Deirdre O’Donnell
Manager, Violence and Injury Prevention Program, Rhode Island Department of Health
2024
Deirdre O’Donnell is a passionate public health professional and educator with a proven track record in translating social and behavioral science research into strategies and interventions that improve population health and well-being. She has been working in the field for over a decade in various violence and injury prevention initiatives including suicide, intimate partner violence, overdose, rape and sexual assault, and bullying/hate crimes. Ms. O’Donnell is the Violence and Injury Prevention Program Manager for the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Her expertise is in using data driven and evidence-informed strategies to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors that help individuals improve their social determinants of health and empower them to prevent violence & injury throughout the life course.
The inaugural Eradicate Hate Summit was a truly impressive gathering of leaders dedicated to finding lasting and effective solutions to violent extremism. I was particularly moved by the prominence given to survivors and family members of victims of hate and violence throughout the event. Their stories and those of so many others must be at the center of what we do and why we do it.
