Chief of Psychology in the Public Interest
Brian D. Smedley, PhD, is chief of psychology in the public interest, where he leads APA's efforts to apply the science and practice of psychology to the fundamental problems of human welfare and social justice. A national thought leader in the field of health equity, Smedley got his start in Washington, DC, as an APA Congressional Science Fellow, and subsequently served at APA as director of public interest policy. Most recently, he was co-founder and executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equityopens in new window, a project that connects research, policy analysis and communications with on-the-ground activism to advance health equity. He was also co-director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leadership National Program Center.
From 2008-14, Smedley was vice president and director of the Health Policy Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC, a research and policy organization focused on addressing the needs of communities of color. Previously, Smedley was research director and co-founder of a communications, research and policy organization, The Opportunity Agendaopens in new window, which seeks to build the national will to expand opportunity for all.
Prior to helping launch The Opportunity Agenda, Smedley was a senior program officer at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), where he served as study director for the IOM reports, In the "Nation's Compelling Interest: Ensuring Diversity in the Health Care Workforce" and "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care", among other reports on diversity in the health professions and minority health research policy. Among his awards and distinctions, in 2013 Smedley received the American Public Health Association's Cornely Award for social activism; in 2009 Smedley received the Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Leadership in Advocacy Award; in 2005 he received a Presidential Citation from the APA; in 2004, he was honored by the Rainbow/PUSH coalition as a “Health Trailblazer” award winner; and in 2002 he was awarded the Congressional Black Caucus “Healthcare Hero” award.