Alumni and Friends
Harvard Chan Alumni Association Awards
Each fall, the Alumni Awards Committee selects recipients for four distinguished honors, celebrated during Alumni Weekend.
The signature Alumni Award of Merit, established in 1992, has recognized dozens of outstanding graduates. In 2011, the Alumni Association introduced three additional awards to celebrate achievements across different public health domains and career stages. These honors reflect the School’s founding mission by recognizing alumni whose work advances public health’s highest ideals. Beliefs and mission.
2024 Award Winners
Alumni Award of Merit
Established in 1992, the Alumni Award of Merit is the highest honor presented by the Alumni Association to alumni of Harvard Chan School.
Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay, MPH ’10
In a professional career spanning two decades, Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay has led disease control initiatives across the globe. He worked as a surveillance medical officer with the World Health Organization’s National Polio Surveillance Project and contributed to India’s polio elimination and measles surveillance initiatives.
Currently, Bandyopadhyay is deputy director for the polio program at the Gates Foundation, leading global research initiatives on polio eradication. In recent years, he played a pivotal role in the accelerated clinical development and rollout of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2, the first vaccine with WHO Emergency Use Listing authorization, paving the way for other vaccines to use the same regulatory pathway during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Bandyopadhyay previously coordinated public health responses for vaccine-preventable and zoonotic diseases as a medical epidemiologist at Rhode Island’s Department of Health.
Prior to coming to Harvard Chan School, Bandyopadhyay received his medical degree from Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.
His work on clinical development of novel vaccines and polio endgame vaccination schedules, along with his research to enhance polio environmental surveillance, have been published in leading peer-reviewed journals.
Karim Manji, MPH ’03
Throughout his career, pediatrician and neonatologist Karim Manji has made a mark on the health of children, young people, and families around the world through his research.
Manji pioneered the neonatal unit at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania and was one of the first specialists to use cranial ultrasound for detecting intraventricular hemorrhage and central nervous system malformations in the 1990s. More recently, he helped build the Master of Science Fellowship training course in Neonatology at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, where he is now professor emeritus. He had his contributions highlighted in the Lancet in 2022, which referred to him as the “architect of progress in Tanzanian newborn health.”
Manji’s research includes multiple clinical trials and observational studies, with more than 260 publications in peer-reviewed journals focused on nutrition, neonatal sepsis, and low birth weight. He has mentored some 200 pediatric residents and students and is known as an inspirational speaker on topics including immunization, autism, and malnutrition.
In 2019, Manji received the International Award for Excellence in Patient Care from the Royal College of Physicians, London, for his Zinc Therapeutic Dose Trial in treating childhood diarrhea.
Yutaka Niihara, MPH ’06
At age 13, Yutaka Niihara learned about the career of Nobel Prize laureate Albert Schweizer and was inspired to become a medical missionary. This led him to earn a bachelor’s degree in religion, followed by a medical degree from Loma Linda University, in California.
Then, as a fellow in hematology and oncology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Niihara encountered many patients affected by sickle cell disease. Realizing the terrible devastation this disease can cause—medically, socially, and economically—he made it his research focus.
Upon completing his fellowship in 1992, Niihara joined the faculty at UCLA Medical Center, where he currently is a clinical professor of medicine. Working with colleagues who are also experts in hemoglobinopathies, he has helped lead groundbreaking research on sickle cell disease.
Niihara went on to found Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc., a company focused on rare diseases like sickle cell disease. Its mission is to improve the lives of people in need through the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies. Niihara established Niihara International, Inc. in 2023 to bring these therapies and treatments to developing countries.
Emerging Public Health Professional Award
This award recognizes early-career public health achievements and contributions of graduates who received their degree within the past 10 years.
Monty Ghosh, MPH ’22
With the belief that “innovation can change everything,” as mentioned in his 2022 Harvard Chan School convocation address, Monty Ghosh uses his many roles—physician, addiction specialist, professor, patient advocate, and policy and community builder—to support marginalized populations, including those experiencing homelessness, substance use issues, and mental health disorders.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghosh co-chaired the task force responsible for isolation facilities for those experiencing homelessness in Alberta, Canada, and helped build out the province’s vaccination campaign. He is co-founder and primary investigator for Canada’s National Overdose Response Service, a virtual safer consumption hotline, and is the past president of Alberta Medical Association’s Section of Addiction Medicine. He has also held roles in the Canadian Network for the Health and Housing of People Experiencing Homelessness, and the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine.
Leadership Award in Public Health Practice
This award recognizes a graduate who has been an outstanding example of effective leadership in the practice of public health, in the public or private sphere.
Beverly Lorraine Ho, MPH ’15
In July, Beverly Lorraine Ho became chief health officer of AC Health, a company that aims to provide every Filipino accessible, affordable, and quality health care. Prior to this, she spent more than seven years with the Philippine Department of Health, leading award-winning behavior change communication campaigns.
Ho has been a consultant for WHO, UNICEF, Asian Development Bank, and UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency; a university educator; and co-founder of two organizations: Alliance for Improving Health Outcomes and the Philippine Society for Public Health Physicians. She contributed to the health chapter of Ambisyon 2040, the Philippines’ first long-term vision document.
In 2022, Ho was recognized as one of The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service of the Philippines.
