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{{short description|American physician and businessman}}
{{Infobox_Scientist
{{Infobox person
| name = Dr. Lawrence (Larry) Brilliant
| image = Larry Brilliant.jpg |name = Larry Brilliant
|image = Larry Brilliant in 2023 04.jpg
| image_width =
| caption = |caption = Larry Brilliant in 2023
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1944|05|05}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|5|5}}
| birth_place = ], ] |birth_place = ], ], U.S.
| death_date = |death_date =
| death_place = |death_place =
|spouse = Girija Brilliant
| residence = ]
|children = 3
| field = medical doctor, ], technologist, author and philanthropist
|education = ] (], ])<br>] (])
| work_institution =
}}
| alma_mater =] - ] <BR> ] - ]
'''Lawrence Brilliant''' (born May 5, 1944) is an American ],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kluger |first1=Jeffrey |title=Time 100 Talks |url=https://time.com/5826416/larry-brilliant-and-leana-wen-time-100-talks/ |publisher=Time |date=April 23, 2020}}</ref> technologist, philanthropist, and author, who worked with the ] from 1973–1976 helping to successfully eradicate ].
| doctoral_advisor =
| doctoral_students =
| known_for = one of the leaders of the successful ] (WHO) ] eradication program.
| author_abbreviation_bot =
| author_abbreviation_zoo =
| prizes =
| religion =
| footnotes =
}}Dr. '''Lawrence "Larry" Brilliant''' is an American physician, ], technologist, author and philanthropist, and the former director of ]'s philanthropic arm ]<ref>{{cite-web|title=The Next Chapter for Google.org|url=http://blog.google.org/2009/02/next-chapter-for-googleorg.html}}</ref>. Brilliant, a technology patent holder, has been CEO of two public companies and other venture backed start ups. From 1973 to 1976 he participated in the successful ] (WHO) ] eradication program. In April 2009 he was chosen to oversee the "Skoll Urgent Threats Fund" established by eBay co-founder ]<ref>{{cite-web|title=Former Google.org director to head 'threats' fund|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/former-googleorg-director-head-urgent/story.aspx?guid={D338D007-D2E1-4D80-9E2A-486C2BF6FEE1}&dist=msr_1}}</ref>.


Brilliant, a technology patent holder, has been the CEO of public companies and venture backed start-ups. He was the inaugural Executive Director of ],<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Goodell|first1=Jeff|title=The Guru of Google|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/from-the-issue-the-guru-of-google-20080404|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 2008}}</ref> the charitable arm of ] established in 2005, and the first CEO of Skoll Global Threats Fund, established in 2009 by ] founder ] to ], ]s, ], ], and ]. Brilliant currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Ending Pandemics, and is also on the boards of the ], Salesforce.org, The ], and Dharma Platform.
⚫ ==Early life==
⚫ Born in ] (], ]), he received his undergraduate training as well as his MPH (Masters in Public Health) from the ], where he worked on the staff of the ], and his ] from ]. He moved to ] for his ] at the ], and developed ] from which he recovered. Brilliant is board certified in preventive medicine and public health.


⚫ ==Early life and education==
In 1969, a group of American Indians from many different tribes, calling themselves ], ] in San Francisco. A call went out for doctors to help a pregnant woman there give birth and Brilliant joined their occupation as unofficial doctor.<ref name="mindfully">{{cite web |date=24February2006| url = http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/2006/Larry-Brilliant-Technology24feb06.htm| title = Larry Brilliant: Doctor Looks to Use Technology to Aid Global Health Care| publisher = Wall Street Journal| accessdate = 2007-07-26 | author=Hoge, Patrick}}</ref>
⚫ Brilliant was born in ]. His father, Joe Brilliant, was a philanthropist and entrepreneur. He is the grandson of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, whose surname was originally Brilladentov.<ref name="times">{{cite web| date = 21 October 2016| url = https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-multi-talented-larry-brilliant-just-added-one-more-skill-author/| title = The multi-talented Larry Brilliant just added one more skill — author| publisher = The Times of Israel| accessdate = 2020-05-12| author = Klug, Lisa}}</ref> Brilliant received his undergraduate training as well as his MPH degree (Masters in Public Health) from the ], where he worked on the staff of the ], and his ] from ]. He moved to ] for his internship at the ], and developed ] from which he recovered. Brilliant is board certified in preventive medicine and public health.


