Rodrigo Valles, Jr., PhD

Director

Dr. Rodrigo Valles serves as the Director of the Office of Health Equity & Climate Medicine Research at Stony Brook Medicine, where he leads the institution’s strategy at the nexus of health equity, climate science, and translational innovation. His expertise in data-driven policy strategy, cross-sector systems leadership, and social and environmental determinants of health stems from his years of developing and overseeing large health and research centers.

He is responsible for building the institutional infrastructure required to advance climate-informed, equity-centered research—including faculty development programs, strategic funding initiatives, data and technological integration, and regional partnerships with health systems, municipalities, and public health agencies. His work aligns clinical operations, research strategy, and community priorities to ensure that emerging climate and health challenges are addressed through coordinated, measurable action.

Dr. Valles is positioning Stony Brook as a national leader in climate medicine and health equity by developing models that integrate health data, social determinants, environmental vectors, healthcare infrastructure and community-level indicators to inform research, policy, and care delivery. His leadership emphasizes institutional alignment, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and translating science into sustainable impact at both regional and national levels.