Global Health Institute

On March 14, our Conversations in Health: Global to Local class had the pleasure of hosting Maria Gomez (N’77), a retired nurse and community health leader, as a guest speaker. After listening to Gomez’s life stories and professional experiences, I got a sense of the powerful work she has done in our own Washington, DC, community. Gomez founded and served as CEO for Mary’s Center, which is now a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving over 65,000 people. In 2012, Gomez was awarded the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Award for Health Equity and the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Barack Obama for her work, and her model for Mary’s Center has become widely esteemed.

During our Conversations in Health: Global to Local class, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Roberta Waite, dean of Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and a leader in the field of global health. Dr. Waite is a highly regarded nurse leader who is known for her innovative and transformative strategies that fuse education, practice, research, and community.