A self-described social change"addict," Dr. Larry Brilliant is a pioneering physician and global philanthropist.
Larry was the first executive director of Google.org, the company's philanthropic arm before becoming chief philanthropy evangelist for Google. An M.D., M.P.H., and board-certifi ed in preventive medicine, epidemiology and public health, Larry was one of a four-person international team that led the successful World Health Organization smallpox eradication program in India and South Asia. He later founded the Seva Foundation of Berkeley, California, which works in dozens of countries around the world to eliminate preventable and curable blindness. Seva's projects have given back sight to nearly 3 million people. Last year, Time magazine named Brilliant one of the 20 most infl uential scientists and thinkers and one of the 100 most infl uential people in the world.
In addition to sitting on the board of the Skoll Foundation, Larry was elected to membership in the Council on Foreign Relations in 2009 and sits on the boards of Health Metrics Network and Omidyar Networks Humanity United.
Larry's work has been praised and awarded recognition throughout the last decade. In 2008, Brilliant was given a Global Leadership Award by the United Nations Organization. In 2006, he received the TED Prize. He was named "International Public Health Hero" by the University of California in 2004. He has also received numerous other awards, prizes and two honorary doctorates.
In May 2009, Larry was named by Jeff Skoll as President of the newly created Skoll Urgent Threats Fund, which focuses on issues related to climate change, water scarcity, pandemics, nuclear proliferation and Middle East conflict.
Promote this Nomination
Facebook
Twitter
EmailYou have 10 Votes remaining
About the Changemakers Network
The Changemakers initiative aims to identify and engage the leading activists, elected officials, authors, bloggers, actors, musicians and thought leaders who have the greatest capacity to spark change on issues of importance. Read more »
Browse Nominations by Cause
Popular Nominations: Social Entrepreneurship
-
Muhammad Yunus
Professor -
Arianna Huffington
Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Huffington Post -
Rodrigo Baggio
Founder, Center for Digital Inclusion -
Eion Bailey
Founder, Imagine This! TV -
Bill Drayton
Founder and CEO Ashoka
