Gabriel Cartagena, MS, has earned the 2021 American Psychological Association/American Psychological Association of Graduate Students Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology Award.
This is a national award recognizing graduate students dedicated to improving community health and combating health disparities by going above and beyond to meet patient needs through the practice of psychology. Gabriel will receive a monetary award and address the 2021 APA convention in Washington DC regarding systemic inequality and the field of psychology.
Gabriel is a 4th-year student in the medical/health psychology track. His professional passion is in culturally competent practice of behavioral medicine to address and circumvent health disparities. He serves as the director of the Equal Access Behavioral Health Clinic, a no-cost, student-run community mental health clinic. He also serves as director and creator of a free, student-run integrated primary care behavioral health system in Gainesville, in partnership with the UF College of Medicine. He hopes to advance similar initiatives throughout his career.