As president of Downstate, Dr. Williams has promoted collaboration and a multidisciplinary focus across the academic and clinical disciplines as he has guided the University through a period of significant financial challenges; developed an innovative healthcare delivery system model for Brooklyn; transformed the clinical operation to align with population health management and federal and state reform initiatives; advanced Downstate’s role as Brooklyn’s hub of health education, biomedical research, and clinical care; engaged Downstate in long-term planning to develop new models of integrated, value based, and patient-centered care; established programs and policies to improve infrastructure and drive sustainability; and launched forward-looking initiatives to ensure responsible stewardship of Downstate’s resources.

Previously, Dr. Williams was Provost and Vice President for Health Affairs at The George Washington University. He also served as Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President for Graduate Medical Education at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Associate and Assistant Dean for Admissions for the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He was a member of the faculty for 28 years and is Professor Emeritus at George Washington University.

Raised in Crown Heights, NY, Dr. Williams went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University in 1970, a Master of Science from The London School of Economics and Political Science in 1973, a Masters of Public Health from Yale University in 1975, and Doctorate of Medicine (1970) and Education (1996) from George Washington University.

Dr. Williams is currently a member of the Board of Governors for the Greater New York Hospital Association. President George W. Bush, and three subsequent Secretaries of Homeland Security, appointed Dr. Williams to the Homeland Security Advisory Council of the United States. He was appointed by Thomas Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security, to the Emergency Response Senior Advisory Committee of the Department of Homeland Security, and he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Emergency Services, Law Enforcement, and Public Health and Hospitals Senior Advisory Committee. He was also appointed, by the Mayor of the District of Columbia to the Domestic Preparedness Task Force for the metropolitan Washington area, and he was a member of the Health and Medical Subcommittees of this Task Force. He has also served as a Director of Universal Health Services, Inc., and as a member of the Advisory Board at Atlas Research, the National Advisory Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, the American Public Health Association, the American Medical Association, the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Williams was also a member of the board and active volunteer for Washington, DC based Food & Friends.

His honors include the Order of Vasco Nunez de Balboa from the Republic of Panama for his efforts to create the International Center for Tropical Disease and Genomic Studies, a commendation from The United States Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation for his life-long commitment to health in the United States, a commendation from the students of George Washington University for his dedication to the students, a medal from the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine for his contributions to the health of the people of China, a Certificate of Appreciation and Plaque from the Shanghai Second Medical University for his dedication and support, a flag of the United States of America from Congressman Edward J. Markey for his outstanding contributions to the improvement of the health of the nation, a Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University for his outstanding contributions to his community and profession, the People’s Medal from the Peoples Republic of China for his medical contributions to the people of China, the Outstanding Clinical Teacher of the Year award from the American Medical Student Association, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Yale Alumni in Public Health. In 2006 the American Diabetes Association honored him as Father of the Year.