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Stamford, Conn. – July 29, 2021 – Americares is pleased to announce renowned epidemiologist Michelle Williams, dean of faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has been elected to the Americares Board of Directors.
“We are excited to have Dean Williams join the board,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “Her scientific expertise and expansive knowledge of population health will be instrumental as we work to improve health for people affected by poverty or disaster worldwide.”
Williams’ three-year term on the Americares board began July 1. The Americares Board of Directors oversees all aspects of the health-focused relief organization’s life-changing health programs including its disaster response work and support for 4,000 under-resourced hospitals and health clinics worldwide.
Americares helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase access to medicine and medical supplies; improve and expand clinical services; and prevent disease and promote good health. Since its founding more than 40 years ago, Americares has provided more than $19 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.
“I am thrilled and honored to join the Board of Directors of Americares and help advance its public health mission,” said Williams. “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how invaluable it is to invest in both upstream and downstream health solutions, and I look forward to advancing Americares strategic, global efforts to advance a healthier and more equitable world for all.”
Throughout her distinguished career, Williams has published more than 500 scientific articles and performed extensive research with a focus on reproductive, perinatal and pediatric health as well as molecular epidemiology. Prior to becoming dean of faculty in 2016, Williams served as professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and as program leader of the Population Health and Health Disparities Research Programs at Harvard’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Center.
Prior to Harvard, she spent 20 years at the University of Washington School of Public Health where she developed and led the Reproductive Pediatric and Perinatal Training Program and launched its Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, which allows students to gain experience in global health and epidemiology in low-income countries. She also served as co-director of the Center for Perinatal Studies at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle from 2000 to 2011 and as an affiliate investigator at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle from 1992 to 2010.
Williams has been lauded for her excellence in teaching and scientific research receiving numerous awards, including the White House Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and the American Public Health Association’s Abraham Lilienfeld Awards for education and epidemiology. Most recently, she was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and recognized by PR Week as one of the Top 50 Health Influencers of 2020.
Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and genetics from Princeton University, a master’s degree in civil engineering from Tufts University and master’s and doctoral degrees in epidemiology from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.