Cynthia A. Gómez, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for pioneering efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention, health care access and equity for marginalized and disenfranchised individuals and communities.
Gómez is a leader in innovative community-science partnerships to address health disparities, and an expert in advanced understanding of gender, culture and sexual health, behavioral epidemiology and HIV policy-related research. Her outstanding research and publications have facilitated translation of psychological science into community practice. Gómez is the founding director of the Health Equity Institute. Amongst her many exceptional professional appointments, Gómez served on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention's HIV and STD Advisory Council, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Advisory Committee on Women's Services. Gómez served on the American Psychological Association Committee on Psychology and AIDS and currently is on the Board of Professional Affairs. She received the Distinguished Contribution to Ethnic Minority Issues Award from APA Div. 44 (Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity), and the Committee on Women in Psychology Network Distinguished Leader for Women in Psychology Award. Gómez is generous with her time, dedicated to social justice frameworks to empower others, and serves as a role model and mentor to the next generation of psychologists, community leaders and scientists.