The brightest stars of public health came out to celebrate 3 outstanding public health leaders at the 2024 NFID Awards Gala and Silent Auction on September 19, 2024, in Washington, DC. Widely known as the Oscars of Infectious Diseases, the event recognized the inspiring accomplishments of humble heroes who have dedicated their careers to improving public health in the US and across the globe. NFID CEO Marla Dalton, CAE, and President Jeffery A. Goad, PharmD, MPH, welcomed the audience, thanked NFID supporters, and honored the public health heroes who we lost this year. NFID Awards Chair Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, served as emcee for the Gala and presented the awards:
- 2024 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award to Seth F. Berkley, MD, of the Pandemic Center of Brown University
- 2024 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement to Ighovwerha (Igho) Ofotokun, MD, MSc, of Emory University School of Medicine
- 2024 John P. Utz Leadership Award to Grace M. Lee, MD, MPH, of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Stanford University School of Medicine
In recognition of his work as a global health pioneer and a champion of equitable access to vaccines, NFID honored Seth F. Berkley, MD, a physician and infectious disease epidemiologist who led Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for 12 years, raising $33.3 billion and increasing coverage of routine immunization in lower-income countries. Under his leadership, Gavi vaccinated more than 1 billion children, reducing vaccine-preventable child deaths by 70%, and preventing more than 19.9 million deaths. While at Gavi, Berkley co-created COVAX, which helped deliver nearly 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 146 countries. He previously founded the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to develop an AIDS vaccine for developing countries.
Turning vaccines into vaccinations among the most vulnerable, Seth Berkley also played a pivotal role in changing the way the world prevents and responds to global health crises.
-Bruce G. Gellin, MD, MPH (Nominator)
Ighovwerha (Igho) Ofotokun, MD, MSc, was honored for an exceptionally productive career devoted to addressing systemic inequities in research, promoting women’s health, nurturing a global research program targeting the prevention and treatment of disease, and mentoring the next generation of HIV clinical and translational researchers. An internationally renowned clinician-scientist, his research findings have influenced HIV standard-of-care treatment guidelines in the US and internationally, including World Health Organization policy changes that now prioritize antiretroviral regimens that are less risky for women. He has also expanded the visibility and representation of women and minorities in biomedical research and leveraged his expertise and influence to promote research education and training in the US and abroad.
Igho Ofotokun has an outstanding record of scholarship, service, and teaching. He is a distinctive and recognized voice in HIV research internationally and represents an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive infectious diseases workforce.
-Kathryn M. Edwards, MD (Nominator)
Grace M. Lee, MD, MPH, was recognized for her outstanding leadership as chair of the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee oversees the Center for Pediatric and Maternal Value at Stanford Children’s, which seeks to improve quality, safety, patient experience, and health equity across the organization. Her leadership has included service on Institute of Medicine committees that reviewed priorities in the National Vaccine Plan and evaluated ethical and scientific issues in studying the safety of approved drugs. She is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and continues to manage and treat young patients with infectious diseases.
Grace Lee has graced center-stage on difficult vaccine decisions and led conversations with an inclusive, patient, yet decisive, professional tone. She was the perfect person for the times, with her easy smile and laugh, genuine caring, intelligence, and down-to-earth nature, and we are all indebted to her.
Patricia (Patsy) A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP (Nominator)
Celebrate Public Health Heroes and Support NFID
Honor the awardees and help support the mission of NFID via an online donation. All donations directly contribute to the NFID mission to educate and engage the public, communities, and healthcare professionals about infectious diseases across the lifespan. Every gift makes a difference!
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