April 9, 2026 – As both public health and higher education continue to face significant headwinds, alumni and friends gathered in Washington, D.C., on March 18 for an evening of reflection and forward-looking conversation.
The event featured a discussion between Dean Andrea Baccarelli and Dr. Rashad Massoud, MPH ’93, former president of the School’s Alumni Association. Their exchange ranged from the challenges facing academic public health to a shared vision for resilience and innovation.
Massoud opened by acknowledging the difficult climate confronting academic public health. Dean Baccarelli responded with optimism, noting that periods of disruption can also create opportunities for reinvention within the Harvard Chan community. He shared that this community is what sustains him most—faculty advancing bold scientific ideas, students preparing f to enter their careers with fresh perspective and the tools to navigate a rapidly changing world, including the growing impact of AI, and staff developing creative approaches to support research and education.
He pointed to current work that reflects the community’s vast impact: Flaminia Catteruccia is developing strategies to stop malaria by targeting its transmission, offering new ways to overcome growing resistance and redefine prevention strategies; Chris Sudfeld’s whose research focuses on the interaction between nutrition and infection and their effects on maternal, child, and population health in low‑ and middle‑income settings; and Ankur Pandya’s Ankur Pandya’s research that examines the long-term effects of environmental exposures on children’s health, with the goal of informing policies that protect vulnerable populations. Together, these efforts illustrate what Dean Baccarelli described as the School’s strength: science that moves from lab discovery to clinical solutions to policy action, all aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing global health challenges.
The transformation of higher education and a look forward
Dean Baccarelli outlined a comprehensive strategic planning effort centered on three questions: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? And how do we get there? The process involves evaluating academic programs, research priorities, and operations to ensure excellence, impact, and long-term sustainability, with a focus on diversifying revenue through philanthropy and industry partnerships, alongside continued advocacy for research support.
He outlined the School’s expansion of hybrid and online degree programs to reach learners worldwide, includinga fully online Master of Science designed to broaden access to rigorous research training, particularly for working professionals and international students, with the first cohort beginning this fall. He also highlighted the development of an Advanced Learning Academy which will unify and expand executive and continuing education offerings, from short courses to certificate programs in data science, health systems, genomics, and artificial intelligence.
Dean Baccarelli pointed to new learning experiences—like the Health Systems and AI Hackathon—which not only demonstrates the School’s adaptability in what it teaches, how it delivers instruction, and who it can reach, but also teach students to use emerging technologies as practical tools to solve real-world challenges. As the evening concluded, Massoud asked how alumni and friends could help, andDean Baccarelli emphasized the importance of partnership—through advocacy, sharing the School’s story, fostering connections, and philanthropy.
“Our alumni and friends are true partners in this work,” he said.
The program closed with a lively audience Q&A, reflecting the deep engagement of the D.C. community. In what feels like a time of uncertainty to many, the evening underscored a clear message: through innovation, connection, and a commitment to global health equity, Harvard Chan School is charting a bold path forward.
Click here to view the photo gallery from this event.
