Community: People in global health news

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. appointed Secretary of HHS

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was sworn in as the 26th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in February. Prior to his appointment, Kennedy’s work has focused on environmental causes, clean water, and childhood chronic disease and toxic exposures. Kennedy received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and his master’s degree in environmental law from Pace University.

Jay Bhattacharya confirmed as NIH Director

Jayanta Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, began his term as 18th director of the National Institutes of Health on April 1. Prior to this, Bhattacharya served as a professor of health policy at Stanford University, where he also earned his MD and PhD in economics. An NIH grantee, his research has examined the economics of healthcare with an emphasis on the health of vulnerable populations.

Musau WaKabongo receives 2025 William A Hinton award

The American Society for Microbiology has awarded Musau WaKabongo, PhD, the 2025 William A. Hinton award in recognition of her outstanding contributions toward fostering research training in microbiology. WaKabongo is the president, founder, and CEO of Dr. Musau WaKabongo Science Education, Inc. in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She’s also co-founder of the African Initiative Group.

Sandra Diaz and Eduardo Brondizio selected for Tyler Prize

The 2025 Tyler Prize has been awarded to Argentine ecologist Sandra Díaz and Brazilian-American anthropologist Eduardo Brondízio. The prize recognizes their “commitment to understanding and addressing biodiversity loss and its impact on human societies.” Diaz is a professor of ecology at the National University of Córdoba, Argentina, where she built the first global quantitative database of functional diversity in vascular plants.

Brondizo is a professor of anthropology at Indiana University-Bloomington, where his work has highlighted the “contribution of Indigenous and local knowledge to biodiversity conservation and environmental governance.” He highlights a growing movement of grassroots initiatives led by rural and Indigenous communities, local organizations, and regional networks.

Paul Brown receives Moselio Schaechter Award

The American Society for Microbiology has awarded Paul Brown, PhD, the 2025 Moselio Schaechter Award. Brown is a professor of molecular biology at the University of the West Indies. The award recognizes “a scientist who has shown exemplary leadership and commitment toward the substantial furthering of the profession of microbiology in research, education or technology in the developing world.”