William Garner, DrPH, MPH, FACHE

William Garner, DrPH, MPH, FACHE, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Administration at the Kate Marmion School of Public Health. During his professional career, Dr. Garner has served as a health policy scholar, public health educator, and senior Congressional staffer. His current scholarship focuses on tobacco regulation, healthcare finance, pharmaceutical policy, and public health systems administration. 

Dr. Garner studies health policy in practice. His current research includes mapping tobacco marketing disparities and examining age-related purchase refusal as a structural cancer-prevention strategy. His other scholarly work examines 340B policy and prescription drug affordability. 

Dr. Garner began his policy career as a Louis Stokes Urban Health Policy Fellow with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation in Washington, DC. Subsequently, he served as a Policy Advisor on the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce under the leadership of the Late Congressman John D. Dingell and later Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy. He later joined the National Governors Association, helping to shape state Medicaid, public health, and other policy matters of importance to governors and state governments. 

Dr. Garner shaped hospital policy at the University of Chicago Medical Center, one of the nation’s premier teaching hospitals, and Parkland Health & Hospital District, one of the nation’s major public safety-net hospitals. He later joined the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America to lead its 340B policy advocacy strategy on Medicare and Medicaid, disproportionate-share hospital policy, 340B, pharmaceutical access, federal healthcare financing, and policies affecting uninsured and medically underserved populations.

Dr. Garner serves the broader public health practice community through his work with the Texas Public Health Association, as a voting member of the Government Council and Parliamentarian from 2018-2025. He was named a Fellow of the Texas Public Health Association at its Annual Meeting in 2006

Dr. Garner has held key faculty and administrative leadership roles since 2017. Previously, he served as Department Chair at the University of North Texas at Dallas. He later joined the Kate Marmion School of Public Health, serving as its Founding Associate Dean of Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs until 2024. 

Dr. Garner earned a Doctor of Public Health in Health Management and Policy and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Administration from UNT Health. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and General Business from East Texas A&M University.