Program Description

Join us for a timely conversation with Dr. Matt Willis, former Marin County Public Health Officer, who guided the county through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on his years of experience at the intersection of medicine, public health, and community well-being, Dr. Willis shares insights into the lessons learned from the pandemic response, especially in health communications. His presentation explores the changing landscape of health information in an era of social media and misinformation, providing guidance on navigating accurate and science-based answers to health matters.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Matt Willis, MD, MPH, served as Marin County’s Public Health Officer from 2013 to 2025, leading the county through numerous public health challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. A Marin native, Dr. Willis earned his medical degree from Temple University and a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, where he also completed his internal medicine residency.

Before returning to his home county, he worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and in the U.S. Public Health Service, providing care and conducting public health work in underserved communities. In Marin, he co-founded RxSafe Marin, a nationally recognized initiative to combat opioid misuse, and became a trusted voice for evidence-based, compassionate public health leadership.   

Dr. Willis continues to be active in community health and policy initiatives throughout Marin. He is a senior advisor and regular contributor to the Your Local Epidemiologist website.