Perry N. Halkitis, the dean of Rutgers School of Public Health, recently won the J. Michael McGinnis Leadership Excellence Award from the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science. This award highlights leaders who advance population health through their work and dedication.
Halkitis is known for his bold leadership and deep commitment to addressing health disparities. Brian Strom, Chancellor of Rutgers Health, praised him for shaping public health both at Rutgers and beyond. “He is a compassionate leader who embodies what public health should look like today,” Strom said.
Halkitis, an expert in infectious disease, statistics, and public health psychology, focuses on improving health equity, especially for sexual and ethnic minorities. His work spans various critical areas, including the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and mental health issues.
Jaya Satagopan, a professor at Rutgers, emphasized Halkitis’s influence in the field and the university’s commitment to health equity. Halkitis expressed gratitude for the award, stating that his work over the past 30 years has been aimed at bettering communities.
Since taking on his role in 2017, Halkitis has transformed the Rutgers School of Public Health into a hub for interdisciplinary research and community engagement. He founded the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies, which focuses on marginalized populations.
Apart from leading at Rutgers, Halkitis mentors young scholars and contributes to the public health conversation through research and advocacy. He has recently addressed the challenges of health disparities and the politics surrounding public health in his upcoming book, Humanizing Public Health: How Disease-centered Approaches Have Failed Us.
Halkitis stresses that public health must be centered on people’s experiences and social conditions, not just diseases. He believes it’s vital to unite different fields to achieve better health outcomes.
The McGinnis Leadership Award is named after J. Michael McGinnis, who greatly influenced federal public health. Halkitis notes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in public health and how beneficial it is to prioritize the humanity behind the science.
With public health facing ongoing challenges, including the continued fallout from the pandemic, leaders like Halkitis are crucial in making meaningful changes that prioritize community well-being. He urges leaders in public health to stay ethical and committed to their mission, even during uncertain times.
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Newswise, Public Health, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
