Brian D. Smedley is Chief of Psychology in the Public Interest, where he leads APA’s efforts to apply the science and practice of psychology to the fundamental problems of human welfare and social justice. Previously, he was co-founder and Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity (www.nationalcollaborative.org), a project that connects research, policy analysis, and communications with on-the-ground activism to advance health equity. He was also co-Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leadership National Program Center. From 2008 to 2014, Dr. Smedley was Vice President and Director of the Health Policy Institute of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, DC, a research and policy organization focused on addressing the needs of communities of color. Prior to his work at the Joint Center, Dr. Smedley was the Research Director and co-founder of a communications, research, and policy organization, The Opportunity Agenda (www.opportunityagenda.org), which seeks to build the national will to expand opportunity for all. Prior to helping launch The Opportunity Agenda, Dr. Smedley was a Senior Program Officer at the Institute of Medicine (IOM), where he served as Study Director for several IOM reports on minority health, diversity in the health professions, and minority health research policy. Among his awards and distinctions, in 2013 Smedley received the American Public Health Association’s Cornely Award for social activism; in 2009 Smedley received the Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Leadership in Advocacy Award; in 2005 he received a Presidential Citation from the APA; in 2004 he was honored by the Rainbow/PUSH coalition as a “Health Trailblazer” award winner; and in 2002 he was awarded the Congressional Black Caucus “Healthcare Hero” award. Dr. Smedley received a Ph.D. degree in Clinical Psychology from UCLA in 1992, and an A.B. degree in Psychology & Social Relations from Harvard University in 1986.
