Career Achievement Awards
Nancy Ruddle, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology
2022 Distinguished Fellow - The American Association of ImmunologistsNancy Ruddle is a pioneering immunologist who discovered lymphotoxin, an immune signaling molecule, and demonstrated its roles and mechanisms in cytotoxicity, autoimmune diseases and in lymph node development. Her work was fundamental to the understanding of lymphoid cells that are damaging in autoimmunity but can be key to defense against microorganisms and tumors. She has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific articles over her impactful career.
Paul Anastas, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences)
2021 Laureate - Volvo Environment PrizeKnown as the “father of green chemistry,” Paul Anastas directs the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at the Yale School of the Environment. He has formerly helped lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Anastas has published widely on topics of science through sustainability including eleven books, such as Benign by Design, Designing Safer Polymers, Green Engineering, and his seminal work with co-author John Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice.
Marcella Nunez-Smith, MD, MHS
Associate Dean for Health Equity Research
Elected Member - National Academy of MedicineMarcella Nunez-Smith’s research focuses on promoting health and healthcare equity for structurally marginalized populations with an emphasis on centering community engagement, supporting healthcare workforce diversity and development, developing patient reported measurements of healthcare quality, and identifying regional strategies to reduce the global burden of non-communicable diseases. Dr. Nunez-Smith also directs the Equity Research and Innovation Center and chairs the White House Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force, among other positions at Yale and beyond.
Heping Zhang, PhD
Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Biostatistics, Professor in the Child Study Center and Professor of Statistics and Data Science
2022 Neyman Memorial Lecture - Institute of Mathematical StatisticsHeping Zhang has distinguished himself through pioneering work in a variety of fields, including epidemiology, statistical genetics, child and women’s health and substance use. He has published more than 300 publications that have helped to inform public health practice through innovative developments and applications of statistical methods. He and his students are actively investigating how genetics affects complex human conditions, including neurological development and COVID-19 related mortality.
Serap Aksoy
Interim Department Chair and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Acting Chair, Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases
Elected Member - National Academy of SciencesSerap Aksoy’s research focuses on the biological and epidemiological basis of mammalian host-pathogen-insect vector interactions, particularly focusing on tsetse flies and parasitic African trypanosomes they vector. At Yale, her laboratory focuses on the development of novel methods to ultimately reduce tsetse populations in the field, or to reduce their ability to transmit disease. Her research in Uganda is on the epidemiology of Sleeping Sickness disease, with a focus on populations genetics of flies and parasites and their endosymbionts.
Nancy Ruddle, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology
2021 Connecticut Medal of Science, State of Connecticut, Connecticut Academy of Science and EngineeringNancy Ruddle is a pioneering immunologist who discovered lymphotoxin, an immune signaling molecule, and demonstrated its roles and mechanisms in cytotoxicity, autoimmune diseases and in lymph node development. Her work was fundamental to the understanding of lymphoid cells that are damaging in autoimmunity but can be key to defense against microorganisms and tumors. She has authored or co-authored more than 200 scientific articles over her impactful career.
Sten Vermund, MD, PhD
Dean, Yale School of Public Health
Excellence in Innovation Award - New Haven Symphony OrchestraThe New Haven Symphony Orchestra has recognized the Yale School of Public Health with its Excellence in Innovation award for helping arts venues during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Wasting no time, the school worked collaboratively to provide timely information to society in general while also being a leader and compassionate neighbor to our local community,” the citation read. Dean Sten Vermund accepted the award on behalf of YSPH in March 2021.
Michelle Bell, PhD
Mary E. Pinchot Professor of Environmental Health
Elected Member - National Academy of MedicineMichelle Bell’s research investigates how human health is affected by environmental conditions, including air pollution and weather. Other research interests include the health impacts of climate change and environmental justice. She is also the Director of the EPA-funded Solutions to Energy, Air, Climate, and Health (SEARCH) Center.
Katie Wang, PhD
Assistant Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Rising Star - Association for Psychological ScienceKatie Wang's research broadly focuses on the role of stigma as a psychosocial determinant of mental and behavioral health disparities among diverse marginalized populations. Dr. Wang is also involved in a number of projects that examines the health inequities facing people with disabilities, including a mixed-method study on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the disability community.
Albert Ko, MD
Raj and Indra Nooyi Professor of Public Health and Professor of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Chair, Department of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases)
Elected Member, The Association of American PhysiciansAlbert Ko’s research centers on the health problems that have emerged as a consequence of rapid urbanization and social inequity. He coordinates a research and training program on urban slum health in Brazil and is conducting prospective community-based studies on rat-borne leptospirosis, dengue, meningitis and respiratory infections. He is Program Director at Yale for the Fogarty Global Health Equity Scholars Program. Ko also has been an important advisor to the governor of Connecticut on the state’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic.