People in global health news

WHO gives lifetime achievement awards

WHO awarded two lifetime achievement awards during the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly. Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was recognized for his innovation, leadership and ground-breaking contributions to the management and treatment of diseases such as Ebola virus disease.

Professor Peter Piot of Belgium was recognized for his extraordinary leadership in the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic including his vital role in launching major global health initiatives such as UNAIDS, the Global Fund, and others that have improved health outcomes around the world.

Gairdner honors Belizan

Dr. Jose Belizan was awarded the 2023 Canada Gairdner Global Health Award for the development of innovative, evidence-based and low-cost interventions in maternal and child health. A principal investigator at the Institute for Clinical Effectiveness, Argentina, and associate professor at Tulane and UNC Chapel Hill, Belizan was co-director of the Fogarty International Clinical Research Fellows site in Argentina.

McIff named deputy of HHS Global Affairs

Colin McIff was appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Global Affairs (OGA), HHS. He previously served as OGA deputy director, director of the Europe office of the FDA, HHS representative to the European Union, and health attaché at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Belkaid to lead Pasteur Institute

Dr. Yasmine Belkaid has been appointed president of the Institut Pasteur where she received her Ph.D. Scientific director of the NIH Center for Human Immunology, Inflammation, and Autoimmunity, Belkaid is widely recognized for her expertise in the study of immune responses at mucosal surfaces. Her role as president will begin in January 2024.

Senate confirms Global Women’s Ambassador

Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. She currently serves as Senior Fellow at the UN Foundation and Senior Advisor to the 3D Program for Girls and Women. Gupta previously worked on global women’s issues at UNICEF and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

NIH Clinical Center director Gallin retires

NIH Clinical Center Director Dr. John Gallin has transitioned to scientist emeritus. He joined NIH in 1971 and held various roles including senior investigator, director of the NIAID Intramural Research Program, NIH associate director, and chief scientific officer at the NIH Clinical Center where he assumed the directorship in 1994.