Margarita Alegría is a distinguished clinical psychologist and health services researcher dedicated to addressing health disparities. She is the Chief of the Disparities Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Alegría’s work focuses on improving healthcare services for diverse racial, ethnic, and immigrant populations, with a particular emphasis on mental health.
Born in Puerto Rico, Dr. Alegría earned her B.A. in Psychology from Georgetown University and her Ph.D. from Temple University. Her research has been instrumental in identifying and addressing the barriers that minority populations face in accessing quality healthcare. She has developed and tested interventions to improve mental health services delivery, ensuring that culturally and linguistically appropriate care is provided.
Dr. Alegría has led numerous National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research studies, including projects on substance use disorder treatment, disability prevention for minority elders, and coping with discrimination among Latino youths. Her work has been widely published, with over 290 papers, editorials, and book chapters to her name. In recognition of her contributions, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2011.
Dr. Alegría’s commitment to health equity extends beyond research. She actively engages with communities to design and implement interventions that address their specific needs. Her efforts have significantly advanced the field of health disparities, making her a leading figure in promoting equitable healthcare.
Here are three online articles and videos that describe how Margarita Alegría has addressed health disparities in her career:
“Dr. Margarita Alegria speaks on health disparities (Part 1).” This video features Dr. Alegría discussing mental health disparities for ethnic/racial minority and immigrant groups. (October 2020)
“Spotlight Exclusive Interview: Margarita Alegría on Fulfilling the Promise of Adolescence.” This video includes an interview with Dr. Alegría discussing her research on adolescent health disparities. (September 2019)
“Battling Health Care Disparities, with Harvard’s Margarita Alegría, PhD.” This video features Dr. Alegría discussing her work eliminating healthcare disparities. (2023)