==Career== ==Career==
]
After the US government forced the ] off Alcatraz, Brilliant became a media darling which led to a movie company casting him in Medicine Ball Caravan—a sequel to the hit ]—playing a doctor in a film about a tribe of hippies who follow the ], ], ], and ].<ref name="fastcompany">{{cite web |date=2000 | url = http://www.fastcompany.com/online/39/brilliant.html| title = Dr. Brilliant Vs. the Devil of Ambition| publisher = fastcompany.com| accessdate = 2007-07-26 | last=Harriet Rubin }}</ref> The cast was paid with airline tickets to ]. Brilliant and some others cashed their tickets in and rented a bus to drive around Europe, which then turned into a relief convoy to help victims of the ]. In 1969, a group of American Indians from many different tribes, calling themselves Indians of All Tribes, ] in San Francisco. A call went out for doctors to help a pregnant woman there give birth and Brilliant joined their occupation as unofficial doctor. The Indians on Alcatraz named the baby "Wovoka" after a Northern Paiute medicine man.<ref name="mindfully">{{cite web| date = 24 February 2006| url = http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/2006/Larry-Brilliant-Technology24feb06.htm| title = Larry Brilliant: Doctor Looks to Use Technology to Aid Global Health Care| publisher = Wall Street Journal| accessdate = 2007-07-26| author = Hoge, Patrick| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071101072602/http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/2006/Larry-Brilliant-Technology24feb06.htm| archive-date = 1 November 2007}}</ref> After the US government forced the Indians of All Tribes off Alcatraz, Brilliant became a media darling which led to a movie company casting him in ''Medicine Ball Caravan'', playing a doctor in a film about a tribe of hippies who follow the ], ], ], and ].<ref name="fastcompany">{{cite web| year = 2000| url = http://www.fastcompany.com/online/39/brilliant.html| title = Dr. Brilliant Vs. the Devil of Ambition| publisher = fastcompany.com| accessdate = 2007-07-26| last = Harriet Rubin| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231816/http://www.fastcompany.com/online/39/brilliant.html| archive-date = 2007-09-27}}</ref> The cast was paid with airline tickets to ]. Brilliant and some others cashed their tickets in and rented a bus to drive around Europe, which then turned into a relief convoy to help victims of the ] (then East Pakistan).


The civil unrest stopped the relief caravan so he spent several years in India studying at a ] ] with ] (a ] sage) from whom he received the name Subramanyum. After about a year ] told Brilliant to eradicate ] on which he would spend the next several years. He participated, as a medical officer, in the ] (WHO) ] eradication program that in 1980 certified the global eradication of smallpox.<ref name="WHO">{{cite web |date=2000 | url = http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/smallpox/en/| title = Smallpox| WHO]] | accessdate = 2007-07-26 | publisher=] }}</ref> Civil unrest stopped the relief caravan so he spent several years in India studying at a ] ] with ] (a ] sage) from whom he received the name Subramanyum. After about a year, Neem Karoli Baba advised Brilliant to eradicate smallpox, a project on which he would spend the next several years. He participated, as a medical officer, in the ] (WHO) smallpox eradication program<ref>{{cite web |last1=DelViscio |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Sughrue |first2=Karen M |title=Larry Brilliant Helped to Eradicate Smallpox—and He Has Advice for COVID-19 |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/larry-brilliant-helped-to-eradicate-smallpox-and-he-has-advice-for-covid-19/ |website=Scientific American |publisher=Springer Nature America, Inc. |access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref> that in 1980 certified the global eradication of smallpox.<ref name="WHO">{{cite web|year=2000 |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/smallpox/en/ |title=Smallpox |accessdate=2007-07-26 |publisher=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921235036/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/smallpox/en/ |archive-date=2007-09-21 }}</ref> Brilliant found that Indian officials became more receptive to his efforts when they learned of Neem Karoli Baba's involvement, to which he credits a significant portion of the program's success.<ref name=miracle>Ram Dass (1995). ''Miracle of Love: Stories about Neem Karoli Baba''. Hanuman Foundation. 4th ed., , pp. 155–161. {{ISBN|978-1-887474-00-9}}.</ref> Brilliant contributed a seven-page account of his experiences to the book ''Miracle of Love: Stories of Neem Karoli Baba''.<ref name=miracle/>


