Celebration of Life: Remembering Robert (Bob) J. Blendon
Thank you for joining us for a gathering to recognize Bob’s pathbreaking career and impact on the field of health policy. Colleagues and mentees from all stages of his career shared reflections on his brilliance, influence, and generosity.
- Keynote: “Bob Before Harvard”
- Presentation: “Bob’s Earliest Work”
- Panel: “Bob Blendon: Lessons and Legacy”
- Closing Remarks: “Concluding Remarks about Bob, Our Friend”
Wednesday, October 28th, 2026
2:00PM – 3:30PM (Reception Following Event), Kresge G1
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Kresge Building, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston MA, 02115
Please note: All speakers share their own perspectives; they do not speak for Harvard.
Bob was a pillar of Harvard’s PhD Program in Health Policy, and his commitment to supporting students was evident throughout the event. In 2025, policy changes at NIH led to the loss of one of the program’s longstanding training grants, and two others are now under threat. As we work to identify alternative grant funding, current use gifts can give the program greater flexibility to support students, help keep their doctoral work on track, fund conference travel, and cover essential research expenses.
If you would like to make a gift to Harvard in Bob’s memory:
- Visit tinyurl.com/InMemoryOfBobBlendon.
- In the Select a Fund dropdown, choose OTHER – Harvard University.
- In the Other Fund Name box, enter Health Policy Initiative: In Memory of Bob Blendon.
Thank you again for being part of this gathering and for helping carry forward Bob’s legacy of generosity and support for the next generation of health policy scholars.
Keynote Speaker
Presenter
Panel Moderator
Panelists
Closing Remarks
ⓘ Harvard Chan School hosts a diverse array of speakers, invited to share both scholarly research and personal perspectives. They do not speak for the School, and hosting them does not imply endorsement of their views, organizations, or employers.