Carr C., Campbell H., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Guinn M., Kodali L., Lee H., Turner B. The Cultural Leadership Cohort Group Initiative: Empowered Community-Building for Faculty of Color. Journal of Interdisciplinary Education. 14(1): 163-197, 2016.
Diaz-Cruz, E.S., Bolten B.C. An elective course to enhance students' knowledge and confidence in natural products. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 8(5): 688-697, 2016.
Diaz-Cruz, E.S., Bynum L.A., Thompson S.A. Student pharmacists' perceptions on their preparedness and comfort level in counseling on HIV transmission risk factors and over-the-counter HIV tests. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 8(6): 757-766, 2016.
Dabydeen S.A.*, Kang K.*, Diaz-Cruz E.S.* Alamri A., Axelrod M.L., Bouker K.B., Al-Kharboosh R., Clarke R., Hennighausen L., Furth P.A. Comparison of tamoxifen and letrozole response in mammary preneoplasia of ER and aromatase overexpressing mice defines an immune-associated gene signature linked to tamoxifen resistance. Carcinogenesis. 2015: 36(1):122-32. (*authors contributed equally).
Cabrera M.C., Tilahun E., Nakles R., Diaz-Cruz E.S. Charabaty A., Suy S., Jackson P., Ley L., Slack R., Jha R., Collins S.P., Haddad N., Kallakury B.V., Schroeder T., Pishvaian M.J., Furth P.A. Human Pancreatic Cancer-Associated Stellate Cells Remain Activated after in vivo Chemoradiation. Frontiers in Oncology. 4:102, 1-8, 2014.
View Additional Publications
McCoy E., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Hess M., Fadda H., Gonyeau M.J., Grindrod K., Gumina G., Kahaleh A.A., Nagel A., Phillip A., Prudencio J., Sampognaro L., Shealy K.M., Strachan D.A., Van Amburgh J.A., Edwards K.L. ALFP Debate: Schools/Colleges of Pharmacy Have an Obligation to Train Their Students to Use Artificial Intelligence Tools for Pharmacy Practice. American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting. Boston, MA, 2024.
Henin N., Diaz-Cruz E.S. Signaling Pathways Underlying the Antiproliferative Effects of Metformin and Lovastatin in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, 2023.
Richardson C., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Yodh, J., Fulton, T. Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Biochemistry Education. Association of Biochemistry Educators Annual Meeting. Kiawah Island, SC, 2023.
Diaz-Cruz E.S. Creating an Inclusive Biochemistry Learning Environment. Association of Biochemistry Educators Annual Meeting. Kiawah Island, SC, 2023.
Harvin A., Diaz-Cruz E.S., Green S., Oyeyemi T., Quince S., Winkfield K. Developing workforce diversity in cancer care. Advanced Topics for Oncology Pharmacy Professionals Summit. San Diego, CA, 2022.
Diaz-Cruz E.S., Campbell H., Butler L. Daring to teach the whole truth: Structural racism, structural competence, and health inequities. Pharmacy Education 2021: AACP Annual Meeting. Virtual, 2021.
Equality, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism. Belmont University, Nashville, TN, 2020.
Diaz-Cruz E.S. Using biochemistry to educate students on the causal link between social epigenetics and health disparities. Association of Biochemistry Educators Conference, Tucson, AR, 2019.
Elucidating the anti-tumor properties of statins in breast cancer. Belmont University College of Sciences and Mathematics Seminar Series, Nashville, TN, 2018.
Diaz-Cruz E.S. An elective course to increase students’ knowledge and awareness of health disparities in the United States. 10th Health Disparities Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2017.
Medical Mistrust in Black Communities. Nashville PrEP Summit, Nashville, TN, 2017.
Diversity: Celebrated or Integrated? AACR Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL, 2017.
Hayes B., Diaz-Cruz E.S. Cholesterol medications and breast cancer: Unraveling the potential value of statins in breast cancer treatment. ASHP Midyear 2016, Las Vegas, NV, 2016.
Belmont University $15,000 direct costs
“Using the Transformational Leadership Model to Advance Human Potential”
KG090187 Furth (PI); Diaz-Cruz (Fellow) 9/2008 - 9/2011
Susan G. Komen for the Cure $180,000 direct costs
Postdoctoral Fellowship
"Disrupted estrogen signaling pathways collaborate with loss of p53 in the development of preneoplasia in breast cancer"
R01 CA112176 Furth (PI); Diaz-Cruz (Fellow) 4/2008 - 3/2010
NIH Diversity Grant $90,000 direct costs
"Progression and Regression of Mammary Preneoplasia"
R01 CA112176 Furth (PI); Diaz-Cruz (Fellow) 8/2007 - 11/2008
NIH Supplement $20,000 direct costs
"Generation of a transgenic mouse model with a conditional over-expression of aromatase in the mammary glanda"
CA09686-09 Riegel (PI); Diaz-Cruz (Fellow) 9/2005 - 8/2007
NIH T32 Training Grant in Tumor Biology
Advisor: Priscilla A. Furth
GM08512 Tsai (PI); Diaz-Cruz (Fellow) 8/2001 - 7/2004
NIH T32 Chemistry and Biology Interface Training Program Grant
Advisor: Robert W. Brueggemeier
NIH R25 Ghaly (PI); Diaz-Cruz (Fellow) 5/1998 - 6/2000
NIH-Bridges to the Doctorate for Underrepresented Students
Advisor: Mikhail Antoun