Maria Gomez, DrPH, MPH

My research focus is health disparities and the implementation of culturally appropriate interventions to improve health outcomes and quality of care. Over the past 10 years, I have examined the cultural and social factors that affect the health of underserved populations within Kentucky communities including ethnic and racial minorities, Appalachian, women, and rural residents. These projects were related to increasing health access for Latino farmworkers, cancer prevention and control, diabetes prevention, perinatal health, and cultural competencies in the provision of health care. I poses ample expertise on recruiting and engaging diverse population in research studies.

I have conducted significant research on the National CLAS Standards as a mechanism to improve access to care and health care outcomes for vulnerable populations in Kentucky. This program served as a basis for the Kentucky Department for Public Health to implement a training program on the CLAS Standards and the impact of Health Equity.

For the conduct of my research, I have developed multidisciplinary collaborations with community partners to address the health and social wellbeing of populations in need. I have served as a community advisory board member to promote health such as the Kentucky Cancer Consortium, a state-based cancer prevention and control coalition; Susan G. Komen local chapter; and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. I am originally from Lima, Peru, bilingual and bicultural, fluent in English and Spanish.