She is the Director of the Instituto de Salud Pública of the Facultad de Medicina of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE). Torres holds a degree in Sociology from PUCE and a Masters in Gender Studies from El Colegio de México. Her work in the health sector has been approached through the lens of the social determinants of health. Between 2013 and 2015, she led the Departamento de Promoción de Salud y Equidad at the Ministerio de Salud Pública de Ecuador.

Her research has mainly focused on health systems and services, social capital and health, health inequalities (including territorial, intercultural and gender aspects) and public health policy.