Board Member
Surili Sutaria Patel, MS is a trusted voice in public health who champions diversity and works to advance health equity and environmental justice. With a profound public health and biomedical research background, she has led efforts to bridge the gap between public health practices and policies. Surili has played an integral role in the development and passage of policies that remove toxins from where people work, live, and play; designed innovative approaches to monitor and reduce environmental health risks; championed lead-free conditions to improve children’s health; and created short-term policy and advocacy strategies for organizations to address the quality of healthy housing and water systems.
Surili approaches health and the environment through the lens of thoughtful coalition building and values-based communications strategies. Her areas of expertise include:
In addition to her environmental health experience, Surili has led teams in conducting message research and crafting non-polarizing communication strategies on broader public health topics. Her achievements in this niche include creating a message guide to advance policies that support healthy babies, children and families in achieving their optimal health; developing a communications toolkit to increase vaccination rates across hard-to-reach communities; and translating a scientific consensus report on menopause in the workplace into an actionable employer guide.
She is also a sought-after lecturer on topics including environmental health, climate and health, and energy justice. Surili received the Climate Resilience and Health Equity Award in the HHS Green Champion category for her contributions on conceptualizing and developing the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Climate Adaptation Planning project.
In her spare time, Surili finds passion in supporting efforts to advance health for all and environmental policies that help communities thrive. The organizations she currently serves with include:
She enjoys painting, hiking, and cooking international cuisines. As a former semi-professional Bharatanatyam dancer, she seeks opportunities to learn about arts and cultures from around the world.