The John P. Utz Leadership Award honors individuals who exemplify and support NFID leadership goals, through service to NFID and/or the field of infectious diseases.
Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, will receive the 2026 John P. Utz Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership through service to NFID and the field of infectious diseases. Dr. Neuzil is director of Polio at the Gates Foundation, where she leads efforts to eradicate polio and strengthen immunization and disease surveillance systems globally. With more than 25 years of experience in vaccine development, implementation, and policy, she has played a pivotal role in advancing global immunization programs and shaping public health policy.
Dr. Neuzil’s leadership has included serving on the NFID Board of Directors as vice president, chairing the Awards Committee, and contributing to the planning of the Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research. She previously served as director of the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health, where she oversaw global health research and training programs. Prior to that, she was the Myron M. Levine Professor in Vaccinology and director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Neuzil has led large-scale clinical trials of vaccines for influenza, rotavirus, typhoid, human papillomavirus, COVID-19, and other diseases, often in low- and middle-income countries. Her work has informed global and national immunization policies at the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Neuzil served on the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) from 2019 to 2025.
In addition to her scientific contributions, Dr. Neuzil is widely recognized for her mentorship, advocacy for women in science, and commitment to training the next generation of public health leaders. “At the University of Maryland, she was a pivotal voice in advancing diversity and fostering cultures of institutional transformation,” said NFID Director Wilbur Chen, MD, MS. “Kathy Neuzil’s legacy is defined by her intelligence, profound generosity, and leadership,” said NFID Immediate Past-President Patricia (Patsy) A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP. “She listens intently, speaks fearlessly, and leads with integrity.”