Irene Arango Gomez

Irene Arango Gomez is the first Community Care Coordinator for the Department of Allied and Population Health at South Dakota State University (SDSU), working within the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions. She concurrently serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Master of Public Health program, teaching Environmental Health and Program Planning and Evaluation. Her roles focus on grant work for the Community Practice Innovation Center, including community outreach, resource allocation, and cultural liaison responsibilities for minority and Spanish-speaking populations. She holds a B.S. in Health Sciences from the University of South Dakota and a Master of Public Health.

Her research and professional interests span substance use disorders, environmental and social determinants of health, Indigenous populations, social injustices, and acculturation. She actively contributes to initiatives like BREATHE-SD and START-SD, and supports the Mobile Clinic Program. Her work emphasizes health equity, particularly in underserved and Native American communities.

Irene’s professional experience includes roles in rural healthcare, federal service, non-profit work, and collaborative research with state health departments and tribal organizations. She coordinates data collection, professional education events, and culturally responsive community engagement through her current roles.