Meredith Gibson

Media/GIS Director

“I love that I can use my skills in writing and mapping to improve the health and safety of my community.”

Meredith Gibson is the Media/GIS director at the Institute for Public Strategies (IPS) in San Diego, CA. She uses geographic information systems (GIS) and media advocacy to promote systems and policy changes that contribute to healthy, safe, vibrant, and equitable communities. Considered a thought leader in using geospatial technology to advance public health and healthcare, Meredith contributes to IPS’ own advocacy efforts as well as those of community coalitions and other health agencies in integrating GIS. She leads a multi-agency collaborative in developing the Opioid Prevention, Safe Disposal and Treatment Resource Map for the County of San Diego, an initiative that provides prevention and harm reduction resources to address the opioid epidemic. Her current endeavor is establishing a policy mapping lab that provides TA and training in GIS to like-minded organizations in promoting health equity.

Meredith is a member of the Fulbright Specialist roster, a program that brings expertise to host institutions abroad.

As a media and communications specialist, Meredith is the editor of IPS’ quarterly newsletter with a distribution of over 30,000 readers. Additionally, she has amassed news coverage at the local and national levels on topics ranging from substance use disorder prevention to park and green space equity. In 2018, she launched the SpeakWell program at IPS, a series of training workshops that give residents tools on how to advocate for their communities through media advocacy. Meredith is also an adjunct professor at Hudson County Community College, Division of Nursing and Health Sciences in Jersey City, NJ, where she teaches courses in healthcare and public health, integrating GIS to demonstrate the relationship between geography and health.

As a featured contributor for GovLoop, an online platform that curates resources to promote innovation and problem-solving in government, Meredith shared her insights about GIS and media advocacy, and presents her knowledge at conferences, such as the GeoGov Summit, American Public Health Association, Alcohol Policy-19, and the National Prevention Network.