Dr. Goulda A. Downer: A Pioneer in Public Health and HIV/AIDS Education

Dr. Goulda A. Downer’s career is marked by her dedication to improving health outcomes for Caribbean Americans and African Americans through education, clinical training, and community engagement. Currently, she serves as an instructor at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), leading a workshop designed for minority-serving institutions to diversify the homeland security and emergency management workforce.

Since 2005, Dr. Downer has been a pivotal figure at Howard University School of Medicine, overseeing multiple national and local HIV/AIDS training programs. As Principal Investigator, Project Director, and Associate Professor, she has trained over 65,000 clinicians in the United States, enhancing their ability to provide culturally competent HIV care. Her projects, such as the National HIV Curriculum Integration Project and the Capitol Region Telehealth Project, aim to reduce health disparities among ethnic and racial minorities.

Dr. Downer extends her impact to the Caribbean through the Caribbean Clinician Preceptorship Program, developing culturally appropriate curricula for hands-on clinical training. Dr. Downer has worked as a Nutrition and Food Security Consultant for USAID and USDA, addressing food security and nutrition in emergencies and disasters. Her extensive experience includes developing training materials and providing technical expertise on integrating nutrition into agriculture and health interventions, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean.

Dr. Downer’s educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Nutrition from Howard University and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Nutrition at Georgetown University Medical Center. Recognized with several awards, including the Caribbean American Heritage Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health, she continues to inspire and create lasting improvements in public health and HIV/AIDS education.