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Profile for Goulda A. Downer, Ph.D.
Health Correspondent.

She is the President and CEO of METROPLEX Health and Nutrition Services in Washington, D.C. She is the Director of Medical Education for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Washington D.C., where she directs and develops curricula for medical schools, graduate nursing, and physician assistance programs, nationally.

Dr. Downer continues in her capacity as the Expert Nutrition Witness for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, as an Affiliated Faculty at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Exercise Science Program. She is also an Advisory Member, US Federal Trade Commission, Division of Service Industry for Consumer Education Committee on Healthy Weight Management.

She serves as clinician for several HIV/AIDS projects including as nutrition preceptor, as Clinical Nutrition Consultant to the National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center and, as Expert HIV Nutrition Faculty for Howard University's National Minority AIDS Education and Training Center. She is also Chairperson for the Nutrition Conference Committee for The March of Dimes Births Defects Foundation, National Capital Area Chapter.

She was a 1999 Regional Finalist for the White House Fellowship Program and has been given numerous awards for her work to include the 1999 Ebony Image Award for Community Health, by the Virginia Chapter of the Coalition of 100 Black Women. She is also the recipient of the 1997 Community Business Woman of the Year Award by the American Business Women's Association,- the Washington, Maryland and Virginia Area Council -for outstanding Community and Business accomplishments. She is also the recipient of a Certificate from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institute of Health, in Appreciation for Outstanding Assistance in facilitating the implementation of the National Physician's Network to improve cardiovascular health in the African American Community. As part of this award, she developed a series of culturally sensitive brochures focussing on: "Preventing High Blood Pressure, Lowering High Blood Cholesterol, Reducing Saturated Fat and Cholesterol, Losing Weight Sensibly, Eating Less Salt and Sodium, Increasing Physical Activity, Smoking Cessation, and Reading Food Labels." She also developed a cook book of heart healthy recipes.

During the past year, Dr. Downer also completed research on the Eating Habits of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area Law Enforcement and Fire Fighters. This research was funded through the Mayor's Commission on Food Nutrition and Health. Two brochures titled: "Healthy Eating Ideas for our Trailblazers" and "Healthy Eating Ideas for our Crime fighters" were presented to Washington D.C. police and fire fighters. She continues as a NIH reviewer and peer reviewer for several clinical publications and was has been invited by the United Nations Volunteer program to coordinate the maternal child health nutrition program in both Afghanistan and Liberia.

She is certified in several fields including as a Prevention Professional from the District of Columbia Certification Board for Professional Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

Dr. Downer is frequently quoted in national magazines and newspapers and regularly writes health-related articles for the Afro-American newspaper.