These forums began in 2001 with the Future of Public Health Symposium Series, which was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Over the years, this series has brought experts from the U.S. and other nations to the School to share their views on the major challenges and opportunities in their fields and disciplines.
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture
Monday, October 1, 2018
The Vital Relationship between Health and Economic Development: Reflections from a Public Health Academic and Former Minister of Health
Keynote: Patricia J. García, MD, MPH
Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow
Research Professor, School of Public Health, Cayetano Heredia University
Former Minister of Health, Peru
Introduction by: Dean Michelle A. Williams
Watch a video of the event.
2018 Lecture
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Book Presentation
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
4pm | Kresge G3
677 Huntington Ave., Boston
The War on Kids: How American Juvenile Justice Lost Its Way
Keynote: Cara H. Drinan, JD
Professor of Law, Catholic University Columbus School of Law
Welcome by: Michelle A. Williams, SM, ScD
Dean of the Faculty, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
Introduction by: Jacqueline Bhabha, JD, MsC
Professor of the Practice of Human Rights, FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Faculty Presenter: Dehlia Umunna, MC, JD
Clinical Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Watch a video of the event.
2015-2016 LECTURES
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Engineering the Artificial Pancreas
Speaker: Francis J. Doyle III, PhD, MS (CPGS)
Dean and Professor, John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Welcome and Discussion Moderation by:
David J. Hunter, MBBS, MPH, ScD
Acting Dean, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dean for Academic Affairs
Vincent L. Gregory Professor of Cancer Prevention, Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Watch a video of the lecture.
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Book Presentation
Thursday, April 7, 2016
The Social Life of DNA: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation After the Genome
Speaker: Alondra Nelson, PhD
Dean of Social Science, Columbia University
Welcome and Introduction by:
Meredith B. Rosenthal, PhD
Professor of Health Economics and Policy
Associate Dean for Diversity, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of the Dean, and the Harvard Office of the Assistant to the President for Institutional Diversity and Equity (H-OAP)
Download the event flyer.
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture
Friday, February 26, 2016
Global Health Post-Ebola and the MDGs
Speaker: Kevin M. De Cock, MD, FRCP (UK), DTM&H
Country Director and Director, Division of Global HIV/AIDS and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC, Kenya
Welcome and Discussion Moderation by:
David J. Hunter, MBBS, MPH, ScD
Acting Dean, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dean for Academic Affairs
Vincent L. Gregory Professor of Cancer Prevention, Departments of Epidemiology
and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Watch a video of the lecture.
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Book Presentation
Monday, February 22, 2016
Consumers, Corporations, and Public Health
Keynote: John A. Quelch, DBA, MBA, MS
Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration,
Harvard Business School
Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School
of Public Health
Faculty Responder: Meredith B. Rosenthal, PhD
Professor of Health Economics and Policy
Associate Dean for Diversity, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Welcome and Discussion Moderation by:
David J. Hunter, MBBS, MPH, ScD
Acting Dean, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Dean for Academic Affairs
Vincent L. Gregory Professor of Cancer Prevention, Departments
of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Watch a video of the lecture.
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture
Monday, October 26, 2015
#BlackLivesMatter – A Challenge to the Medical and Public Health Communities
Keynote: Mary Travis Bassett, MD, MPH
Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Welcome and Discussion Moderation by:
David J. Hunter, MBBS, MPH, ScD
Acting Dean , Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
Dean for Academic Affairs
Vincent L Gregory Professor of Cancer Prevention, Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
View the event flyer.
Watch a video of the event.
Information for our audience regarding Dean’s Distinguished Lectures
These lectures are open to the Harvard University community and to the public. A valid Harvard University ID is required for access to the building. If you do not have an HUID, please contact the Office of the Dean at least 48 hours in advance of the event date so that we may arrange a Visitor Pass for you. Members of the press are requested to please contact the Office of Communications prior to attendance of the lecture. Seating begins no earlier than 30 minutes prior to the start and is available on a first-come, first-served basis; overflow space is not always available. With this in mind, please plan to arrive prior to the start of the lecture to ensure a seat. Dean’s Distinguished Lectures are scheduled from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. and typically have a reception following for those who attended the event; for lectures scheduled during the lunch hour from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., a light lunch may be served, or guests are welcome to bring one.
