Florence Momplaisir, MD, MSHP, is a compassionate, influential physician, researcher, mentor and advocate whose work in health equity, particularly in HIV and COVID-19, has significantly impacted underserved communities. She has dedicated her career to addressing health disparities and ensuring equitable care through innovative approaches.
In addition to her roles as associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and senior fellow of the Penn Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Dr. Momplaisir was appointed as founding director of the Implementation Science Core at the Penn Center for AIDS Research. In this capacity, she has worked alongside the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to identify gaps in HIV care, fostering new partnerships between academic researchers and public health teams. She has called attention to the public health consequences of restricting syringe exchange programs and advocated for harm reduction strategies.
Dr. Momplaisir’s research, which features peer-led and organizational-led behavioral interventions, focuses on optimizing care for women with HIV during and after pregnancy, and on reducing racial disparities in HIV prevalence across U.S. populations. Her recent studies have examined how neighborhood factors influence medication adherence. She secured Penn’s first Title X funding to support reproductive care and family planning for people affected by HIV, creating a robust program within the MacGregor Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine Program clinic to serve Philadelphia’s most vulnerable populations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Momplaisir emerged as a key figure in addressing vaccine hesitancy, particularly within communities of color in Philadelphia. She traveled to community spaces, such as barbershops, salons and town halls, to offer vaccine education and distribution. She published research examining drivers of vaccine hesitancy and op-eds on the historical roots of medical mistrust and the need for community-based, science-driven solutions.
In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on race-conscious admissions, Dr. Momplaisir organized a group of IDSA colleagues to review the negative consequences of this decision on health care for communities of color nationwide, publishing their work in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Momplaisir is vice chair in ID at the Perelman School of Medicine. She served as co-director of a CFAR Scientific Working Group focused on using implementation science methods to end the HIV epidemic regionally. In addition, she is a member of IDSA’s George W. Counts Interest Group. She has supported countless students, trainees and junior faculty, and founded a summer internship program for students underrepresented in medicine.
For her leadership, scholarship, community engagement and tireless advancement of health equity, IDSA is delighted to recognize Dr. Momplaisir with a 2025 Society Citation Award.