Dr. Richard Parker is a medical anthropologist. His research focuses on the social and cultural construction of gender and sexuality, the social and political aspects of HIV/AIDS, and the relationship between social inequality, stigma, discrimination, and the social determinants of health. He is especially well known for his work on the politics of global health and on the role of social movements and community mobilization in responding to public health challenges. Dr. Parker has conducted long-term research in Brazil since the early 1980s, as well as comparative studies in Asia, Africa, North America, and other parts of Latin America and the Caribbean. He is the author of more than 200 publications, and his recent books include SEXUALITY, HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS, the ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK ON GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH and STRUCTURAL APPROACHES IN PUBLIC HEALTH. In addition to his academic work, he has also served on numerous commissions and held a range of positions in program and advocacy work. He is currently the Director and President of the Brazilian Interdisciplinary AIDS Association (ABIA), one of the leading non-governmental AIDS organizations in Brazil, as well as the founder and Co-Chair of Sexuality Policy Watch, a global coalition of researchers, policymakers and advocates with secretariat offices in Rio de Janeiro and New York City (http://www.sxpolitics.org), and the Editor-in-Chief for the journal, GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH (http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rgph20#.UiemgryE71s), published by Routledge.
