The Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity is proud to welcome Dr. Larry Warner to our community. A distinguished leader in public health, Dr. Warner brings a deep commitment to health equity, a wealth of experience in policy and systems change, and a passion for community-driven impact.
This year, Dr. Warner was honored with the 2025 Alumni Impact Award by Brown University’s School of Public Health in recognition of his extraordinary service to Rhode Island’s communities. A lifelong advocate and mentor, he is celebrated not only for his professional leadership but for the inspiration and support he provides to emerging public health leaders, especially through his mentorship of students in the Health Equity Scholars program.
Dr. Warner currently serves as the Chief Impact and Equity Officer at United Way of Rhode Island, where he oversees key initiatives including grantmaking, research and data analytics, innovation, community outreach, the 211 helpline, and the state’s aging and disability resource center.
Before joining United Way, Dr. Warner served as the Strategic Initiative Officer for Health at the Rhode Island Foundation, where he shaped and supported statewide investments aimed at improving health outcomes and addressing disparities. His earlier roles with the American Red Cross and Providence Fire Department gave him a firsthand view of how structural inequities affect health in communities, helping to shape his public health philosophy.
Dr. Warner’s path to public health began at Brown University, where he earned both his undergraduate degree in Health and Society and a Master of Public Health. He later received his Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, concentrating in Health Equity and Social Justice. A formative moment came during his time as an undergraduate, when a course in medical anthropology shifted his perspective from clinical care to the social factors that influence health, setting him on a course toward community-based public health.
He currently serves as President of the Rhode Island Public Health Association, chairs the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health, and contributes to numerous boards and committees, including the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island. His previous service includes the COVID-19 Equity Council and co-chairing the Rhode Island Commission for Health Advocacy and Equity.
As an adjunct assistant professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice in Brown’s School of Public Health, Dr. Warner plays an active role in mentoring students and advancing health equity education. His mentees and colleagues alike praise him for his lasting impact and genuine investment in the next generation of public health practitioners. As one student noted, “His servant’s heart, trailblazing mindset, and deep love for Rhode Island and its diverse communities make him the kind of leader and mentor I aspire to be.”
We are excited to collaborate with Dr. Warner as we work together to drive meaningful, community centered change. His expertise, mentorship, and deep rooted dedication to public health equity will help shape the future of our work and the wellbeing of the communities we serve. Welcome Dr. Warner!