In celebration of our 75th Anniversary and in recognition to their significant contributions to the field of public health, we honor these 75 alumni as our most influential of the past 75 years.
(Does not include deceased alumni).
Our alumni honorees list first includes our living Alumni of the Year since the award was established in 1978. The remaining awardees were nominated by School community members and then voted on by our faculty.
David S. Sobel
1970s
Prolific health champion who promotes patient health through research, training, writing, and the media
Sir Michael Marmot
1970s
World-renowned researcher who demonstrated the relationship of social determinants to health and mortality
Kirk R. Smith
1970s
Health advocate who investigates profound global impact of household air pollution and brings change on behalf of those most afflicted in developing countries
Jerome Adams
2000s
Surgeon General who is leading our national fight against the opioid crisis
Michael N. Bates
1980s 1990s
Environmental health investigator dedicated to protecting our local and global environments, including workplaces, from toxic exposures
Bessanderson McNeil
1970s
Educator who investigated hypertension and promoted community health
Rena J. Pasick
1980s
Founder of a diversity training program that has encouraged hundreds of minority master’s students to pursue doctorates
Willi McFarland
1990s
Architect of HIV/AIDS interventions and prevention policies in San Francisco
Kate Lorig
1970s 1980s
Academic pioneer who creates community-based disease self-management programs on a global scale
Steve Selvin
1970s
Renowned statistician who has generated breakthroughs in genetic problems, disease patterns, and environmental pollution
Susan Desmond-Hellmann
1980s
Powerful innovator of precision public health with a lifelong mission of improving the human condition
Laura Stachel
2000s
Innovative obstetrician who reduces maternal and newborn mortality by illuminating delivery rooms around the world through distribution of Solar Suitcases
Marcos Espinal
1990s
Builder of global partnerships to eradicate communicable diseases
Sarah Krevans
1980s
Sutter Health President and Chief Executive Officer
Margaret H. Jordan
1970s
Upraiser of affordable, quality health care in Texas
Madhukar Pai
2000s
Disease fighter dedicated to eradicating tuberculosis in India and around the world
Barbara Staggers
1980s
Trailblazing pediatrician who has devoted her medical career to promoting teen health and encouraging diverse youth to pursue healthcare careers
Nina B. Wallerstein
1980s
Developer of community-based interventions to promote health equity and knowledge democracy
Alex H. Kral
2000s
Reducer of infectious disease and evaluator of innovative programs for people using drugs
Gan Quan
2000s
Saver of lives who wields tobacco control policy in China and around the world to prevent NCDs
Sandra Witt
1990s
Health equity advocate committed to advancing a California where everyone has the opportunities they need to be healthy
Shoshanna Sofaer
1970s 1980s
National authority on patient-centered care and family engagement who evaluates health care programs
Judith H. Hibbard
1980s
Promoter of consumer choices to improve quality of care
Susan Foerster
1970s
Advocator of healthy eating and healthy lifestyles worldwide
Lori Dorfman
1980s 1990s
Mobilizer of advocates to leverage the media to promote healthy public policy
Reimert T. Ravenholt
1950s
Leader in family planning and first director of USAID who transformed it into the world’s foremost international population program
Nancy Krieger
1980s
Pioneering epidemiologist who uncovers the social determinants of health
Mary A. Pittman
1980s
CEO of top nonprofit who mobilizes health professionals to impact national and global public policy
Carl N. Lester
1960s
Top-level health administrator and champion for culturally relevant environmental justice and health career programs for at-risk youth
Jennifer Ahern
2000s
Unraveler of the ways social and physical environments affect health in our communities
Judith Heumann
1970s
Renowned international advocate who advances civil rights for disabled people
M. Adhyatma
1970s
Dedicated Minister of Health who expanded health services for the people of Indonesia
Martha Ryan
1980s
Health activist who tackled an unmet need to provide homeless mothers prenatal care in San Francisco
Carol D’Onofrio
1960s 1970s
Evaluator of health programs to reduce tobacco and alcohol use among rural youth
Michael C. Lu
1990s
Former director of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Margaret Lapiz
1990s
