David R. Williams (scientist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David R. Williams
SLMM
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| Born |
David Rudyard Williams
June 12, 1954 Aruba raised in Saint Lucia
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| Citizenship | St Lucian, American |
| Alma mater | Caribbean Union College (B.Th. Hons.), Andrews University (M.Div.), Loma Linda University (M.P.H.), University of Michigan (M.A., Ph.D.) |
| Known for | Research on race and health |
| Awards | 2004 Decade of Behavior Research Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Sociology Public health |
| Institutions | Harvard School of Public Health Harvard University University of Michigan Yale University |
| Thesis | Socioeconomic Differentials in Health: The Role of Psychosocial Factors (1986) |
David Rudyard Williams, born in 1954 in Aruba, is a very important professor at Harvard University. He teaches about public health, which is all about keeping communities healthy. He also studies how different groups of people live and interact, which is called sociology.
Contents
What Did David Williams Study?
David Williams first studied theology and ministry. He went to Caribbean Union College and Andrews University. Later, he decided to study public health and sociology. He earned a Master of Public Health degree from Loma Linda University. He also received a Master of Arts and a PhD in sociology from the University of Michigan.
David Williams' Career
After finishing his studies, David Williams started teaching.
- From 1986 to 1992, he taught at Yale University. He worked in both sociology and public health departments.
- In 1992, he moved to the University of Michigan. There, he became a professor of sociology and a research scientist. He also taught epidemiology, which is the study of how diseases spread.
- In 2006, Professor Williams joined Harvard University. He became a special professor of public health there.
Sharing Important Ideas
David Williams has helped share important ideas with many people.
- In 2008, he was a senior advisor for a TV show called "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick". This show looked at how social differences can affect health.
- In 2016, he gave a popular TED Talk called "How Racism Makes Us Sick". This talk has been seen over a million times and translated into many languages.
What Does David Williams Research?
Professor Williams' research looks at how social factors affect our health.
- He studies things like education and income.
- He also researches how race can impact physical and mental health.
- A big part of his work focuses on how racial discrimination affects people's health.
Awards and Recognition
David Williams has received many honors for his important work.
- In 2001, he became a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
- In 2007, he joined the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- He is also a member of other important groups, like the American Sociological Association.
- In 2019, he became a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Top Scholar
- In 2009, a journal called Journal of Blacks in Higher Education named him the most cited Black scholar in social sciences. This means his work was used and referred to by other researchers more than anyone else's.
- In 2015, Thomson Reuters listed him as one of the world's most influential scientists.
Special Awards
Professor Williams has also won many specific awards for his contributions:
- In 2004, he received a Decade of Behavior Research Award.
- In 2011, he won the Leo G. Reeder Award for his work in medical sociology.
- In 2013, he received the Stephen Smith Award for his contributions to public health.
- In 2014, he was given the Lemuel Shattuck Award for his work in public health in Massachusetts.
- In 2015, he received the Distinguished Leadership in Psychology Award.
- In 2017, he won the Leonard I. Pearlin Award for his studies on mental health.
