Eduardo J. Gómez, professor in the College of Health’s department of community & population health, has been elected to life membership at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). With this achievement, Gómez, a political scientist, is globally recognized for his contributions in the area of global health policy.
“I’m deeply honored for the opportunity to join this prestigious organization and to represent Lehigh,” he said. “CFR is a non-partisan think tank located in New York City and arguably the most recognized and influential organization committed to providing analysis on several issues in foreign affairs.”
Founded in 1921, CFR publishes Foreign Affairs, the preeminent journal of international affairs and foreign policy. Gómez joins an elite group of business, government, academic and other influential figures, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and actors Angelina Jolie and George Clooney.
“You never know who is going to be at the meetings,” he said. “It really is an honor just to be there. You may rub shoulders with people who are currently in government, or former Secretaries of State. All of these people who are members are major figures in their world.”
In 2009, Gómez joined the organization as a term member, a membership category for up-and-coming individuals who are making significant contributions in their field. As a life member, he will continue to share his expertise in global health, with a focus on Latin America and emerging middle income countries. The application process for both membership categories is very competitive, he said.
As a scholar of the politics of global health, Gómez will work to “further develop this growing field of interest,” he said. “In the field of global health, there’s a small group of us that are doing this type of work, but we’re growing tremendously.” He also hopes to serve as a mentor to aspiring academics.
Notable achievements over Gómez’s career include the publication of two books, “Junk Food Politics” and “Geopolitics of Health,” published by Johns Hopkins University Press. He led the first series on political science and health in The Lancet, one of the world’s oldest peer-reviewed medical journals. Gómez has published many academic journal articles and articles for major news and policy outlets, including Foreign Affairs, and has been a frequent contributor to news outlets such as CNN and BBC.
Gómez said he is honored to represent Lehigh and looks forward to facilitating opportunities for student involvement with the Council on Foreign Relations.
