Dr. Castillo grew up in the Lincoln Heights and La Puente neighborhoods of Los Angeles and is Mexican-American. She did her pediatric residency training at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), where she continues to work as a clinician and academic researcher. Utilizing diverse methods (including interdisciplinary, group and individual appointments), Dr. Castillo sees patients in three different obesity prevention programs at CHLA. Her research is devoted to overweight/obese children and families because growing up, she witnessed the health disparities that contribute to obesity, including the persistence of food deserts and lack of access to preventative healthcare. For eight years Dr. Castillo has worked with her research partner, Proyecto Pastoral, a grassroots community-building organization in Boyle Heights. Through Proyecto Pastoral, she successfully implemented a free obesity prevention curriculum at an early education center. Building off of the community partnerships that she has fostered in Boyle Heights, Dr. Castillo hopes to become a regional and national advocate for the improvement of child health.