“When we witnessed the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, we wanted to go above and beyond to help out. Michael VanRooyen, director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, blew us away not only with the amazing work HHI was doing on the ground in Haiti, but also in elevating the science and practice of humanitarian response worldwide. We were so amazed by what they were able to accomplish with such limited funds that we made our gift on the spot. Our family has been incredibly lucky and we think it’s critically important for people in similar positions to step up and do as much as they can.”
Jonathan S. Lavine, MBA ’92, managing partner and chief investment officer of Sankaty Advisors, and Jeannie Lavine, AB ’88, MBA ’92, established the Lavine Family Humanitarian Studies Initiative within the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. The Lavines are members of the Board of Dean’s Advisors.
“For me, the Harvard School of Public Health opened the door to a higher level of public health practice. I would likely have become a public health officer in a small town. I was encouraged to apply as the School’s first veterinarian by Dean Cecil Drinker. Shortly before I graduated in 1942, I was discouraged to see that all the public health jobs required an MD, but Dean Drinker told me, ‘Why don’t you fly under one flag?’ as a public health veterinarian. That was the best advice I ever got. I was commissioned in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). After the war, I established the Veterinary Public Health Program at the Centers for Disease Control. The program became a model for state and international agencies, including the World Health Organization. I’ve traveled around the world making the case for veterinarians in public health–and I never could have done it without the support of HSPH.”
“Most people view medical research in a patient-centric way. But I’ve come to see that public health research provides the foundation. I am impressed with the breadth of the work at HSPH, from demographics to genetics. With faculty members who are not only world-leading researchers but also oriented toward implementation, the School is uniquely prepared to deliver on its mandate to make the world a better place. HSPH is at an interesting point in its evolution, with new initiatives such as Women and Health, training for health ministers, and the Forum events building on a multigenerational track record of pioneering research. But this growth is put at risk by potential cuts in federal funding for research. We felt this was a great opportunity to contribute to a great cause.”
“I am interested in improving health care in resource-poor settings. When deciding what projects to support, I look at who is doing the strongest, most innovative work, and whether they have the capability to test their concepts in multiple locations around the world. I first encountered Atul Gawande through his writing and was quickly impressed by the elegant simplicity of his checklist concept. A great deal of money is being invested in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research these days, but very little is devoted to less glamorous ideas in systems innovation that have real potential to improve health care delivery around the world. The Health Systems Innovation Research Fund has enabled Atul to scale up his work on safe surgery and safe childbirth checklists and develop a new checklist-based approach to improving end-of-life care.”
“When I was dean, we found that among the top admitted students identified by each department, nearly all chose to come to HSPH when they were offered financial aid for both living expenses and tuition. If we aspire to train public health leaders who will make a difference in the world, then it is essential that we attract the best students from around the world, regardless of their means. Students have told me year after year that interacting with classmates of widely different backgrounds and experiences was the most rewarding part of their time at HSPH. I chose to contribute to help preserve this diversity and also to recognize the sacrifices that students make to come here–in many cases traveling great distances, interrupting careers, accumulating debt, and temporarily leaving families behind.”
“I have reached the age where I know that the problems of the world are not going to be solved by me–so I leave that to other people and do what I can to support them in a small way. I first learned about the work of Harvard School of Public Health when I was chairman of the Harvard Business School Alumni Association and served on a committee with former HSPH Dean Harvey Fineberg. I was impressed with the School’s mission to improve health around the world. This is a place where people can really accomplish something.”
Mel First was a practical man who valued research for the solutions it provides to issues in the real world. Not content simply to identify public health problems, Mel’s life purpose was to solve them. He conducted groudbreaking research on cleaning the air of pollutants, and methods he developed–some of which are still used today–helped factory workers and people living near industrial plants breathe easier. Mel’s students and colleagues will remember him as a man with firm opinions that were rooted in his commitment to protect public health through the application of sound engineering principles. Those who shared his principles and who had earned his respect through the quality of their work could count on his help and support. He always made time for his students and they were devoted to him. The Melvin W. First Fellowship Fund, which supports doctoral students in environmental health engineering, honors Mel’s many contributions to the School and to the field.