Commencement 2015: Alumni Association President Anthony Dias address

Anthony Dias
Anthony Dias, MPH ’04

May 28, 2015

Graduates of the class of 2015, proud parents and families, honored guests and friends, fellow alumni, esteemed faculty and staff, honorable Dean Dr. Julio Frenk, and distinguished commencement speaker Minister Leslie Ramsammy.

As President of the Alumni Association of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, I am honored to congratulate you and welcome you as new members of our alumni association on behalf of more than 12,000 alumni members that came before you.

Our alumni members have a proud history of profound contributions in the field of public health. As you step in to continue this tradition of innovation in public health, your adventurous paths will cross with our robust global alumni network that will always be willing to support you as you face the challenges of a career in public health.

Each year, one of the biggest gathering of alumni takes place right here in Boston in the Fall during the alumni weekend for two days to network, to learn, and to celebrate careers in public health with alumni award ceremonies. It includes a full-day symposium that explores current issues in public health, and in past years focused on big data, meta leadership, women and health, and health care reform. We recognize that while the Harvard Chan School has played a critical role in evaluating spread of disease, as well as enhancing response capabilities during humanitarian emergencies for better health outcomes, a growing awareness of health disparities continues to create a deeper understanding of impacts on healthcare quality, patient safety and health care costs. That is why this year, we will focus on health equity and examine all contributors and relevant disparities during the full-day symposium at our alumni weekend.

Besides the alumni weekend event, there are many other opportunities for alumni to interact with our global alumni network, which is mobilized all over the world and as they innovate in the field of public health, they remain actively connected via social media, participating in networking events, engaging in mentoring opportunities, joining regional chapters, hosting practice placement for students, and engaging in alumni leadership committees and the alumni council.

While you venture forth as new alumni of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, I urge you to consider engaging with the vast network of alumni wherever you may be in the world, and commit to volunteering your time for alumni activities while also enjoying alumni events hosted around the globe. You will realize that as you maintain your ties with the school in whatever way possible and network with its alumni, it will enrich your Harvard experience and your public health career.

As public health innovation continues in its second century at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health, I speak from my own experiences, having been actively involved with our alumni association for over a decade. I can proudly say that my life

has truly been impacted. In this diverse global alumni network, we all share a common love of our education at this school and the pride of being in the alumni network that will continue to nurture and influence our careers.

Class of 2015, I hope that you will stay connected with the school and the alumni association. I wish you the very best in your career and in all your future endeavors.

Office of Communications

Photo: Kent Dayton

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Dean Julio Frenk address
Student speaker Shaniece Criss address