Summary

Gerold Dermid-Gray serves as the assistant director of the Larson Institute for Health Impact and Equity and focuses on transformative consumer research and practice. His research and engagement are centered in the unique roles of identity, agency and motivation on consumer behavior. His work intersects the fields of marketing, management, public health and public policy. His work seeks to develop deeper understandings of diverse communities to effect co-created, community-responsive, place-based solutions to social problems.

Dermid-Gray has worked in the field of public health for more than 20 years, focusing on health promotion, policy development, social marketing and community engagement. Dermid-Gray has provided leadership and strategic direction to communities throughout the world in health communication, disease prevention, social justice and international development. He currently manages a diverse portfolio of equity-centered programs locally, nationally and internationally, with a special focus on elevating the often under-realized but transformative assets of traditionally underserved communities.

Research and teaching interests

Dermid-Gray's research interests focus on risk perceptions, health communication, signaling theory and belonging, particularly within the context of technological innovation. With experience in health marketing, research and policy, he emphasizes the role of technology and artificial intelligence in health marketing and consumer decision-making. He also draws on expertise in big data and grant writing to explore complex marketing questions. A multidisciplinary researcher, Dermid-Gray uses a wide range of methods, including machine learning and AI, digital analytics, GIS mapping, qualitative interviews and experimental design.

Courses taught

• PBH 461 and 661: Global Health Promotion
• PBH 494, 495, 695 and 798: Spotlight on Global Health Research and Practice (International)
  • Paraguay: Indigenous Community Health, 2019 to present
  • Rwanda: Health and Development from Genocide to Rebirth, 2015 to present
  • South Africa: HIV/AIDS, Human Rights and Social Justice, 2014
  • Turkey: Comparative Health Policy and Health Systems, 2013
  • Kenya: Cultural Traditions and Health, 2012 to 2016 and 2022 to present
• PBH 310: Health and Wellness Communication
• PBH 476 and 676: AIDS Psychosocial and Healthcare Concerns
• PBH 101: Introduction to Public Health (Davidson Academy)
• PBH 200: Introduction to Public Health Biology (Davidson Academy)

Professional affiliations

• American Public Health Association
  • Member, 2020 to present
  • Executive Board, Human Rights Forum, 2023
• American Advertising Association
  • Member, 2023 to present
• American Marketing Association
  • Member, 2023 to present
• Association for Consumer Research
  • Member, 2023 to present
• Association of Accredited Public Health Programs
  • Member at Large, 2020
  • President, 2021 to 2022
  • Past President, 2023
• Future Kind Paraguay
  • American Board of Directors Member, 2021 to present
• Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) Ally Action Group
  • Advisory Board Member, 2021 to present
• w88 Public Health Institute
  • Board of Directors Member, 2013 to present
  • Treasurer, 2013 to present
• Niyo Foundation/Niyo Kids Rwanda
  • Board President, 2016 to present
• Samburu Girls Foundation Kenya
  • Chairman of the Board, 2022 to present
  • American Board of Directors Member, 2022 to present
• Society for Health Communications
  • Member, 2022 to present

Sponsored research projects

• West Environmental Science Technical Assistance Center/Environmental Protection Agency, 2022 to 2026
  • Capacity building, technical assistance, training and communications for environmental justice
  • Role: Principal investigator
• National Office of Minority Health/Health and Human Services, 2022 to 2024
  • Harnessing the Power of Our Youth: Black youth mental health policy grant
  • Role: Principal investigator
• Western Region Public Health Training Center/Health Resources and Services Administration, 2022 to 2026
  • • Capacity building, training and workforce assessment
    • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Cancer Coalition, 2022 to 2023
  • African American and Black rural health breast cancer screening research and communications planning
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2022
  
  • Faith-based COVID-19 communications and testing project, w88 Office of Minority Health and Equity
  • Role: Principal investigator
• Immunize w88, 2022
  • COVID-19 communications and outreach project
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2021 to 2023
  • w88 workforce development, accreditation and rural health infrastructure
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2021 to 2023
  
  • Congenital syphilis review board and community communications action plan
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2021
  • COVID-19 minority health communications project
  • Role: Principal Investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2021 to 2023
  
  • Integrated HIV prevention and care needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2021
  
