"I am thrilled to congratulate and celebrate Brie’s exceptional history of conducting policy-relevant, ground-breaking research and policy translation —representing many voices that are often marginalized and prevented from having a seat at the table. She has given voice to countless others, who may never know her name, but whose lives have been shaped by her evidence-driven advocacy and action."
-Claire Brindis
The 2026 Claire D. Brindis Award for Community Engagement and Service in Health Policy Research will be presented at the UCSF Health Services Research Symposium on May 13, 2026. Please register here as lunch is provided.
Dr. Brie Williams is a Professor of Medicine in the UCSF Division of Health and Society, with training in internal medicine, geriatrics, and palliative care. She directs Amend, a public health and human rights program that addresses conditions that perpetuate trauma, violence, and health inequities among incarcerated people and prison staff. She also co-directs the Aging Research in Criminal Justice Health (ARCH) Network which builds evidence at the intersection of aging, serious illness, and criminal legal system involvement.
Dr. Williams' research has evaluated the health needs of incarcerated older adults, helped shape compassionate release policies, drawn attention to the harms of solitary confinement, and introduced international reform models to reduce its use in five US states. She has consulted for prisons and legal organizations nationwide and has advised on landmark legislation related to compassionate release and prison conditions of confinement. In 2025, Governor Newsom appointed her co-chair of the San Quentin Transformation Advisory Council; she continues to advise the Federal Receivers overseeing healthcare in California state prisons.
Excerpts from letters nominating Brie Williams, MD, MS:
"Through Amend, the organization she founded, Dr. Williams has achieved measurable impact at state, national, and international levels, driving policy and practice reforms that improve health, dignity and wellbeing for both incarcerated people and prison staff. She excels at translating community-based research into policy and advocacy, building bridges among stakeholders typically at odds (policymakers, prison leaders, incarcerated individuals, and community advocates). Dr. Williams has pioneered scalable prison staff training programs and provided technical assistance to 12 U.S. states."
"Her dual expertise in aging in prison and correctional culture change positions her as a rare national and international authority whose counsel helps shape legislation, transform institutions, and advance UCSF's mission on a global stage. Dr. Williams also is deeply committed to offering her expertise and position as UCSF faculty to support leaders from community-based organizations and inside prisons to drive change."
"Her steadfast determination to engage in policy-related research, and to translate that research into meaningful policy and practice change is unparalleled. Her dedication to bringing opportunities to conduct policy-oriented research to other faculty, and to spur junior faculty and fellows to consider ways that their research can translate into policy to improve the care of socially marginalized patient populations is inspiring. Brie’s commitment to using policy-oriented research, advocacy and community partnerships to improve the health and wellbeing of one of the most hidden (and rapidly growing) populations in our nation embodies exactly what this award seeks to recognize."
The Claire D. Brindis Award for Community Engagement and Service in Health Policy Research recognizes UCSF faculty who are engaged in policy-focused research and advocacy which address social, health, and, ethnic, and racial disparities; this research and advocacy serve to improve community wellbeing, and are exemplified by the stakeholder-focused contributions which are a hallmark of Dr. Brindis’ career.