An Intimate Luncheon with Dr. Walter Willett 

Join us for an intimate luncheon conversation with Dr. Walter Willett, the physician and epidemiologist whose groundbreaking research has fundamentally shaped what we know about nutrition, disease prevention, and healthy living. 

For over 40 years, Dr. Willett has led the most influential health studies ever conducted—research that has revealed how the foods we eat affect our risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. 

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to sit down with one of the world’s leading nutrition scientists and discover what decades of rigorous research reveal about living not just longer, but better. 

Meet Dr. Walter Willett

Walter C. Willett, M.D., DrPH is Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Willett is among the most cited nutritionists internationally and a member of the National Academy of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. 

His Groundbreaking Research 

The Nurses’ Health Studies and Health Professionals Follow-up Study: Since 1980, Dr. Willett has led landmark research following nearly 300,000 men and women with repeated dietary assessments over decades. These cohorts provide the most detailed information available on the long-term health consequences of food choices. 

Research Focus: Dr. Willett has focused his work on developing and evaluating methods to study the effects of diet on the occurrence of major diseases. Dr. Willett’s contributions have transformed not only how we study the links between diet and disease but also how we apply that knowledge to improve population health. 

Key Findings 

• Diet and disease: Extensive evidence about how dietary factors influence health, including the link between trans-fat intake and heart disease, and the benefits of fruits and vegetables for reducing the risk of certain cancers 
• Lifestyle and health: Research highlighting the impact of lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, on chronic diseases like cognitive impairment and type 2 diabetes 
• Biomarkers: Collection of biological specimens has enabled research into the underlying mechanisms of disease 

Influence and Impact 

• Over 2,000 publications: Dr. Willett has published over 2,000 original research papers and reviews on lifestyle risk factors for heart disease, cancer, and other conditions 
• The Nurses’ Health Studies have generated over 2,000 publications and have significantly influenced public health recommendations for diet and lifestyle 
• Educator: Author of the textbook Nutritional Epidemiology (Oxford University Press, now in its third edition) and four books for the public including Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy 
• Recognition: Recipient of many national and international awards for his research 

This intimate luncheon offers something increasingly rare: unhurried, meaningful conversation with a scientific leader who has devoted over four decades to answering the questions that matter most to our health. 

Why Harvard Chan School 

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is the world’s leading institution for public health education and research. For over a century, Harvard Chan School has been at the forefront of efforts to improve human health worldwide through rigorous research, education, and translation of science into practice. 

Dr. Willett’s work exemplifies the school’s commitment to science that transforms both public health recommendations and personal health choices.