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WHO Director-General Theodore Adhanom Ghebreyesus will be awarded the Thomas Francis Jr. Medal in International Public Health.
Tedros, the first African and the first non-medical doctor to lead the World Health Organization, will receive the medal at an in-person ceremony at the University of Michigan in the spring of 2023.
Named after the renowned UM virologist and infectious disease expert, the medal comes with a $50,000 award and is one of the university’s highest honors. It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of global health.
“Theodore Adhanom Ghebreyesus has dedicated himself time and time again to improving the health of the underserved globally. Whether it’s tuberculosis, AIDS, malaria or Covid-19, he has shaped global health care and helped elevate those most in need. We look forward to honoring him and recognizing his leadership,” said President Mary. Sue Coleman said.
Coleman was awarded the medal for the first time in 2011.
Two and a half years after the Covid-19 pandemic, and with the world facing a number of public health challenges, including monkeypox and the recent resurgence of polio in some parts of the world, it is more important than ever to recognize the strong efforts of global public health efforts, he said. DuBois Bowman, dean of the School of Public Health, chaired the selection committee.
“In an interconnected and global society, a global approach to public health is critical to our ability to anticipate risks, prevent disease, and improve health and equity,” Bowman said. Theodore exemplifies this approach and his innovation, leadership and commitment to health equity has positively impacted the lives of countless people around the world.
Born in Eritrea, Theodore – as he prefers to be called – was elected for the first time in 2017 and for a second time in May 2022. Prior to joining the WHO, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and previously Minister of Health in Ethiopia.
In those roles, he developed a health care workforce strategy, made significant changes to the country, and participated in global health initiatives related to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
It was when Tedros was Minister of Foreign Affairs that he became aware of the work UM was doing to develop medical professionals in Ghana.
By bringing those efforts to Ethiopia, they planted the seeds of a long-term commitment and made a great contribution to the development of the local health protection force and the exchange of knowledge.
Theodore chairs the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the Board of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and the Board of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Partnership.
He holds a Bachelor of Biology from Asmara University, a Master of Science in Infectious Diseases from London University, and a Ph.D. in Community Health from the University of Nottingham. He holds an honorary fellowship from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Previous recipients of the Francis Medal are William Foge in 2005, Alfred Sommer in 2010 and Sir Fazle Hassan Abd in 2016.
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