⚫ In December 1978, he became a co-founder and chairman of ], an international, non-profit, health foundation. Seva's projects in places like ], ], India, ], ], Tanzania, Ethiopia, and ] have given back sight to more than 3 million blind people through surgery, self-sufficient eye care systems, and low-cost manufacturing of ]s. One important contribution of his was his helping to set up the ] in ], India.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}
⚫ When he returned to the United States, he became a professor of international health at the ] as well as starting numerous charitable and business ventures. He spent the first half of 2005 as a volunteer helping out in the tsunami in ] and working in India with WHO in the campaign to eradicate polio.


⚫ When he returned to the United States, he became a professor of international health at the ] and started numerous charitable and business ventures.
⚫ *December, 1978 – Co-founder and chairman of ], an International, non-profit, health foundation. Seva's projects in ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] have given back sight to more than 2 million blind people through surgery, self sufficient eye care systems, and low cost manufacturing of ] lenses. One important contribution of his was his helping to set up the ] in ], India.

*1985 – He co-founded, with ], ], a prototypic ] that has been the subject of multiple books and studies. ''Time magazine'' said, "Well was a huge hit, a precursor of every online business from Amazon.com to eBay."<ref name="TIME">{{cite web |date= ], ]| url = http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1004713,00.html| title = Will You Buy WiFi?| publisher = | accessdate = 2007-07-26 | author=Taylor, Chris}}</ref> In 1985, he co-founded, with ], ], a prototypic ] that has been the subject of multiple books and studies. '']'' said, "Well was a huge hit, a precursor of every online business from Amazon.com to eBay."<ref name="TIME">{{cite web |date= April 21, 2003| url = http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1004713,00.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930092925/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1004713,00.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = September 30, 2007| title = Will You Buy WiFi?| publisher = ]| accessdate = 2007-07-26 | author=Taylor, Chris}}</ref>
⚫ * 2005 – He was awarded the ] Prize, granting him $100,000 and 'One Wish to Change the World'<ref>{{cite web | author = Zetter, Kim | url = http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70280-0.html |title = Brilliant's Wish: Disease Alerts |publisher = Wired.com | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-08-01}}</ref> which he presented at TED in February 2006. As his prize nominator summed up, "'Dr. Brilliant' is a name to live up to, and he has."<ref name="TED">{{cite web |date=July 2006 | url = http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/58| title = Larry Brilliant: TED Prize wish: Help stop the next pandemic| format = Streaming Video| publisher = ]| accessdate = 2007-07-25 }}</ref> His one wish that he presented at the conference was, "To build a powerful new early warning system to protect our world from some of its worst nightmares."<ref name="French24">{{cite web |date=], ]| url = http://giussani.typepad.com/loip/2006/03/can_the_interne.html| title = Larry Brilliant: Can the Internet help stop pandemics?| publisher = LunchoverIP| accessdate = 2007-07-25 | last=Bruno Giussani }}</ref>

*] ] – ] appointed him as the Executive Director of ], the philanthropic arm of Google.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |date=] ]| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/technology/14google.html?ei=5090&en=56861c8f4ca9b3e7&ex=1315886400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185372545-ivq5NRvaEOg4wFTGfEZP9Q| title = Philanthropy Google’s Way: Not the Usual| publisher = | accessdate = 2007-07-25 | author=Hafner, Katie}}</ref>
He spent the first half of 2005 as a volunteer helping out in ] in ] and working in India with WHO in the campaign to eradicate ].

On February 22, 2006, ] appointed him as the Executive Director of ], the philanthropic arm of Google,<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |date=September 14, 2006| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/technology/14google.html?ei=5090&en=56861c8f4ca9b3e7&ex=1315886400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1185372545-ivq5NRvaEOg4wFTGfEZP9Q| title = Philanthropy Google's Way: Not the Usual |work=NY Times |accessdate = 2007-07-25 | author=Hafner, Katie}}</ref> a position which he held until April, 2009,<ref name="leavesgoogle">{{cite web |date=April 14, 2009| url= http://blog.google.org/2009/04/brilliant-takes-on-urgent-threats.html| title = Brilliant Takes on Urgent Threats|accessdate = 2009-06-25 | author=Dr. Larry Brilliant}}</ref> when he joined the Skoll Foundation, as its President, the philanthropic organization established by former eBay president Jeff Skoll.<ref>{{cite news |title=Google loses Brilliant to rival foundation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/apr/15/google-org-larry-brilliant |work=The Guardian |date=15 April 2009 }}</ref>

⚫ In July 2006, he was awarded the ], granting him $100,000 and 'One Wish to Change the World'<ref>{{cite web | author = Zetter, Kim | url = https://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70280-0.html |title = Brilliant's Wish: Disease Alerts |publisher = Wired.com | date = 2006-02-23 | accessdate = 2007-08-01}}</ref> which he presented at TED in July 2006. As his prize nominator summed up, "'Dr. Brilliant' is a name to live up to, and he has."<ref name="TED">{{cite web |date=July 2006 | url = https://www.ted.com/talks/larry_brilliant_wants_to_stop_pandemics| title = Larry Brilliant: TED Prize wish: Help stop the next pandemic| format = Streaming Video| publisher = ]| accessdate = 2007-07-25 }}</ref> His one wish that he presented at the conference was, "To build a powerful new early warning system to protect our world from some of its worst nightmares."<ref name="French24">{{cite web |date=March 23, 2006| url = http://giussani.typepad.com/loip/2006/03/can_the_interne.html| title = Larry Brilliant: Can the Internet help stop pandemics?| publisher = LunchoverIP| accessdate = 2007-07-25 | last=Bruno Giussani }}</ref>

Following the ] in 2010, Brilliant expressed concern that the public was not suitably concerned by the threat posed by ]. This led to Brilliant and several colleagues contributing to the creation of the film ], released the following year in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Brilliant |first1=Larry |last2=O'Toole |first2=Tara |last3=Smolinski |first3=Mark |last4=Faskianos |first4=Irina A. |date=2020-03-13 |title=The COVID-19 Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness in the United States |url=https://www.cfr.org/conference-calls/covid-19-epidemic-and-pandemic-preparedness-united-states |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221225190809/https://www.cfr.org/conference-calls/covid-19-epidemic-and-pandemic-preparedness-united-states |archive-date=2022-12-25 |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2013, he gave the commencement speech at ],

{{quote|Imagine that arc of history that Martin Luther King inspired is right here with us. The arc of the universe needs your help to bend it towards justice. It will not happen on its own. The arc of history will not bend towards justice without you bending it. Public health needs you to ensure health for all. Seize that history. Bend that arc. I want you to leap up, to jump up and grab that arc of history with both hands, and yank it down, twist it, and bend it. Bend it towards fairness, bend it towards better health for all, bend it towards justice!<ref name=har>{{cite web| title = " HSPH News " Commencement 2013: Larry Brilliant's address|publisher=Harvard School of Public Health| url = http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/commencement-2013-larry-brilliants-address/ |date=May 30, 2013| accessdate = 2013-11-22}}</ref>}}

=== COVID-19 ===
In spring 2020, Brilliant commented that the ], where he had worked for ten years, was slow to declare ] a pandemic.

Brilliant participates as an advisor to the COVID-19 Technology Task Force, a technology industry coalition founded in March 2020 collaborating on solutions to respond to and recover from the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacox |first=Madi |title=Leadership |url=https://www.crttf.org/leadership/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224202657/https://www.crttf.org/leadership/ |archive-date=2022-12-24 |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=COVID-19 Technology Task Force |date=12 February 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Brilliant currently lives with his wife Girija (formerly Elaine) and three children: Joe, Jon, and Iris. Girija holds a PhD in public health administration and is an equal partner in many of her husband's enterprises. Co-founder of SEVA, she was instrumental in the World Health Organization's smallpox eradication program. Brilliant is married to Girija (formerly Elaine) and has three children: Joe, Jon, and Iris Brilliant. Girija holds a PhD in public health administration and is an equal partner in many of her husband's enterprises. Co-founder of ],<ref name="seva">{{Cite web|url=http://www.seva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_history|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106192001/http://www.seva.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_history|url-status = dead|title=Seva Foundation: History|archive-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> she was instrumental in the ]'s smallpox eradication program.