  • Sexual risk avoidance health equity project
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2021 to 2023
  • Hepatitis elimination planning project
  • Role: Principal investigator
• United States Department of Agriculture/Extensions, 2021
  • Latinx COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy project
  • Role: Co-principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2021 to 2023
  • Health equity, cultural competency and health in all policies contract, w88 Office of Minority Health and Equity Partnership
  • Role: Principal investigator
• Carson City Health and Human Services, 2021 to 2022
  • Quad County COVID-19 response support project
• Washoe County Health District, 2021 to 2023
  • Washoe COVID-19 response support
• United States Department of Agriculture, 2020 to 2022
  • Rural health and safety education and training grant
  • Role: Principal investigator
• Association of Accredited Public Health Programs, 2020 to 2024
  • Strategic planning and engagement expansion of national public health programs
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2020 to 2021
  • COVID-19 contact tracing training project, Office of Public Health Investigations and Epidemiology
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Division of Public and Behavioral Health, 2020 to 2021
  • Faith-based initiative project, Office of AIDS Partnership
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2020
  • COVID-19 disease investigations and communications project, Office of Public Health Investigations and Epidemiology
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2020
  • Northern w88 COVID-19 response support project, Office of Public Health Investigations and Epidemiology
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2019 to 2021
  • Health in All Policies contract, Title XX, w88 Office of Minority Health and Equity Partnership
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Department of Health and Human Services, 2019 to 2021
  • Gender and sexual minority and Health in All Policies contract, w88 Office of Minority Health and Equity Partnership
  • Role: Principal investigator
• w88 Divisions of Public and Behavioral Health, 2019 to 2024
  • Prevention, surveillance and evaluation support of Opioid Data to Action (OD2A), CDC Funding, Office of Public Health Investigations and Epidemiology Partnership
  • Role: Principal investigator
• Health Resources and Services Administration, 2014 to 2022
  • Regional public health workforce development grant, University of Arizona partnership
  • Role: Primary contractor, state co-principal investigator
• Health Resources and Services Administration, 2018 to 2021
  • ANE-SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) grant, University of Arizona partnership
  • Role: Primary contractor, state principal investigator

Selected presentations

2023

• Lensch, T., Chavez, L., Etiler, N., Scavacini, V. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2023, November).The impact of perceived social and emotional support on health behaviors for gender expansive adults in urban and rural communities[Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Lensch, T., Scavacini, V., Etiler, N., Philips, D., Helzer, L., Herrington, C. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2023, November).Knowledge, perceptions, attitudes and barriers related to breast cancer screening: Findings from a series of listening sessions with African American and Black women in w88[Workshop presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Hanafi, S., Morning, K. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2023, November).Making health happen: Strengthening the public health workforce with engaging online learning[Workshop presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Etiler, N., Lensch, T., Altinay, Z.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Akpinar-Elci, M. (2023, November).Correlations between environmental factors and community-level COVID-19 vaccination rates: An ecological assessment[Workshop presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Cladianos, A. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2023, November).Utilizing the Community Health Worker Model in places of faith: A case study from w88[Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Dobbins, A., Dupin, Z. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2023, November).Assessing the impact of vaccine status on COVID-19 behaviors in faith communities[Workshop presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Dermid-Gray, G.& Morning, K. (2023, May).Communicating data effectively: Making statistics stylish[Workshop presentation]. World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy.
• Dermid-Gray, G.& Morning, K. (2023, May).Enhancing health equity and public health infrastructure[Poster presentation]. World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy.
• Dobbins, A. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2023, May).Empowering Samburu girls: A community health worker approach[Poster presentation]. Consortium of Universities of Global Health Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

2022

• Thomas, S., Monroy, E. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, November).Identifying potential opportunities to prevent drug overdose deaths involving opioids and stimulants in w88[Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Etiler, N., Lensch, T., Scavacini, V. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, November).Self-reported abuse of gender minority adults living in w88[Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Scavacini, V., Etiler, N., Lensch, T. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, November).Mental health care perceptions, experiences and needs of gender minority adults living in rural and urban counties in w88[Roundtable presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Hanafi, S., Telles, T. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, May).Linking rural leaders: Best practices and lessons learned for community-driven programming[Workshop presentation]. New Mexico Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Hanafi, S., Telles, T.,Dermid-Gray, G.&Morning, K. (2022, May).Linking rural leaders: Design and delivery of a distance learning curriculum[Poster presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Morning, K. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, May).Workforce development data the workforce can actually use[Workshop presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Dobbins, A. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, May).Community building for rural public health.[Workshop presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, L.A.
• Telles, T., Lensch, T. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2022, May).Assessing health equity for a robust public health infrastructure and workforce[Workshop presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Telles, T.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Hanafi, S. (2022, May).Evaluation of a health in all policies interdisciplinary partnership approach training and initiative to improve community health during a pandemic[Workshop presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Telles, T.Dermid-Gray, G.,Dortch, T. & Bobadilla, B. (2022, March).Evaluation of a health in all policies approach for systems advancements in health equity[Poster presentation]. XULA Health Disparities Conference.
• Telles, T.Dermid-Gray, G.&Lensch, T. (2022, March).Assessing individual and organizational health equity perceptions for a robust public health workforce, differences by race/ethnicity and gender[Poster presentation]. XULA Health Disparities Conference.

