Dr. David R. Williams is a distinguished public health researcher and sociologist renowned for his work on social determinants of health and health disparities. He is the Florence and Laura Norman Professor of Public Health and Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Williams also holds a professorship in African and African American Studies and Sociology at Harvard University.
Dr. Williams earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Michigan. His groundbreaking research has focused on understanding how factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and stress impact health outcomes. He developed the Everyday Discrimination Scale, a widely used tool for measuring perceived discrimination and its effects on health.
Throughout his career, Dr. Williams has been a vocal advocate for addressing the root causes of health disparities, including systemic racism and social inequality. His work has been instrumental in shaping public health policies and practices aimed at promoting health equity. He has published over 400 scientific papers and has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential scientific minds.
Dr. Williams has received numerous awards for his contributions to public health, including election to the National Academy of Medicine. He continues to inspire and mentor the next generation of public health professionals, emphasizing the importance of social justice in health research and practice.
Here are three videos that best describe how David R. Williams has addressed health disparities in his career:
“How racism makes us sick.” This TED Talk features Dr. Williams discussing the impact of racism on health. (December 2016)
“Dr. David R. Williams: The Social Factors of Health.” This video includes Dr. Williams discussing the social determinants of health. (November 2012)
“David R. Williams speaking on Racial Disparities in Health.” This video features Dr. Williams discussing racial health disparities. (December 2011)
