Celebrating the Resilient Heroes of Public Health

DATE
October 30, 2025

It was a night of celebration and inspiration as NFID honored 3 extraordinary public health leaders at the 2025 NFID Awards Gala and Silent Auction on October 16, 2025, in Washington, DC. Affectionately known as the Oscars of Infectious Diseases, the event paid tribute to the passion and perseverance of those working tirelessly to protect public health around the world. NFID President Jeffery A. Goad, PharmD, MPH, welcomed the audience, thanked NFID supporters, and honored the public health heroes whom we lost this year. He then acknowledged and thanked outgoing NFID CEO Marla Dalton, CAE, PE, who officially passed the baton to the new NFID CEO Rebecca Alvania, PhD, MA, MPH. NFID Immediate Past-President Patricia (Patsy) A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, served as emcee for the Gala and presented the 2025 awards as follows:

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award to Anne E. Goldfeld, MD, of Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health
Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement to Rino Rappuoli, PhD, of the Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena
John P. Utz Leadership Award to Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD, who recently retired from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

In recognition of her groundbreaking work as a visionary physician-scientist and humanitarian whose contributions have helped change the course of TB and HIV/AIDS, NFID honored Anne E. Goldfeld, MD. Her fusion of scientific discovery, clinical care, and humanitarian action has driven breakthroughs in treatment and expanded access to lifesaving care. A visionary leader at the intersection of science and service, in parallel with her work as a physician-scientist at Harvard Medical School, Goldfeld co-founded transformative treatment and research programs in Cambodia for TB, drug-resistant TB, and HIV—and later for drug-resistant TB in Ethiopia—bringing care to some of the world’s most underserved populations. Applying her scientific expertise to TB and HIV, her work has provided a new understanding behind the immune response to TB and TB/HIV co-infection and changed global treatment guidelines for HIV/TB treatment, which is estimated to have saved more than 150,000 lives annually over the last 14 years.

Anne Goldfeld is a brilliant and creative physician-scientist, visionary, and a true humanitarian who has made a profound impact on global public health.

-Gail H. Cassell, PhD (Nominator)

Rino Rappuoli, PhD, was honored for his remarkable accomplishments as an innovator, scientist, and a leader in the field of microbial pathogenesis and vaccine development. Over the past 40 years, Rappuoli has led major breakthroughs that have transformed how vaccines are developed. His work includes developing revolutionary technologies to help develop safer and more effective vaccines for diseases including Hib disease (Haemophilus influenzae type b), influenza (flu), pneumococcal disease, and whooping cough (pertussis). He pioneered a new method called reverse vaccinology, which uses genetic information to design vaccines, and led to the first successful vaccine against meningococcus B, which can cause meningitis and other dangerous infections. A visionary leader whose innovations have saved millions of lives, he continues to advance vaccines for emerging threats and underserved populations worldwide.

Rino Rappuoli’s scientific achievements have saved millions of lives and continue to shape the future of global public health.

-Steven Black, MD (Nominator)

Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD, was recognized for her longstanding service to NFID and her unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and community engagement. A nationally respected pediatric infectious disease expert, Whitley-Williams has served NFID in numerous leadership roles, including as past president. An active member of the Pediatric Section and the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the National Medical Association, she has been an advocate for updating physicians from communities of color and promoting immunizations in marginalized communities. As a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service organization, she is engaged in community outreach. Beginning her career when pediatric HIV was first discovered, her work has spanned from pre-antiretrovirals to prevention of mother-to-child transmission to HIV prevention. She has mentored many pediatricians, residents, and medical students. Board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases, she is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Throughout her career, Pat Whitley-Williams has shown an unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and community engagement.

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!