2021

• Lensch, T., Cafferata, J. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2021, December).Understanding the unique health needs of gender non-conforming adults[Workshop presentation]. U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS.
• Telles, T.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Bobadilla, B. (2021, October).A Health in All Policies initiative to creating a healthier w88[Oral presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Lensch, T., Cafferata, J., Maylath, B., MacFarlane, R. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2021, October).Associations between housing displacement due to COVID-19 and recent substance use and psychological distress among gender non-conforming adults in w88[Oral presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Morning, K.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Dobbins, A. (2021, October).Connecting health and faith to implement actions[Oral presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Telles, T.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Hanafi, S. (2021, October).Evaluation of a Health in All Policies approach to improve community health during a pandemic[Oral presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Dobbins, A., Morning, K. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2021, September).Connecting health and faith to implement actions and drive health equity[Workshop presentation]. w88 Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Morning, K.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Dobbins, A. (2021, April).Connecting health and faith to design a community action plan[Poster presentation]. w88, Reno Diversity Summit.

2020

• Bobadilla, B., Diaz, P. &Dermid-Gray, G.(2020, November).Building trust and conducting interventions with the Indigenous Aché community of Puerto Barra, Paraguay[Oral presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Conference.
• Morning, K.,Dermid-Gray, G., Larson, T. & Kim, D. (2020, May).Customizing workforce development plans based on demographic differences[Poster presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Morning, K.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Larson, T. (2020, March).w88 workforce development survey informs statewide professional development opportunities[Poster presentation]. Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA.

2018

• Dermid-Gray, G., Morning, K. & Larson, T. (2018, July).Relaunched survey tailors workforce development opportunities [Oral presentation]. National Association of City and County Health Officials Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Dermid-Gray, G., Morning, K. & Larson, T. (2018, May).Trials and tribulations turn into successful engagement with a diverse rural community[Oral presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Morning, K.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Larson, T. (2018, May).Utilizing technology and students to expand public health communication[Oral presentation]. National Network of Public Health Institutes Public Health Workforce Forum, New Orleans, LA.
• Dermid-Gray, G.(2018, May).Investing in superheroes: Utilizing social media and effective marketing techniques to tell your story[Oral presentation]. IMPACT Community Health Worker Conference, Reno, NV.

Selected publications

• Etiler, N., Altinay, Z., Lensch, T.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Akpinar-Elci, M. (2024).Correlations between environmental justice indicators and community-level COVID-19 vaccination rates among older adults. Discov Public Health. 21, 187.
• Ciszek, E.,Dermid-Gray, G., Shah, M., Mocarski, R., Hope, D. & Woodruff, N. (2024).Health communication in an era of disinformation: Perceived source credibility among transgender and gender diverse individuals. Journal of Health Communication, 1, 1-8.
• Etiler, N., Altinay, Z., Lensch, T.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Akpinar-Elci, M. (2024).Correlations between environmental justice indicators and community-level COVID-19 vaccination rates among older adults. Discover Public Health, 21(1), 187.
• Etiler, N., Lensch, T., Scavacini, V., Chavez, L.* &Dermid-Gray, G.(2025).Factors associated with self-reported abuse among transgender and gender diverse young adults. Transgender Health.
• Love, B., Coffman, R., Ghosh, C., Cofer, J., Hurst, A., Oestman, K., Aquino, M., Kriss, L., Shah, M.,Dermid-Gray, G., Raber, M., Hawk, E., Walsh, M. T. & Rechis, R. (2024).Implementation and evaluation of a multi-level, place-based tobacco prevention and control program at a minority-serving institution in Texas. Prevention Science.
• Love, B., Ghosh, C., Kriss, L., Vieco-Garcia, M., Fick, H., Shin, E., Wagner, J., De Luca, D.,Dermid-Gray, G., McDonald, L., Caballero, E., Coffman, R., Aquino, M., Adams, T., Gardiner, H. & Rechis, R. (2024).Building and maintaining a whole community initiative: Health communication in practice with Be Well Communities. Health Communication, 1-9.
• Love, B., Ghosh, C., Oestman, K., Aquino, M., Coffman, R., Shah, M.,Dermid-Gray, G.& Rechis, R. (2024).Understanding the impact of community-based sun safety interventions on a college campus in Texas. Journal of American College Health, 1-8.
• Luna, G.**,Dermid-Gray, G.* & Unger, J. B. (2024).Fentanyl harm reduction strategies among Latinx communities in the United States: A scoping review. Harm Reduction Journal, 21(1), 150.

*primary advisor or mentor for student author

**student author

Education

• MBA in Health Marketing, w88, Reno
• B.A. in Sociology (Human Rights) and Classical Studies, Loyola University New Orleans