Dr. Larry Brilliant is a distinguished physician and epidemiologist whose career has uniquely bridged public health, technology, and global philanthropy. Currently serving as CEO of Pandefense Advisory and senior advisor at the Skoll Foundation he previously held prominent leadership roles including serving as the founding Executive Director of Google.org, Google's philanthropic division, from 2006–2009, a role described by some sources as vice president-level, with his involvement beginning in 2005. Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1944, Brilliant received his MD from Wayne State University School of Medicine and an MPH from the University of Michigan, establishing a foundation in both clinical medicine and population health. His remarkable journey began with nearly a decade living in India, where he served as a United Nations medical officer and played a pivotal role in the World Health Organization's smallpox eradication program across South Asia.
Brilliant's most transformative contribution was his instrumental role in eradicating smallpox, one of the deadliest diseases in human history, where he served as the leader of the WHO program in India and South Asia. His field epidemiology work during the 1970s campaign helped identify and contain the final chains of transmission, ultimately saving an estimated 2 million lives annually that would have been lost to the disease. Beyond smallpox, Brilliant co founded The Seva Foundation, which has restored sight to more than 5 million people in over 20 countries through innovative community based eye care models. His technological foresight was further demonstrated through co founding The Well in 1985, one of the earliest digital social networks, and pioneering new approaches to leveraging technology for social impact at Google.org.
As a visionary leader, Brilliant has significantly shaped global health security through his founding roles at organizations including Ending Pandemics and the Skoll Global Threats Fund, where he addressed critical threats from pandemics to climate change. He has advised four US presidents, served on the World Economic Forum's Agenda Council on Catastrophic Risk, and chaired the National Biosurveillance Advisory Subcommittee established by presidential directive. Brilliant's influential memoir Sometimes Brilliant chronicles his extraordinary journey from Himalayan monastery to global health leadership, inspiring new generations of public health professionals. Currently, through Pandefense Advisory and Evity.ai, he continues to pioneer the integration of artificial intelligence with epidemiological surveillance to create proactive systems that can predict and prevent future pandemics before they spread. His enduring legacy lies in demonstrating how interdisciplinary approaches can solve humanity's most challenging health crises through innovation, compassion, and determined leadership.
