Subject Matter Expert

Gabriel Cortez, MPH, is from Aztec, NM and is Navajo and Hispanic. His clans are Tł’izílaní (Many Goats clan), born for Naakaił bahí (Spanish clan), his maternal grandfather is Tó aheedliinii (Water Flows Together clan), his paternal grandfather is Naakaił bahí (Spanish clan). His mother is from Beclabito, NM and his father is from Questa, NM; both very small and very rural areas of NM.

In 2012, Cortez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from New Mexico State University. He used his health degree to pursue work in research and community health. This research foundation led him to a career in public health and, in 2018, Cortez graduated from the University of Washington with a Master of Public Health degree in Community-Oriented Public Health Practice (COPHP).

Cortez is a Native evaluator and has focused his public health work on chronic disease prevention in tribal communities and has interests in the social determinants of health, tribal health/policy, health equity, social and restorative justice, and anti-racist public health efforts.