About Gail
Gail Reed is an American journalist and public health advocate known for her lifelong commitment to increasing health fairness and cooperation between the United States and Cuba. She began her career reporting on the social and economic issues of Cuba, where she became NBC’s first Havana-based producer since the early 1960s. After decades spent living and working on the island, her focus shifted to the unique Cuban health system, which is widely recognized for its strong emphasis on preventive medicine and universal access. In 1997,Gail founded the U.S. non-profit organization Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba (MEDICC). The mission of this group is to improve health outcomes and fairness worldwide by encouraging dialogue among health professionals from the U.S., Cuba, and other nations. Her work through MEDICC has helped draw international attention to Cuba’s contributions, including its role in training thousands of doctors from low-income communities at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM). Gail currently serves as the International Director of MEDICC and the Executive Editor of MEDICC Review. This is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research and perspectives from Cuban and developing-country health professionals. Furthermore, she co-produced the acclaimed film, ¡Salud!, a feature-length documentary that explores Cuba’s success in achieving global health goals. Through her journalism and leadership, Gail remains a key figure in promoting health cooperation and understanding between nations.