Ho came to Harvard Chan School as a Fulbright scholar and holds a bachelor’s degree and a medical degree from the University of the Philippines. She was part of the World Fellows Program at Yale University and was an Atlantic Fellow at Oxford University.
Public Health Innovator Award
This award recognizes a significant innovative contribution to public health made by a distinguished graduate.
Renee Salas, MPH ’16
Renee Salas is an academic emergency medicine physician in the Center for Social Justice and Health Equity at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and holds a variety of appointments across Harvard. Salas’ work examines the climate crisis and its inequitable harms to health and the delivery of health care.
Salas serves on the National Academy of Medicine’s Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity; the National Academies Climate Crossroads initiative; and the New England Journal of Medicine Group’s Climate Crisis and Clinical Practice initiative. In 2021, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine for her work on climate change and health.
Since 2022, Salas has served as lead author of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change U.S. Policy Brief and founded its working group of experts from more than 80 U.S. organizations. She also guest edits the New England Journal of Medicine Group’s Fossil-Fuel Pollution and Climate Change series.
Salas has spoken at the White House Health Equity Forum and has testified before Congress on the ways in which climate change is harming health.
Award Details
- The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Award of Merit is the highest honor bestowed upon a graduate, recognizing a significant career in the field of public health.
- The award recognizes professional excellence as expressed by advancement of science, improvement of community practice, leadership of institutions, or contributions to the growth and accomplishments of future professionals
- Only one individual may be listed on each nomination submitted. Nominations listing two or more individuals for the same award will be returned to the nominator.
- This recognition consists of a citation, typically presented at a celebratory dinner held in conjunction with Alumni Weekend.
- Only members of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association as defined in Section 1 of the Association bylaws may nominate candidates for the Award of Merit, and only members meeting that definition will be considered to receive the Award of Merit.
- The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Leadership Award in Public Health Practice recognizes a graduate who has been an outstanding example of effective leadership in the practice of public health, in the public or private sphere.
- Only one proposed recipient may be listed on each nomination submitted. Nominations listing two or more individuals for the same award will be returned to the nominator.
- The award recognizes selfless service and leadership in the practice of public health, significant career contributions to the adoption/uptake of public health principles at the local, state, regional, national or international level; and/or demonstrated significant leadership in a government, NGO, or other public service organization.
- Only members of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association as defined in Section 1 of the Association bylaws may nominate candidates for the Leadership Award in Public Health Practice, and only members meeting that definition will be considered to receive the Leadership Award in Public Health Practice.
- This award consists of a citation, which is presented at an award ceremony, typically held in conjunction with the annual Harvard Chan School Alumni Weekend.
- The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Public Health Innovator Award recognizes a significant innovative contribution to public health made by a distinguished graduate.
- The award recognizes alumni for an innovative idea or approach to public health delivery, via science, practice, or education in public health.
- Only members of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association as defined in Section 1 of the Association bylaws may nominate candidates for the Public Health Innovator Award, and only members meeting that definition will be considered to receive the Public Health Innovator Award.
- This award consists of a citation, which is presented at an award ceremony, typically held in conjunction with the annual Alumni Weekend.
- Only one proposed recipient may be listed on each nomination submitted. Nominations listing two or more individuals for the same award will be returned to the nominator.
- The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Emerging Public Health Professional Award recognizes early-career public health achievements and contributions of graduates who received their degree within the past 10 years.
- The award recognizes those who are role models for current and future public health professionals through early-career leadership and selfless dedication in any area of public health.
- Only one proposed recipient may be listed on each nomination submitted. Nominations listing two or more individuals for the same award will be returned to the nominator.
- Only members of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association as defined in Section 1 of the Association bylaws may nominate candidates for the Emerging Public Health Professional Award, and only members meeting that definition will be considered to receive the Emerging Public Health Professional Award.
- This award consists of a citation, which is presented at an award ceremony, typically held in conjunction with the annual Alumni Weekend.
Nomination Details
Nominations are currently closed. They will be posted here when open.
Only Harvard Chan School faculty and members of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Alumni Association may nominate candidates for Alumni Association Awards. Only members of the Alumni Association will be considered for Association Awards. Awardees are chosen by a volunteer committee of Harvard Chan alumni from a range of disciplines and class years. Award Committee members are not eligible to submit nominations, be nominated, or to receive awards during and until two years after their term of service. Alumni Council members are not eligible to be nominated or receive awards until two years after their term of service.
Nominations must include the following materials:
- Award category
- Candidate’s Biographical information, including name, degree, degree year and department, email address, home address, and current business information.
- 500-750 word nomination statement/Biosketch of nominee to discuss in detail the qualifications of the Nominee for the award (written by proposer)
- 250-500 word statement of personal support (written by proposer)
- Candidate’s CV/Resume
- Proposer’s Biographical Information, including name, degree, degree year and department, email address, home address, current business information
Nominations may also include:
- Up to three relevant hyperlinks to support nomination
- Additional letters of support
You must be logged in to the Harvard Chan School Alumni Community to complete your nomination or download the Alumni Awards Worksheet before you submit to help you organize materials needed.
If you have any questions regarding the Nominations timeline, process, or form, please contact alumni@hsph.harvard.edu.