Alumni share stories of their lives after graduation.
Tomas Aragon, MD ’87, MPH ’88
September 13, 2024 – “After graduation from Harvard Medical School and the School of Public Health, I completed clinical and research training at University of California San Francisco, and a DrPH at the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health.
I have been director of the California Department of Public Health and State Public Health Officer since January 4, 2021. Previously, I was the health officer for the City and County of San Francisco and director of the public health division.
I have served in public health leadership roles for more than 20 years, including directing a public health emergency preparedness and response research and training center at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health.
As a CDPH director who strives to embody and promote the universal values of dignity, equity, compassion, and belonging, I work with collaborative partnerships to mobilize communities and institutions to transform policies and systems towards a culture of equity, antiracism, healing, and health for all people and our planet.”
Learn more about Aragon’s work through his Substack: teampublichealth.substack.com
Amitava Banerjee, MPH ’05
“After I graduated with a degree in international health, I had an internship in cardiovascular prevention at the World Health Organization in Geneva, and then trainined in cardiology around the NHS and completed a DPhil in cardiovascular epidemiology at the University of Oxford.
I was clinical lecturer in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Birmingham, and then senior lecturer in clinical data science and honorary consultant in cardiology at the Institute for Health Informatics in 2015.
I was promoted to professor of clinical data science in 2021. I work in two busy tertiary care settings: University College London Hospitals and Barts Health NHS Trusts—both with inpatient and outpatient commitments. Although I am subspecialized in heart failure, I have an ongoing practice in acute general cardiology and a keen interest in the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation.
My clinical work informs my research and vice versa, whether in the evaluation of medical technology or the ethics of large-scale use of patient data. I recently became national specialty lead for cardiovascular medicine at the National Institute for Health and Care Research and am vice president for digital, marketing, and communications at the British Cardiovascular Society. I have led the World Heart Federation’s Emerging Leaders Programme since 2018.”
Sophia Siu-Chee Chan, MPH ’07
“After graduation, I went back to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) as professor and head of the School of Nursing.
I was invited to serve the Hong Kong Government as deputy minister of food and health (2012-2017), and was then appointed minister of food and health (2017-2022). I fought COVID in this role.
It was a very challenging experience and yet very rewarding as I could exercise my knowledge and skills learned at Harvard Chan School in the midst of fighting the global pandemic, together with the rest of the world.
I also helped reform the health care system in Hong Kong and set up 18 district health centers across Hong Kong. And I worked on policy initiatives related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products and banned trans fats.
I am now back at the University of Hong Kong and am leading the HKU Primary Health Care Academy, which generates evidence and disseminates knowledge of primary health care, as well as incubating the next generation of health care professionals in primary health care, for universal health coverage and the sustainable development of a healthy society in Hong Kong. Additionally, I am leading research projects in promoting elderly health, protecting children from secondhand smoke exposure, and building talent capacity in nursing leadership development.”
Photos: Courtesy of alumni
Tell us about your life since Harvard Chan School.