Monica Malta

Change agent, Educator/Teacher

Dr. Monica Malta is an award-winning global health researcher, professor, and activist dedicated to advancing gender equity, LGBTQ+ health, and human rights. A domestic violence and HIV/AIDS survivor, Monica turned her lived experiences into a lifelong mission—transforming scientific research into real-world solutions that empower marginalized communities. Her work challenges traditional, top-down research methods, advocating instead for Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)—a model that ensures affected communities are active partners in shaping solutions to their own challenges. Through this approach, Monica has worked closely with sex workers, LGBTQ+ individuals, survivors of domestic violence, and people living with HIV/AIDS across Brazil, Mozambique, Kenya, and Uganda, among other countries. Her impactful initiatives include: (1) Prepara Nem – A free college prep course for transgender individuals, where 80% of participants have gone on to earn university degrees; (2) Entrepreneurship Training – Equipping LGBTQ+ youth with business skills to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion; (3) RISE App – A lifesaving mobile tool offering a panic button, mental health support, and safe route mapping to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from violence; and many research studies and interventions conducted all over the world to improve the lives of others surviving HIV/AIDS and/or domestic violence. Her research and advocacy have influenced national policies, improved services, and saved lives—not as a savior, but by amplifying the voices of those most affected. A TED speaker and global health expert, Monica continues to challenge traditional academia, pushing for research that is inclusive, actionable, and driven by the communities it serves.

I'm passionate about being alive—defying the odds, medical prognoses, and expectations. I'm passionate about using my voice and platform to share my story, inspire others, and ensure that survivors of domestic violence and HIV are not just heard, but seated at the decision table, co-creating solutions that drive meaningful, lasting change.

People with lived experiences—survivors, patients, and community members—belong at the decision table, co-creating solutions that drive meaningful and lasting change.

Gender equity, Global Health, HIV/AIDS, Women's rights

I became a TED Fellow in 2022, an opportunity I had dreamed of. But as soon as I arrived at the TED conference venue, I got COVID... Being someone living with HIV/AIDS, this was more than just a disappointment—it was terrifying. I spent nearly the entire conference isolated in my hotel room, watching my fellow TED Fellows step onto the red dot and deliver their talks, something I had been well-prepared and eager to do. But in 2024, I finally had my moment. I recorded my TED video, and within weeks of its release, I began receiving hundreds of messages of support from around the world. The love and encouragement from the TED community were overwhelming, reminding me why I do this work. In 1996, when I was eight months pregnant and had just escaped an abusive marriage, I received a devastating diagnosis—AIDS—with little hope of survival... But my doctor was wrong. Twenty-eight years later, I am alive, now a researcher, university professor, and activist, dedicating my life to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. Through my work, I challenge traditional, top-down research approaches, where academics dictate solutions without real input from the communities they claim to serve. My experience taught me that those living with oppression, violence, and health disparities are the true experts of their own lives—and they must be at the decision table. My research and activism have helped shape policies, improve services, and save lives—but not as a savior. Instead, I recognize that the real heroes are the survivors, the people with lived experiences, who must be at the table, shaping the solutions that impact their own lives.

I’m a surfer from Rio! 🏄🏾♀️