Executive, health innovator, and founder of organizations supporting California’s Latino/a and farm-working communities
Melanie Tervalon
1980s
Renowned health educator who pioneered the concept of cultural humility in order to transform the medical profession
Kathy Kwan
1990s
Philanthropist who advances job and education opportunities for the underprivileged in the Bay Area
Meredith Minkler
1970s
Pioneer of community-based participatory research who has worked with marginalized communities to help secure policies that promote health and social equity
Katherine S. Pollard
2000s
Developer of cutting-edge technology to optimize precision medical treatment based on genetics
Lawrence Wallack
1970s 1980s
Innovator who blends research, communication, and community to promote social justice in public health
Claire Brindis
1980s
Lifetime shaper of women and children’s health policy, mentor for next-gen leaders in health policy
Marion Nestle
1980s
Renowned food policy expert who shapes the national conversation around food choice, nutrition, and chronic disease risk
Deborah Dean
1980s
Global scientist who combats ocular and sexually transmitted infections with cutting-edge translational research and diagnostics
Lynn Barr
2010s
Entrepreneur devoted to raising the standard of health care in rural America
Maria S. Gomez
1980s
Health activist who builds better futures for the DC area’s underserved
Paul English
1980s 1990s
Environmental epidemiologist who investigates the impact of pesticides, air pollution, and climate change on environmental health in California and worldwide
Richard J. Jackson
1970s
Leader who changed environments, including built environments, to protect health
Anthony Iton
1990s
Builder of partnerships to create healthy low-income communities in California
Robert A. Hiatt
1980s
Distinguished investigator of the social and environmental factors that cause cancer
Nap Hosang
1980s
Tackler of global public health disparities from multiple vantage points
L. Martin Griffin Jr.
1970s
Legendary environmental activist who led a revolution for land and wildlife preservation in California
Moses R. Kamya
1990s
Champion of social justice and fighter of infectious diseases in Uganda
Curtis Chan
2000s
Practitioner of the public health approach to improving the social and institutional determinants of children’s health and well-being
Patricia B. Crawford
1970s 1990s
Scholar and marshaler of resources to confront America’s childhood obesity epidemic
Lynn Goldman
1970s
Transformer of chemical safety policy to protect our nation’s children
Lisa F. Berkman
1970s
Internationally recognized social epidemiologist who confronts the challenges of an aging world
Diana Petitti
1980s
National policy changer for preventive medicine and women’s health
Marilyn Ann Winkleby
1980s
Medical detective who looks for patterns of health and disease in populations from a socioeconomic perspective
Lawrence W. Green
1960s
Innovative designer of national health promotion programs for 5 decades and counting
David R. Ragland
1980s
Transformer of transportation who spearheads traffic planning and safety analysis on behalf of vulnerable populations
Julie M. Brown
1980s
Catalyst for creating leadership capacity and organizations that flourish
Rajiv Bhatia
1990s
Health systems innovator who pioneered the use of open data to transform public policy
Jeff Oxendine
1980s
Empowerer of the next generation of health leaders and professionals
Linda Rudolph
1980s
Combater of climate change and promoter of healthy, equitable, sustainable communities
Bonnie Duran
1980s 1990s
Health advocate who combines cultured-centered and evidence-based interventions to create innovative treatments for indigenous communities
Linda Neuhauser
1970s 1980s
Designer and evaluator of large-scale health interventions, locally and globally
Luiz Loures
1990s
Longtime advocate of international AIDS policy
Jane C. Garcia
1980s
Trailblazer of culturally appropriate clinical care in the East Bay
Garrett D. Brown
1990s
Safety maverick who challenges how globalization impacts the world’s most vulnerable workers
Cheri A. Pies
1980s 1990s
Transformer of intergenerational health who translates theory into practice
Henry F. Raymond
2010s
Bridger of research and practice for the benefit of populations at high risk of HIV infection
A. Eugene Washington
1970s
Illustrious chancellor and CEO who has shaped national health policy and transformed health care practice
Julie Gerberding
1990s
Industry leader and former CDC director dedicated to disease prevention on a global scale
Michael E. Bird
1980s
Former APHA president dedicated to closing the healthcare gap for Native Americans