Brilliant was a close friend of ] and visited him often during the last year of his life.<ref name="jobs">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/the-steve-jobs-nobody-knew-71168/ |title=The Steve Jobs Nobody Knew|magazine=] |date=27 October 2011}}</ref>
==Film==
Brilliant acted as an extra in the 1971 ] movie '']'', which depicts ] culture. He said, "When shooting for the song sequence ']' (which glorifies smoking marijuana), ] was looking for certain types of foreigners..."<ref name="HKHR">{{cite web|date=2008-05-21|url=http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?p=3394#more-3394| title= Executive Director of Google praising the Ramayana and Mahabharata!}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
⚫ {{commons category|Larry Brilliant}}
* at ] in 2006
* Larry Brilliant on
* at ] in 2007
* {{Twitter}}
*
* *
* at Skoll Foundation
* {{TED speaker}}
** {{TED talk|larry_brilliant_wants_to_stop_pandemics|TED Prize Wish: Larry Brilliant wants to stop pandemics}} (TED2006)
** {{TED talk|larry_brilliant_makes_the_case_for_optimism|Larry Brilliant makes the case for optimism}} (Skoll World Forum 2007)

{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 17:26, 6 May 2024

American physician and businessman
Larry Brilliant
Larry Brilliant in 2023
Born (1944-05-05) May 5, 1944 (age 80)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BS, MPH)
Wayne State University (MD)
SpouseGirija Brilliant
Children3

Lawrence Brilliant (born May 5, 1944) is an American epidemiologist, technologist, philanthropist, and author, who worked with the World Health Organization from 1973–1976 helping to successfully eradicate smallpox.

Brilliant, a technology patent holder, has been the CEO of public companies and venture backed start-ups. He was the inaugural Executive Director of Google.org, the charitable arm of Google established in 2005, and the first CEO of Skoll Global Threats Fund, established in 2009 by eBay founder Jeff Skoll to address climate change, pandemics, water security, nuclear proliferation, and conflict in the Middle East. Brilliant currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Ending Pandemics, and is also on the boards of the Skoll Foundation, Salesforce.org, The Seva Foundation, and Dharma Platform.

Early life and education

Brilliant was born in Detroit, Michigan. His father, Joe Brilliant, was a philanthropist and entrepreneur. He is the grandson of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, whose surname was originally Brilladentov. Brilliant received his undergraduate training as well as his MPH degree (Masters in Public Health) from the University of Michigan, where he worked on the staff of the Gargoyle Humor Magazine, and his M.D. from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He moved to California for his internship at the California Pacific Medical Center, and developed parathyroid cancer from which he recovered. Brilliant is board certified in preventive medicine and public health.

Career

Brilliant in 2015

In 1969, a group of American Indians from many different tribes, calling themselves Indians of All Tribes, occupied the Alcatraz island in San Francisco. A call went out for doctors to help a pregnant woman there give birth and Brilliant joined their occupation as unofficial doctor. The Indians on Alcatraz named the baby "Wovoka" after a Northern Paiute medicine man. After the US government forced the Indians of All Tribes off Alcatraz, Brilliant became a media darling which led to a movie company casting him in Medicine Ball Caravan, playing a doctor in a film about a tribe of hippies who follow the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jethro Tull, and Joni Mitchell. The cast was paid with airline tickets to India. Brilliant and some others cashed their tickets in and rented a bus to drive around Europe, which then turned into a relief convoy to help victims of the 1970 Bhola cyclone in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).

