Gilbert Gonzales, PhD, MHA

Gilbert Gonzales, PhD, MHA, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Medicine, Health & Society, the Program for Public Policy Studies, and the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University. Professor Gonzales is also the Associate Director of the Vanderbilt LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. Professor Gonzales’ research examines how public policies affect health outcomes, access to care, and health disparities for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. He also studies the role of health care reforms on vulnerable populations. His research has appeared in the American Journal of Public Health, Pediatrics, JAMA, Health Affairs, The Milbank Quarterly, and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Professor Gonzales’ research has been covered by news outlets such as CNN, Reuters, the New York Post, The Guardian, and U.S. News and World Report. He has also presented his research on LGBT health at national and international research conferences in the United States, Mexico, Belgium, Portugal, and Italy. He is also a member of AcademyHealth, the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Population Association of America (PAA), and the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM).

Professor Gonzales also teaches health policy courses to undergraduate students, and he mentors undergraduate, graduate, and medical students interested in health disparities research. In 2016, he was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Research on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for his research on LGBT health at Vanderbilt University.

Professor Gonzales completed his Ph.D. in Health Policy & Administration at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, a Master of Health Administration from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Biology from Baylor University.