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Larry Brilliant
Larry Brilliant
01:25

Larry Brilliant

"The seeds of excellence, of magic, of success, of joy are in you. Think of the next act you do as a way to fertilize and water those seeds."

Career Roadmap

Larry's work combines: Medicine, Science, and Learning / Being Challenged

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Day In The Life

Author & Technologist

I'm an epidemiologist, technologist, philanthropist, and author.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Undergraduate

    University of Michigan

  • Doctorate

    Medicine

    Wayne State University School of Medicine

  • Graduate Degree

    Epidemiology

    University of Michigan

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life has been direct

  • 1.

    While road tripping from London to Kathmandu, my wife and I found a monastery that we lived in for several years.

  • 2.

    My teacher in the monastery told me that it was my duty and destiny to work for the World Health Organization and help eradicate smallpox.

  • 3.

    I eventually got hired by the World Health Organization as a typist.

  • 4.

    After a few months as a typist, I got the opportunity to go out into the field as a field epidemiologist.

  • 5.

    I stayed for 10 years and was able to see smallpox eradicated.

  • 6.

    When I came back to the United States, I earned a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from the University of Michigan and then became a professor for the university.

  • 7.

    I’ve since built my career aiding in refugee camps, working on pandemics, and writing books about public health and epidemiology.

  • 8.

    I also co-founded Seva Foundation, an international nonprofit health organization that helps give eyesight back to blind people.