Omar Gomez, MS, BS

Omar Gomez (they/he) joined the DGIM team as a Clinical Research Coordinator in 2022. They were born in Los Angeles and grew up in Lancaster, CA. Prior to this position, they obtained both a B.S. in Human Biology and an M.S. in Community Health and Prevention Research from Stanford University. Throughout undergrad, Omar was heavily involved with organizations that advocated for the needs of first-generation and/or low-income, Latinx, and queer communities. He was an advocate for health equity on campus and spearheaded programs that created critical dialogue on approaching health liberation. They mainly volunteered with youth in East Palo Alto where he tutored, mentored, and taught about health social justice. During graduate school, Omar was involved in a community-based participatory research project that looked at the perceptions of Black, Indigenous, and/or Youth of Color (BIYOC) on the racialization and criminalization of cannabis use. During the study, Omar taught youth partners involved with the study mixed-methods, recruitment, and dissemination strategies. Their thesis was under this broader study but did a thematic analysis that looked at the mental health repercussions of the criminalization and racialization of cannabis use among BIYOC communities. They hope to become a physician who is involved in their community to make a meaningful impact and continue striving towards health liberation. Outside of work, Omar loves looking for new coffee shops, spending time with his doggy, binge-watching shows, and exploring places around the Bay Area.