Mary Bassett
Public Health Commissioner | Advancing Health Equity
About
Dr. Mary Bassett is a leading public health expert focused on achieving health equity.
As former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, she oversaw the city's response to the opioid epidemic and championed policies to address social determinants of health. Bassett previously held roles at the Rockefeller Foundation and the World Health Organization, where she worked to advance health and human rights globally.
Her research on the social conditions that drive health disparities has influenced policymaking from New York to Africa. Bassett's insightful keynotes empower audiences to view public health through the lens of social justice.
Talks1
Why your doctor should care about social justice
In Zimbabwe in the 1980s, Mary Bassett witnessed the AIDS epidemic firsthand, and she helped set up a clinic to treat and educate local people about the deadly virus. But looking back, she regrets not sounding the alarm for the real problem: the structural inequities embedded in the world's political and economic organizations, inequities that make marginalized people more vulnerable. These same structural problems exist in the United States today, and as New York City's Health Commissioner, Bassett is using every chance she has to rally support for health equity and speak out against racism. "We don't have to have all the answers to call for change," she says. "We just need courage."
At a Glance
Is this you?
Claim this profile to edit your bio, add talks, and get verified.
Know a talk we're missing?
Get in Touch
Save for Later
Frequently Appeared With
Speakers who have appeared at the same events
Aaron Horowitz
Co-Founder & CEO, Sproutel | Designing Therapeutic Robots for Children
1 shared event · TED
Aaron Maniam
Government Advisor | Navigating the Future of Work
1 shared event · TED
Aaswath Raman
Renewable Energy Researcher | Pioneering Space-Based Cooling Technologies
1 shared event · TED
Abe Davis
Video Technology Researcher | Revealing Hidden Properties Through Advanced Imaging
1 shared event · TED
Abha Dawesar
Fiction Author | Navigating the Digital Age
1 shared event · TED
Abigail Disney
Workers' Rights Advocate | Champion of Workplace Dignity and Fair Labor Practices
1 shared event · TED
Abigail Marsh
Researcher | Exploring the Psychology Behind Human Altruism
1 shared event · TED
Abigail Washburn
Musician | Bridging Folk and Global Sounds
1 shared event · TED
Similar Speakers
Related by topic and shared stages
Hilary Cottam
Social Innovator | Transforming Communities with Technology
Both at TED 2015
Mia Birdsong
Community Activist | Advocating for Equity and Belonging
Both at TED 2015
Noy Thrupkaew
Journalist & Human Rights Advocate | Empowering Vulnerable Communities
Both at TED 2015
Jamila Raqib
Executive Director | Nonviolence Advocacy & Peace Education
Both at TED 2015