Education

• BS in Biochemistry, University of California Davis
• MA in Medical Sciences, Boston University Medical School
• MPH in Behavioral Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health
• PhD in Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Biography

Dr. Garcia is a Philippine-born, Alaska-grown Professor of Public Health at University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). Dr. Garcia was the recipient of the Alaska Public Health Association’s “Short Term Service Award” in 2002 and “The Barbara Berger Excellence in Public Health Award” in 2012. At UAA, Dr. Garcia has been awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Community Service, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, and the Center for Community Engagement & Learning’s Community Builder Award. Dr. Garcia, along with a group of UAA faculty and students, were awarded the UAA’s Stewardship Award in 2014 and American Lung Association in Alaska’s Breathe Easy Champion Award in 2015 for the group’s successful effort in making the University of Alaska system smoke and tobacco-free. From 2015 to 2024, Dr. Garcia served as one of the health commissioners of the Anchorage Health Department. His research interests include social determinants of health, health promotion and disease prevention, racial/ethnic health disparities, and health communications.

Teaching Responsibilities

• HS A605: Public Health and Society
• HS A628: Program Evaluation
• HS A629: Public Health Research Tools and Methods
• HS A640: Health Communications in the Popular Media
• HS A690: Practice-Based Qualitative Research Methods
• HS A690: Quantitative Data Analysis
• HS A695: Applied Practice Experience
• HS A696: Integrative Learning Experience
• COHI A690: Media and Public Health
• HNRS A292: Understanding Health Disparities among Asians and Pacific Islanders
• HNRS A390: Filipino American Communities and Experiences

Professional & Department Service

• Faculty Senate
• Faculty Senate Diversity Committee
• COH Access and Belongingness Committee
• COH Academic Dispute Resolution Committee

Research Interests

Health, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities, and Health Communications.

Publications

• Garcia, G. M., & David, E. J. (2025). Examining the social and mental health benefits of ethnic studies and DEI among BIPOCs and Whites. Journal of Racial Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02521-7
• Cameron, D. B., Grage, L., Van Wyck, R., Edwards, A., Mapaye, J. C., Cheng, A., & Garcia, G. (2024). Identifying trusted local sources and predicting behavior change pathways according to COVID-19 vaccination status: Results of a 2022 statewide survey of Alaskan adults. Vaccine, 42(10), 2592-2607.
• Garcia, G., Meyer, J., Edwards, A., & Cameron, D. (2023). Factors associated with receiving an initial COVID-19 vaccine among Alaskan residents: Results from an online cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 82. https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2252604
• Garcia, G. M., Mapaye, J. C., Petalio, J., Hedwig, T., Aquino, S. R., Tungul, C., Lasquete, P. (2022). Project Buhay: Implementing colorectal cancer screening promotion program for Filipinos in Alaska. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 81(1). Doi: 10.1080/22423982.2022.2059173
• Grage, L., Hennessy, T., Bulkow, L., Meyer, J., Garcia, G., Mooring E. (12 January 2021). Evaluation of public health emergency orders and reported COVID-19 rates in the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, June - August 2020. State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin, 22(1).
• Aho, S., Barker J., Garcia, G., Kuhn, S., Van Wyck, R. (30 April 2021). March 2021 statewide COVID-19 vaccine survey. State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin, 22(8).
• Garcia, G. M., Mapaye, J. C., Roxbury, E., Lopez, V. D., Tabatabai-Yazdi, N. (2020). Impact of campus tobacco-free policy on tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems initiation and cessation among students, faculty, and staff. Journal of Public Health Issues and Practices, 4(1): 159. https://doi.org/10.33790/jphip1100159
• Garcia, G. M., David, E. J. R., & Mapaye, J. C. (2018). Internalized racial oppression as a moderator of the relationship between experiences of racial discrimination and mental distress among Asians and Pacific Islanders. Asian American Journal of Psychology, [Advanced online publication]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aap0000124.
• Garcia, G. M., Hedwig, T., Hanson, B. L., Rivera, M., & Smith, C. A. (2018). The Relationship Between Mixed Race/Ethnicity, Developmental Assets, and Mental Health. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-0501-2
• Garcia, G. M., & de Castro, B. (2016). Working conditions, occupational injuries, and health among Filipino fish processing workers in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Workplace Health & Safety, 65(5): 219-226.
• Garcia, G. M., & Rivera, M. (2014). Is race a factor in disparate health problems associated with violent victimization? Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 7(7), Special Issue 2: 10-23.
• Parsons, W. G., Garcia, G. M., & Hoffman, P. (2013). Evaluating school wellness policy in curbing childhood obesity in Anchorage, Alaska. Journal of School Nursing, 30(5): 324-331.
• Garcia, G. M., Glik, D. C., Prelip, M. P., & Myerson, A. (2012). Alcohol print ads in a low-income community: Prevalence and perceptions. California Journal of Health Promotion, 10(1): 77-90.
• Maxwell, A. E., Crespi, C. M., Danao, L. L., Antonio, C., Garcia, G. M., & Bastani, R. (2011). Alternative Approaches to Assessing Intervention Effectiveness in Randomized Trials: Application in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Study. Cancer Causes and Control, 22(9): 1233-1241.
• Garcia, G. M. (2011). Hidden health concerns: Asians and Pacific Islanders tell their stories. Northwest Public Health Journal, Spring/Summer: 12-13.
• Maxwell, A. E., Crespi, C. M., Danao, L. L., Antonio, C., Garcia, G. M., & Bastani, R. (2010). “Results of a community based randomized trial to increase colorectal cancer screening among Filipino Americans.” American Journal of Public Health, 100(11): 2228-2234.
• Garcia, G. M., Romero, R. A., Maxwell, A. E. (2010). “Correlates of smoking cessation among Filipino immigrant men.” Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 12(2): 259-262.
• De Castro, A.B., Garcia. G., Gee, G. C., Tsai, J. H. C., Rue, T., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2010). “Smoking and the Asian American workforce in the National Latino and Asian American Study.” American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 53(2): 171-178.
• Maxwell, A. E., Danao, L., Crespi, C. M., Antonio, C., Garcia, G. M., & Bastani, R. (2008). Disparities in the Receipt of Fecal Occult Blood Test versus Endoscopy among Filipino American Immigrants. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 17(8): 1963-1967.
• Maxwell, A. E., Garcia, G. M., & Berman, B. A. (2007). “Understanding tobacco use among Filipino-American men.” Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 9(7): 769-776.

Career History/Work Experience

• 2020 – Present Tenured, Professor of Public Health, UAA, College of Health, Division of Population Health Sciences
• 2023 – 2025 MPH Program Chair, UAA, Division of Population Health Sciences, Master of Public Health Program
• 2017 – 2023 MPH Program Coordinator, UAA, Department of Health Sciences/Division of Population Health Sciences, Master of Public Health Program
• 2014 – 2020 Tenured, Associate Professor of Public Health, UAA, College of Health, Department of Health Sciences
• 2008 – 2014 Assistant Professor of Public Health, University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), College of Health, Department of Health Sciences
• 2003 – 2007 Graduate Student Researcher (Part-time), UCLA School of Public Health, Center for Cancer Control and Prevention, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
• 2004 – 2005 Graduate Student Researcher (Part-time), UCLA School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences
• 2001 – 2003 Research Associate, University of Alaska Anchorage, Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies and Department of Health Sciences