Ambassador Tony Hall Receives First Annual Global Health and Development Achievement Award

The Center for Global Health presented Ambassador Tony Hall with the first Global Health and Development Achievement Award December 9, 2009 at the Center’s annual Scholarly Service Reception.  The award, intended to honor individuals who have made considerable impacts in global health and development through public service and civic engagement, is a new addition to the annual reception held to honor Department of Global Health students preparing to depart on overseas placements with one of the Center’s two Scholarly Service programs -- the Global Health Service Fellowship Program (GHSF) and the Overseas Learning Collaboration (OLC).

“We are excited to add this award at our annual reception,” said Ashleigh Black, Associate Director of the Center for Global Health.  “We hope to inspire the next generation of global health and development professionals by highlighting individuals like Ambassador Hall who exemplify the power of service and its lasting impacts in the global community.”

Upon receiving the award, Ambassador Hall shared stories of his personal public service experience that shaped his passion for alleviating international hunger including his time as a peace corps volunteer in Thailand and his 22-day fast in the U.S. Congress that drew national attention to the needs of hungry people in the United States and around the world. 

Hall’s testimony resonated with the crowd of over 80 Department of Global Health students, faculty and partner organizations in attendance.

“Ambassador Hall’s commitment to humanity is both admirable and motivating, and puts the importance of our work into perspective,” said Lauren Wingo, an OLC student preparing to depart for Bangladesh in the spring.  “His advice to take challenges day by day, piece by piece will stay with me as I face trials in the work ahead of me.”

Following Ambassador Hall’s remarks, the OLC students showcased the language skills they have been practicing in preparation for their coursework in Bangladesh and Kenya in the spring.  Through lively skits, the students confidently chatted in Swahili and Bangla onstage and acted out scenarios about navigating life in their host country. 

“It was a great opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments and share our excitement for our upcoming overseas experiences,” said Wingo.  “I think everyone could sense the enthusiasm and eagerness in the room.”

The Center’s Scholarly Service programs provide unique opportunities for MPH students to further their global public health skills and apply their classroom knowledge with one of the Center’s international partners.  This spring, 31 students will be placed overseas to serve with Center partners in Bangladesh, Egypt, Italy, Kenya, Switzerland and Uganda.  In addition, two students will work with UNAIDS and the World Health Organization in Washington, DC. 

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