Being at the center of a tragic situation can have a life-changing impact on a person, and that was definitely the case for Brian Williams, MD, Medical Director for Parkland Community Health Institute.

Dr. Williams was the presiding trauma surgeon at Parkland Hospital in 2016 when a sniper shot 12 Dallas police officers who were protecting a peaceful anti-brutality protest.

After that tragedy, he emerged with a new passion and commitment for social justice. As part of that mission he shares his story and insight across the country, and on Thursday, March 15, he will be at EVMS. He will present “Resilience and the Second Victim: Nexus of Race, Violence and Medicine,” from noon to 1 p.m. in Lewis Hall's Roper Auditorium.

As Medical Director of PCHI, he leads cross-functional teams that deliver innovative programs to address community health needs in Dallas County. He was recently honored with a Mayoral appointment to the Citizen Police Review Board for the city of Dallas.

The Brock Scholar event is co-sponsored by the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health at EVMS and EVMS Diversity and Inclusion.