Civil unrest stopped the relief caravan so he spent several years in India studying at a Himalayan ashram with Neem Karoli Baba (a Hindu sage) from whom he received the name Subramanyum. After about a year, Neem Karoli Baba advised Brilliant to eradicate smallpox, a project on which he would spend the next several years. He participated, as a medical officer, in the World Health Organization (WHO) smallpox eradication program that in 1980 certified the global eradication of smallpox. Brilliant found that Indian officials became more receptive to his efforts when they learned of Neem Karoli Baba's involvement, to which he credits a significant portion of the program's success. Brilliant contributed a seven-page account of his experiences to the book Miracle of Love: Stories of Neem Karoli Baba.

In December 1978, he became a co-founder and chairman of Seva Foundation, an international, non-profit, health foundation. Seva's projects in places like China, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Guatemala have given back sight to more than 3 million blind people through surgery, self-sufficient eye care systems, and low-cost manufacturing of intraocular lenses. One important contribution of his was his helping to set up the Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India.

When he returned to the United States, he became a professor of international health at the University of Michigan and started numerous charitable and business ventures.

In 1985, he co-founded, with Stewart Brand, The Well, a prototypic online community that has been the subject of multiple books and studies. Time said, "Well was a huge hit, a precursor of every online business from Amazon.com to eBay."

He spent the first half of 2005 as a volunteer helping out in the tsunami in Sri Lanka and working in India with WHO in the campaign to eradicate polio.

On February 22, 2006, Google Inc. appointed him as the Executive Director of Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, a position which he held until April, 2009, when he joined the Skoll Foundation, as its President, the philanthropic organization established by former eBay president Jeff Skoll.

In July 2006, he was awarded the TED Prize, granting him $100,000 and 'One Wish to Change the World' which he presented at TED in July 2006. As his prize nominator summed up, "'Dr. Brilliant' is a name to live up to, and he has." His one wish that he presented at the conference was, "To build a powerful new early warning system to protect our world from some of its worst nightmares."

Following the H1N1 swine flu outbreak in 2010, Brilliant expressed concern that the public was not suitably concerned by the threat posed by infectious diseases. This led to Brilliant and several colleagues contributing to the creation of the film Contagion, released the following year in 2011.

In May 2013, he gave the commencement speech at Harvard School of Public Health,

Imagine that arc of history that Martin Luther King inspired is right here with us. The arc of the universe needs your help to bend it towards justice. It will not happen on its own. The arc of history will not bend towards justice without you bending it. Public health needs you to ensure health for all. Seize that history. Bend that arc. I want you to leap up, to jump up and grab that arc of history with both hands, and yank it down, twist it, and bend it. Bend it towards fairness, bend it towards better health for all, bend it towards justice!

COVID-19

In spring 2020, Brilliant commented that the World Health Organization, where he had worked for ten years, was slow to declare COVID-19 a pandemic.

Brilliant participates as an advisor to the COVID-19 Technology Task Force, a technology industry coalition founded in March 2020 collaborating on solutions to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personal life

Brilliant is married to Girija (formerly Elaine) and has three children: Joe, Jon, and Iris Brilliant. Girija holds a PhD in public health administration and is an equal partner in many of her husband's enterprises. Co-founder of Seva Foundation, she was instrumental in the World Health Organization's smallpox eradication program.

Brilliant was a close friend of Steve Jobs and visited him often during the last year of his life.

References

  1. Kluger, Jeffrey (April 23, 2020). "Time 100 Talks". Time.
  2. Goodell, Jeff (April 2008). "The Guru of Google". Rolling Stone.
  3. Klug, Lisa (21 October 2016). "The multi-talented Larry Brilliant just added one more skill — author". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  4. Hoge, Patrick (24 February 2006). "Larry Brilliant: Doctor Looks to Use Technology to Aid Global Health Care". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 1 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  5. Harriet Rubin (2000). "Dr. Brilliant Vs. the Devil of Ambition". fastcompany.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  6. DelViscio, Jeffrey; Sughrue, Karen M. "Larry Brilliant Helped to Eradicate Smallpox—and He Has Advice for COVID-19". Scientific American. Springer Nature America, Inc. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  7. "Smallpox". WHO. 2000. Archived from the original on 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
  8. ^ Ram Dass (1995). Miracle of Love: Stories about Neem Karoli Baba. Hanuman Foundation. 4th ed., Chapter 9: The Stick That Heals, pp. 155–161. ISBN 978-1-887474-00-9.
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