Marcia Gomez
Power Words
Where were you born?
Dominican Republic
What school did you attend?
Colby College, Waterville, ME, and Ross University, School of Medicine, Dominica, West Indies
What gained you interest in the NIH?
The NIH is the health research pioneer for the American people! Even as a little fish in a humongous pond, your contributions add to the important work being conducted to better all of humanity. The work done on minority health, health disparities, HIV, substance abuse, and mental health are areas that are stellar and attracted me to the NIH.
What kind of work do you do at the NIH?
I am a Health Science Policy Analyst who studies minority health, social determinants of health, issues surrounding access to appropriate healthcare, health disparities, and health inequity. As part of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities I help support the Institute's scientific vision and provide input on how minority health could improve and health disparities reduced.
What message would you like to send to young Hispanics who are considering going to college?
Many of our parents/grandparents did not have an opportunity to go to college for many reasons. Although achieving a college education may be economically challenging for some of us, it is not impossible as it was for our ancestors. We must focus on our collective future and prepare this and future generations of Latinos in the USA to achieve the dream of becoming the people we want and ought to be in order to build the life and future we want and deserve. Let our past instruct and guide us for a better future. Dejemos que nuestro pasado nos instruya y guie por un futuro mejor!